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For more than a decade, the ���������� Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s OHIO Medical Academy has served as a professional introduction to medicine for more than 500 Ohio high school students curious about careers in health care. Now, thanks to an innovative, student-led initiative, the program is taking a new step to spotlight one of medicine’s most essential—and often overlooked—fields: primary care.

OHIO osteopathic medical students Catherine Maas and Bailey Hall and physician assistant student Anna Sampson—named OHIO Medical Academy Scholars in 2024—collaborated with resident physicians from the  to develop and pilot “Primary Care – The Heart of Healthcare.”

“We wanted students to see that primary care plays an essential role in medical care across all stages of life. So many people interact with primary care physicians throughout their lives, but from a career perspective, few understand how diverse and dynamic the field is,” said Maas.

The new 90-minute, in-school learning experience brought thematic, hands-on health care simulations directly to high school classrooms. Its mission: to deepen students’ understanding of primary care medicine, demystify the profession and showcase the breadth of opportunities it offers—from maternal-fetal care to sports medicine. The series of activities mirrored some aspects of clinical practice, giving students an inside look at the critical care those working in primary care provide to patients.

• Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Newborn Care: Students explored how family physicians care for expectant mothers and newborns after delivery. Using newborn simulators, otoscopes, and ophthalmoscopes, participants learned newborn clinical assessments. Under the guidance of professional students and resident physicians, they practiced examining eyes and ears using the same task trainers used by health care professionals.
• Adult Medicine: Students learned how family medicine physicians assess and care for adult patients. They practiced taking vital signs—such as pulse, respiration rate and reflexes—and were introduced to Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. They also learned how to place and interpret electrocardiograms (EKGs) to evaluate heart health.
• Sports Medicine: Many primary care physicians are board-certified in both family and sports medicine. Students explored the physician’s role in caring for athletes and were guided through ultrasound-guided joint imaging. Participants practiced using point-of-care ultrasound devices to interpret diagnostic images—an advanced skill taught by the resident physicians and professional students.

Following the event, high school participants reported a deeper understanding of primary care medicine, describing the hands-on experiences as “engaging,” “cool,” and “eye-opening.”

“The impact of these hands-on activities is written all over the faces of our participants,” said Maureen McCann, a Heritage College staff member and longtime coordinator of OHIO Medical Academy programs. “Their smiles tell the story best.”

Working with community partners to help high school students explore health care careers

During the 2024–25 academic year, “The Heart of Healthcare” reached 189 high school students across Central Ohio—29 from Olentangy Local Schools and 160 from Dublin City Schools. The experience was delivered right in the students’ classrooms, making high-impact learning more accessible than ever.

To make clinical simulations in the classroom possible, the Academy Scholars secured a $3,000 grant from the Dublin Community Foundation.

“Coordinating the logistics—scheduling resident physicians, transporting equipment and fitting into the school day—was a challenge,” said Hall. “But seeing the students light up as they explored real clinical tools made it all worth it. We’re so grateful to the Dublin Community Foundation for helping to make this learning experience possible.”

Sherri Reynolds-Torma, M.D., a family medicine physician, associate clinical professor at the Heritage College and co-director of the OHIO Medical Academy, believes the program’s power lies in its ability to bring different generations together.

“We’ve seen the impact of connecting near-peers to spark curiosity about health care careers,” she said. “Learning together across different stages—from high school to medical school to residency—helps us better understand each other, listen more deeply, and ultimately become more human in how we learn, teach, and practice medicine.”

At its core, the OHIO Medical Academy emphasizes interprofessional collaboration—reflecting a modern health care system built on teams, not just titles. By highlighting diverse roles and encouraging early exploration of primary care, the Academy helps address a critical need: growing the next generation of compassionate health care professionals who are committed to serving Ohio communities.

“The Heart of Healthcare is more than a class visit,” said Sampson. “It’s a first step toward inspiring the next generation to consider a lifelong profession in health care.”