S2M2 Cultivates Next Generation at Naval Hospital Jacksonville

By Yan Kennon, Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville hosted its annual Science, Service, Medicine and Mentoring (S2M2) program at the hospital June 8-12 with 11 selected Darnell-Cookman Middle/High School of the Medical Arts students.

"Naval Hospital Jacksonville's Science, Service, Medicine and Mentoring program with Darnell-Cookman is all about nurturing the next generation of medical professionals," said Capt. John Le Favour, NH Jacksonville commanding officer. "During their weeklong internship with us, students participate in clinical rotations, medical lectures and hands-on workshops. They even get a taste of combat casualty care. It's great to have the students here."

The goal of NH Jacksonville's S2M2 program is to encourage, nurture and enhance high school students' commitment to science and medicine in a welcoming and intellectually stimulating environment. The S2M2 partnership with Darnell-Cookman complements the school's focus on equipping high-performing students with the skills and experiences to pursue advanced medical degrees.

"This is my second year participating in the program and it has really helped me solidify my goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon," said Matthew Alderman, a Darnell-Cookman junior. "I have personally benefitted from the program and it will help prepare me for college and my career."

In addition to clinical rotations, students participated in workshops and lectures. During a simulated disaster management drill, students donned decontamination suits. At the Trauma Combat Casualty Care obstacle course they witnessed first-hand how first responders conduct field training and combat trauma care. The students also participated in medical simulations using human-like mannequins at the hospital's simulation laboratory and performing simulated orthopedic medical procedures using real medical devices and life-like bone and joints.

"It was really cool to observe the daily operations of a naval hospital and participate in hands-on training," said Breanna Brady, a Darnell-Cookman sophomore. "I would not have had the opportunity to get this experience if not for this Naval Hospital Jacksonville program. It was a great experience and I hope to be selected for this program again next year." Brady plans to pursue a career as a pharmacist.

Developed in 2004 by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and launched in 2010 by NH Jacksonville, S2M2 is aimed at cultivating the next generation of physicians and scientists. It includes two activities each academic year: a kick-off event at the beginning of the academic year at Darnell-Cookman and the week-long immersion program at NH Jacksonville.

NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the Navy's third largest hospital and five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. There are more than 71,000 active and retired sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, guardsmen and their families enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at one of its facilities.