Tyrone senior Michelann Stroup and several classmates in her Health Tech III had the opportunity to observe open heart surgery at Allegheny Hospital in Pittsburgh this October.  

It’s a privilege that most students in health care won’t get until college and just one example of why the Health Tech program at Tyrone High School is special.

“Honestly, It was great to see everyone in action and it reminds me how serious healthcare is,” said Stroup.

The Health Tech program is for students interested in careers in all health-related fields.  The core classes that make up the program have been taught by Mrs. Christie Taylor for the past 19 years.

Before she became a teacher, Taylor worked as a nurse at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Altoona.  She continues to practice nursing part-time and during the summer.  During the past two summers, she worked at Maybrook Hills in Altoona, formerly called Valley View Nursing Home.

A student’s journey in Health Tech starts in their sophomore year with Health Tech I. As sophomores, students learn the basics of health care such as laws, abbreviations of common health care terms, infection control and basic human anatomy. 

“Mrs. Taylor makes everything interesting, and she gives good explanations to questions that any students have. I am really looking forward to working in a medical field,” said Health Tech I student Jenna Weaver.

One of the great advantages of Tyrone’s Health Tech program is the school’s close proximity to Tyrone Regional Hospital. The fact that the school and hospital are within walking distance of each other allows students the opportunity to have real job shadowing and work experience within the school day.

Students begin to shadow healthcare professionals at the Tyrone Regional Hospital when they reach the second marking period during Health Tech II. At clinical, they are required to wear scrubs and name tags with their hair tied back. For the third marking period, the students go to Epworth Manor to work with the elderly and assist with their daily activities.

“So far I am really excited for clinical, I think it will be a great experience,” said Health Tech II student Olivia Barr.

Health Tech III students go to clinical at several different medical facilities including Tyrone Regional Hospital and UPMC Altoona, where they are required to take on even more responsibility. 

At the conclusion of their third year, all students take the NOCTI (National Occupational Competency Testing Institute) test, which tests their knowledge of the career-specific material that they learned for the past three years.  Results of the test also give Taylor the information she needs to fine-tune her courses.

Taylor is hoping to expand her program even further in the near future. By next school year, Tyrone hopes to offer certification as a CNA (Certified Nurses Assistant) before students graduate, without having to attend any additional post-secondary schooling.

“I’m upset that I can’t be certified when I graduate this year, but I’m excited for Mrs. Taylor to possibly be able to offer it to underclassmen,” said HOSA President Kenna Grum.

Many of Taylor’s former students have gone on to earn degrees in various health-related fields, including occupations such as registered nurses (RN), certified nursing assistants (CNA), physical therapy, x-ray technicians, ultrasound technicians, physician assistants, lab technicians, medical assistants, sports nutritionists, and physicians.

“I think the Health Tech program is one of the best things ever. I wish I had it when I was in school. I kind of went into nursing school blind, “ said Taylor. 

Tyrone class of 2017 Alumni Hailey Durbin took all three Health Tech course and is now enrolled in the Mount Aloysius nursing program.

“Everything I have learned so far in nursing is what I learned in Health Tech. I’m way ahead of other students because they are learning it for the first time,” said Durbin.