During the morning while most students are in class, senior Hannah Keane is learning with the Pre-Professional Health Sciences Academy to get ready for a career in nursing.

“My counselor knew I was interested in nursing and suggested I apply,” Keane said. “I think the program is great.”

As a part of the application process, Keane had to write a short essay about why she wanted to participate in the program. Keane’s interest in nursing comes from a desire to help kids that are facing the same problems she did in her childhood.

“I had a lot of health issues growing up and I’d like to help kids that are sick and going through things similar to what I went through,” Keane said.

The Academy gives students interested in going into the medical field a head start before college. Currently the program is in a classroom setting learning about subjects such as medical terminology and the cycle of infection, but next semester Keane will be shadowing in different parts of the BJC Hospital.

The program takes place every other school day. Keane doesn’t have any classes before 5th block at Central, so on days she doesn’t have the program, Keane doesn’t have to come to school until 5th or 6th block.

Along with participating in this program, to prepare for her career in nursing Keane went on a medical mission trip to Romania over the summer. On the trip, the group she was with performed 26 surgeries and saw over 600 kids in a clinic. Keane helped see children in the clinic and helped prepare for surgeries, in addition to sitting in on surgeries.

Keane is glad to be gaining experience and learning before she moves closer to the medical fields.

“I’m very thankful that I’m getting this information before I go to college where the classes will be much harder and much larger,” Keane said. “I’m learning so much.”