Interactive Healthcare Field Trip for Boys & Girls Club hosted by HCA Florida Northside Hospital

St. Petersburg, FL — HCA Florida Northside Hospital is proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay for an exciting and educational field trip designed to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals. On Friday, the hospital hosted over 30 students and chaperones in the Future Leaders Program for a behind the scenes look at how the hospital functions as well as hands-on learning and interactive experiences. The students also left with basic CPR education from the American Heart Association, a key partner of Northside Hospital.

“It’s such a privilege to partner with organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay to provide a fun but meaningful way to spark interest in the healthcare industry,” said Phil Marchesini, chief executive officer, Northside Hospital. “It’s a learning opportunity outside the classroom with hands on experience to the many different career options.”

The field trip featured activities, including:

• Hands-on Rotations in key care areas such as surgical robotics, vital signs monitoring, and the fun but important “Room of Doom” escape room, where students got to test their infection prevention knowledge in a fun and challenging environment.
• A guided tour of the Emergency Department (ED), radiology, laboratory and the Neuroscience Institute, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at critical care and cutting-edge services.
• Conversations with hospital experts, including members of the hospital’s highly skilled stroke team, who talked about signs and symptoms as well as how they diagnose and treat patients.

“Opportunities like this are game changers for our youth. When young people can step inside a hospital, speak with professionals, and try out tools and techniques — they don’t just learn, they begin to see themselves in these roles. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay, we believe exposure is the first step to equity. Thanks to partners like HCA Florida Northside Hospital, our students aren’t just imagining a future in healthcare- they’re starting to build it,” said Mari Nicole, director of work-based learning.

This initiative is part of HCA Florida Northside Hospital’s broader community partnership strategy, which includes a key impact area to focus on expanding access to healthcare careers and fostering early interest in the medical field.