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IHI and NKU are uniquely positioned in northern Kentucky to create a pipeline to reduce the future healthcareworker shortage and bring underserved and minority students into healthcare programs. We are imagining new ways to prepare health science workers for an increasingly technological and collaborative role throughour programs for students.

NKU Heartsavers

NKU Heartsavers

Kentucky is the 29th state that requires high school students enrolled in health, physical education, or Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps courses to receive CPR training and certification.

In collaboration with the Center for Simulation Education and the College of Health and Human Services, the Institute for Health Innovation has launched an AHA (American Heart Association) CPR, AED, and First Aid certification course program.

This project will increase the number of Kentucky high school students, faculty, and CPR certified staff and increase the survival rates for people suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in our community.

For more information email ihiprograms@nku.edu


NKU Heartsavers

Health Science Book Club

The Health Science Book Club will send students health focused,age-appropriate books with related activities each month.

The books include: Helping Hospitals: A Community Helpers Book by Lindsay Ward, The Science of Medical Technology: From Humble Syringes to Lifesaving Robots by Cath Senker, and Rescue & Jessica: A life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes.

For more information email ihiprograms@nku.edu


NKU Heartsavers

Field Trips & Cadaver Experience

Students in middle and high school are invited to the Health Innovation Center to spend a day exploring the range of health careers. For High school students, we provide two central experiences, either in the Simulation Center or the Cadaver Lab. In each experience, students will rotate through sessions with different presenters discussing their careers and taking part in hands-on activities including a medical emergency in the St. Elizabeth Simulation Center.

For Cadaver Lab experiences only, students enter the prosectorium and gain hands-on experience with human autonomy and physiology.

Other topics discussed include Radiologic Science, Nursing, Pre-Med, Health & Technology, and Respiratory Care, social work, and clinical counseling. Other field trips include a collaboration with the biological sciences department where students can observe a cadaver lab in action.

For more information email ihiprograms@nku.edu


Health Science Cafe

A series of free, fun events for high school students to talk with local scientists and NKU Faculty about current cutting edge ideas in health, science, and technology over food and refreshments. Teachers are invited to start a cafe for their students with the help of the Institute for Health Innovation.A core group of Youth Leaders, with the committed mentorship of an adult, plan and run the café themselves.

For more information email ihiprograms@nku.edu


young scientist making experiments in glass tube in the laboratory room

Summer Camp (High & Middle Schools)

A week of free day camps for middle and high school students. Students have the opportunity to meet with other kids their age throughout the Tri-state area and learn about different future health careers whilst being immersed in the NKU campus.

Students spend their time in sessions with different presenters to learn about these careers and feel what it’s like to be a college student.

For more information email ihiprograms@nku.edu


Discovery Kits

Discovery Kits

Local elementary schools can receive a box containing STEM+H lesson plans and activities that abide with educational guidelines in their school district. All the resources are free and are aimed at relevant areas within fields including social determinants of health.

Program designed to address the absence of innovative health education for K-5 grade students and a lack of affordable resources for teachers. A Discovery Kit will contain a lesson plan tailored to the appropriate grade level and will consist of a topic related to healthy habits, biomedical engineering, the human body, or social determinants of health. In addition to lesson plans, the Discovery Kit will have tangible materials for the classroom to conduct an activity that relates to the content and reinforces the information presented.

All kit materials are being created by NKU faculty and staff across multiple departments to ensure program delivery is effective and accurate. KY Academic Standards for Health Education and State Testing Curriculum are also being identified and addressed so students are gaining relevant content and skills.

Click here to sign up

For more information email ihiprograms@nku.edu