Hands-On Inspiration

Thirty-five local middle school students recently stopped by PNWU’s campus for an inside look at our health sciences university.

Led by their Automation, Robotics and Technology Foundations teacher, Jeffery McFadden, the local science scholars were greeted at the University’s entrance by student doctors and professors for an immersive, hands-on, and inspiring glimpse at a future in science and healthcare.

“I was inspired to see the joy and light in the eyes of these middle school students,” said Lisa Siino, DO, an assistant professor in PNWU’s Department of Osteopathic Principles & Practice, who connected with Mr. McFadden to help facilitate the visit.

“I wanted to give my students an opportunity to explore what PNWU has to offer,” explained McFadden. “I also want to show students that there are many educational opportunities here in the Yakima Valley and they do not have to go to other parts of the state, or even out of the state, to pursue higher education.”

After connecting with Dr. Siino, an opportunity to stoke his students’ avid curiosities and scientific passions began to take shape. By exposing the middle schoolers to all that PNWU’s four-program health sciences campus offered – with the help of volunteering PNWU students, faculty, and staff – they guided Franklin’s students on a campus tour highlighted by sheep-brain-holding neurology lessons, lifelike medical manikin interactions, simulated patient encounters, a CPR instructional, art tour, and more.

“At the middle school level, we do not have many opportunities to explore different careers in person and hands-on,” explained McFadden, noting that some of his students did not even know about PNWU prior to their visit. “I hope that students will, at some point, think back to this experience and find that it somehow changed their educational or career choices.” 

“We hope that this can be a continuing partnership with us and PNWU,” he added. “We also hope that we can work on getting PNWU to come to our school.”

Students prepare for a neurology lesson using sheep brains, led by Student Doctors Pelumi Ajibade and Katelyn Bonny, both COM Class of 2026.
Franklin Middle School students learn about brain structures with Dr. Robert Sorrells, Dr. Janelle Mapes, and PNWU Student Doctors Pelumi Ajibade, and Katelyn Bonny. “I heard Student Dr. Pelumi explaining to one student why the sheep’s brain’s temporal lobes are so much flatter than human brains,” said Dr. Siino, reflecting on the experience. “She talked about how many less decisions the sheep has to make, thus utilizing temporal lobes less.”
Franklin students watch in awe as Student Doctor Katelyn Bonny performs a sheep’s brain prosection.
Dr. Robert Sorrells, PNWU Professor Emeritus, teaches middle schoolers about the structure of the brain.
Dr. Tiffany Salido, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, guides students through a tour of the School of Physical Therapy’s Center for Applied Movement Sciences (CAMS) Lab. Students hear and see how physical therapy is used to improve movement and function.
Middle school students learn the basics of CPR with CPR mannikins, at times to the appropriate tempo of “Staying Alive,” in PNWU’s Simulations Lab.
Franklin students visit PNWU’s Simulation Lab to visit with standardized patients (SPs).
Interacting with SPs in PNWU’s Simulation Lab, students receive clipboards with history questions.
Franklin Middle School students talk with “patients,” gathering medical history in small groups with guidance and feedback from the SPs.
Students are introduced to PNWU’s medical mannikin, nicknamed “Apollo,” which breathes and has a heartbeat.
Kids auscultated (listened to with stethoscopes) Apollo in PNWU’s Simulation Lab.