Career guidance program for schoolchildren

This year, students of 10−11 grades of chemistry and biology classes of the 281st Lyceum participated in the program of the Almazov Centre "The Profession is to help people". For future doctors, this was a very interesting project. Children attended two surgeries, learned from the institute’s specialists about the latest methods in vascular surgery, and got familiar with the peculiarities of a doctor’s work in a modern hospital. The lesson devoted to nursing was also memorable. Children were shown methods of transporting patients and proper hand sanitization. During the holidays, as part of the same program, a unique guided tour to the Blood Transfusion Institute with an interactive part in determining the blood group was organized. All events were very well planned. I express my sincere gratitude to the organizers and administrators of the project. This cooperation is very important and useful for the careear guidance of our schoolchildren.

Students of the 8, 9, 10 grades of the 580th School of Primorsiky District visited the Simulation Center of the First Pavlov Saint-Petersburg State Medical University. During the introductory tour, children listened to the guide with interest and took an active part in conducting surgeries using simulators, and tried to perform an ultrasound of internal organs. This meeting was useful. Children got to know medical professions better. Some students were confirmed in their chosen profession of a doctor, while others thought about the possibility of choosing another profession. Definitely, such programs provide an opportunity to approach the choice of life path consciously.

We participated in this project for almost a year. What is important for us: children visited the leading institutions of the city. We could not even imagine that those who were standing at the operating table in the morning or doing scientific research, or prescribing treatment for the patient would treat us so thoroughly, attentively, whole-heartedly. And this is the most important thing — open, close communication with the children. They were often addressed as "colleagues". Can you imagine what it is like for the children to hear this? Not all of them even choose medicine.
We thank the Russian Society of Cardiology and I will add that we are always happy to take part in all of the society’s projects! Good luck and new successes!

Our children are happy!

It is important to note that they were widely presented with a palette of possibilities and areas that can be applied in medicine. That is, not only a doctor, but, for example, a specialist in the field of artificial intelligence. And this approach certainly expands children’s understanding of their professional future.

We are glad that our children had the opportunity to participate in this project. Not in all events, because children were very busy. We admire how the organizers were able to do all this because practicing doctors worked with the children, students went to the real hospitals, they were specially welcomed at universities, not on the Doors Open Day but actually for individual meetings. Big thanks and our wishes for further success.

Our children remembered the meeting with the scientist, the director of the Institute of Experimental Medicine. Firstly, he is an amazing person himself, he answered all even the most tricky questions. In general, the atmosphere was friendly. The children later asked me: "Is it so nice in all institutes?" The opportunity to visit leading scientific centers is unique. And the meeting with the anesthesiologist-resuscitator made a lasting impression. Not only the children, but also the accompanying persons discovered this unique job. Many thanks to all the employees of the Russian Society of Cardiology. We hope that the program will continue.

Our institution of additional education successfully prepares children for admission to medical educational institutions, both universities and secondary vocational education. We could not stay away from such a project. It was important for us that the organizers met our wishes regarding the timing of the events, because we can gather the children in the afternoon. Invaluable experience was to attend the real surgery, this has never happened before and I do not know if anyone else can organize this. We have been to many events. And everywhere we were met with a high level of reception, such as at the Institute of Experimental Medicine — for our children an exceptional experience and the very fact that the director of the institute presented his institution and its work to us is also priceless. Thank you to the organizers!

We thank you for the opportunity to visit the leading Almazov Centre in Russia.

And also to talk to a cardiologist, visit the somnology lab. Of course, externally this lab looks like just a ward, but the studies they conduct and for what purpose — this impressed children. When they offered to measure the age of the vessels, at first everyone laughed, like, we are 16−17 years old, what is there to measure. The results were unexpected. So such an experience in cardiology was very useful for the guys. I would also like to note the videos that the organizers made with different specialists — a great opportunity for us. After all, every year the children choose their profession. And such videos will help us a lot.

Thank you very much! And we are waiting for new projects! We are ready to participate.

For our children, the opportunity to participate in such a project is a great opportunity to try themselves in the profession of a doctor, to decide on their future. In any case, the chemists said that they will not back down from their own, they saw themselves in their place. Some are even looking at infochemistry. I thank the organizers and we are ready to bring the next group of children.

One of the unusual events for us was a visit to Lesgaft University. Firstly, I would like to thank the organizers for such an idea — to show the university from such an unexpected side — medical. The guys seriously began to consider this university for possible admission to serious programs. We watched with pleasure the recordings of meetings, in particular, with a family doctor. The same situation as with Lesgaft University — a discovery! So we thank you for the opportunity and would like to take part in the continuation of this project. With other students.

I consider it is important to form an idea of ​​the future profession in schoolchildren, the opportunity to ask questions and see with their own eyes the work of doctors and other related specialists directly in the working environment. The existence of such a project is new for me.

As the head of a research institute, I am interested in attracting the younger generation to the fundamental science. And we need to start with schoolchildren. It was important for me to see the glowing eyes of the kids. I will also note their level of knowledge, it is quite high for their age. It seems that fundamental science is becoming interesting for schoolchildren.

It is extremely interesting to communicate with children and see the new generation of future doctors. I was surprised by the children — they are smart, ready to achieve their goals, curious and very friendly. And I missed even more personal communication with the guys, I would have talked longer.

It is important for me to share my experience with the younger generation, to give them the necessary knowledge to take their first steps in medicine and science. Each new generation needs its own approach.

I love to share my experience, I can speak about complicated things in a simple way, I love to communicate with children and teenagers, so I responded to the program with pleasure. I found it interesting! I hope the guys did too.

It seems to me that it is important for high school students to fully understand the specifics of the work of some medical professions, especially such as an anesthesiologist-resuscitator, because everyone thinks that we just give anesthesia. High school students asked many clarifying questions, I think some myths about the profession were dispelled. It was obvious that the event was well prepared by the organizers. The dialogue was lively.

I was interested to hear the guys' real opinion about the admission. How they see the thorny path of a medical student and choosing their specialty. How deeply they understand the profession. I will note that the students were very motivated, were involved during our conversation and asked a lot of questions. Some were noticeably interested in my specialty. I would like to invite colleagues to such a dialogue, arrange a plenary session or a round table. The topic of career guidance for medicine is important.

I thank the organizers for the invitation. To show the kids that medical school is not the only career path. To demonstrate them a possible way to grow they can choose and not only in medicine. And once again I confirmed my observations: schoolchildren rarely consider medical school as the beginning of a path in medicine, they think that everything is for a lifetime. But there are a million opportunities. And I talked about this at my meetings.

I thank the organizers for the unique opportunity to get acquainted with modern cardiology in the leading center of our city. Many in my class want to be doctors, but have not yet chosen a specialty. And the opportunity to see the cardiology center and get familiar with the cardiologist and somnologist specialties at once definitely expanded the children’s understanding of medicine. They saw what equipment doctors work with. And the cardiologist’s lecture was very useful for them. They were so invited to work at the Almazov Center that I would not be surprised if in a few years someone really will work there.

Good project! First, we watched several recordings of meetings with experts. The guys were very impressed by what they learned about anesthesiologists. By the way, the meeting about medical school was useful, that it could be a good start. And after that we visited the simulation center of the First Medical University. This is an invaluable experience. Dentist, obstetrician, cardiologist, surgeon, ultrasound doctor — there were so many specialties to try!