WesternU COMP-Northwest welcomes North Clackamas School District health services students
Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) welcomed over 70 North Clackamas School District high school seniors to campus on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
This field trip was part of the health services program at the Sabin-Schellenberg Professional Technical Center (SSC), a career technical center where North Clackamas students can explore a variety of professions through 17 distinct programs, including fire science, education, manufacturing and engineering, and more.
The SSC health services program allows high school students to explore career opportunities in health care, learn basic medical terminology and health care skills, perform clinical internships in their areas of interest, and even obtain industry-recognized certifications. Many high school students have gone on to pursue careers in health care, said Health Services Instructor Lyn Gray, RN, BSN.
“It’s so important for the students to be able to see these things. Some of them may learn that it isn’t for them, but some will learn that this is something they’re really passionate about and won’t be able to stop grinning when they leave here today,” said Gray. “We so appreciate WesternU for making this happen and I hope we can continue to do this annually.”
During the visit, students learned about Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), visited the Anatomy Lab, learned about ultrasound technology, and explored the Simulated Medicine and Readiness Training (SMaRT) Lab and Clinical Skills Lab.
Groups were led through each station by COMP-Northwest student volunteers. First-year Christina Vergis was among the students providing tours.
“I am a big fan of school outreach, and I knew this what something I wanted to be able to do to help these kids. I was in their shoes not that long ago. I am from Portland, and I didn’t get a lot of opportunities like this. I heard about them happening in other school districts and I was so envious. I feel honored to at least be able to work with them in this capacity,” said Vergis. “Our faculty always remind us that we are the future of health care, and I want these high school students to feel the same way.”
Third-year COMP-Northwest student Arman Ameripour said the SSC health services program made a career in health care more accessible. Growing up in Milwuakie, Oregon, he was able to participate in the health services program throughout high school.
“I remember when I was 14 or 15 years old telling my friend’s dad that I wanted to be a doctor, and he kind of laughed in my face. I took it personally, but being a part of this program made it realistic for me. I felt like it gave me that belief in myself that as long as I follow along the path, there’s no limit of what I could achieve,” he said.
While participating in the program, Ameripour was able to volunteer in his doctor’s office, shadowing health care providers as they saw patients and performed administrative tasks.
“We don’t have any doctors in my family, so it was always this distant possibility. But being there and getting to talk to the doctors, the nurses, and the PAs, it really made me see that there was a path for me to do this. I doubt that I would be in medical school and on this path if I didn’t have that program,” said Ameripour.
Ameripour is currently on an internal medicine rotation at Legacy Emanual Medical Center in Portland, Oregon.
