Project Inspire Gives Marion Students a Closer Look at Healthcare

Project Inspire Gives Marion Students a Closer Look at Healthcare

Key Takeaways:

• Students explore healthcare careers through a behind-the-scenes tour of OhioHealth Marion General Hospital.
• Project Inspire brings classroom lessons to life with hands-on experiences focused on leadership, teamwork and communication.
• OhioHealth invests in the next generation by building community connections and introducing students to future career opportunities.

As another school year comes to a close, second-grade students from Benjamin Harrison and Heritage elementary schools got a behind-the-scenes look inside OhioHealth Marion General Hospital.

For Benjamin Harrison students, the visit marked the culmination of Project Inspire, a partnership that introduces students to the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People through hands-on lessons focused on teamwork, communication, leadership and resilience. Throughout the school year, OhioHealth associates visit classrooms to help bring those lessons to life.

"Project Inspire is a Stephen Covey-inspired program for elementary students that teaches kids the seven habits of being successful," said Michelle Murray, PT, OhioHealth director, Rehabilitation Services. "It helps them build on those skills as they go through elementary school until high school."

For Benjamin Harrison teacher Laurie Newell, who helped implement Project Inspire starting in 2016, the hospital visits are the highlight of the program.

"They absolutely love this day and learn so much from every individual that they meet," Newell said. "Many of them saw parents or relatives today that are here working. It brings it down to home for them that this is a great place to work. There are so many jobs that they do not realize are actually here."

This year, Heritage Elementary students also participated in the hospital tour for the first time, giving them an opportunity to explore healthcare careers and learn more about the hospital environment. Students toured departments throughout the hospital, including the emergency department, laboratory, pharmacy, surgery and nutrition services.

"Sometimes the hospital can mean scary things," said Heritage teacher, Jill Shore. "It was really nice to let them explore the hospital without being scared. Nobody was sick, and the kids were so excited and so engaged."

Marion City Schools Board of Education member, Evan Geyer, said opportunities like the hospital tour help students see the hospital in a new light.

"Just having a local partner like OhioHealth so the kids can get out and explore is important," Geyer said. "Hospitals aren't just a scary place. They're a comforting place where people go and get taken care of. It also opens their eyes to opportunities that exist within the hospital for future career exploration."

For OhioHealth, programs like Project Inspire and opportunities to welcome students into the hospital are an investment in the community's future.

"It's very important to build trust in the community, even from a young age," Murray said. "We're going to be there to support them and help them heal."

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