high sChOOL PrOgrAMs
Listen
to your
hErE arE the programs of study
HEART
available within the Health science cluster in
Texas high schools.* The state has created
descriptions of each of these programs of
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study. These documents detail high school
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classes you might take, extended learning
opportunities, and postsecondary programs.
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To download them, visit www.AchieveTexas.
org/Implementation.htm and click on the
G
cluster icon for the area that interests you.
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BiotEchnoloGy rEsEarch & dEvEloPmEnt
scientists in this field perform bioscience research
A
and development connected with the delivery of health
care. These professionals may study human diseases
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to discover new treatments or develop medical devices
to directly assist patients.
diaGnostic sErvicEs
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employees in diagnostic services use tests and
evaluations to aid in the detection, diagnosis, and
EXPLORE HEALTH SCIENCE options in high
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treatment of diseases and injuries.
school to choose the career that fits you best.
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hEalth inFormatics
professionals in this area include administrators who
F
manage healthcare agencies as well as employees in
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s a high school junior, Gwendolyn health care while in college. “They are
Coleman-Shepherd plans for working in positions in their field of
success as a doctor, but she is study,” Tonquest explains.
those agencies who manage patient data, financial
starting her career early. Her high school “This experience will also help
I
information, and computer applications related to
studies have already qualified her to be students get accepted to college,”
healthcare management.
a nursing assistant (CNA), so she can says Tonquest, “and, once they are in
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work as a health professional in the college, their high school experiences
suPPort sErvicEs
E
summer and in college, long before she will provide the foundation for not
employees in this field perform all the services gets her medical degree. only their college coursework but their
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that provide a therapeutic environment for patient
“I think it will help me be a better future career.”
care, including biomedical engineering, hospital
doctor,” says Coleman-Shepherd, who
maintenance, dietary services, and others.
attends Nimitz Senior High School in Programs of study
Houston. “In order to really understand High schools introduce students to the
thEraPEutic sErvicEs
what I’m doing, I have to understand healthcare field through a coherent
professionals in Therapeutic services work directly
what my team members do also.” sequence of courses. Introduction to
with patients; they may provide care, treatment,
Health Science Technology “shows
counseling, and health education information.
high school Courses students the different careers they
Career and technical education (CTE) can enter,” says Gladys Doyno, health
courses like the ones enrolled in by science department chair at Weslaco
Coleman-Shepherd give students a head High School.
* Not all schools offer all programs of study or clusters. Ask your
counselor which programs are available at your school.
start, whether they’re jumping right “In Health Science I, students learn
into the workplace after graduation or the knowledge and skills necessary for
going on to college or medical school, clinical rotations,” Doyno says.
says Renee Tonquest, curriculum Students apply these skills in Health
specialist at the University of North Science II, during which they spend
Texas in Denton. a few hours each week at medical
Many students use the certifications facilities. They acquire hands-on
they earn in high school to work in experience in such areas as respiratory
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