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Saint Francis brings simulated operating-room experience to Shakopee students in Health Science Academy spotlight
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Summary
A Saint Francis clinical program specialist and a Chaffey High School student described a simulated total knee arthroplasty lab the hospital brought to the Health Science Academy; students practiced PPE, sterile technique and instrumentation as part of Internship Awareness Month.
Anne Simpson, an RN and clinical program specialist with Saint Francis Surgical Services, and Josie Johnson, a junior at Chaffey High School, visited the district meeting to describe a simulated operating-room lab that Saint Francis staged at the Health Science Academy.
"I am an RN and more specifically a clinical program specialist for Saint Francis Surgical Services," Simpson told the board, explaining that staff and surgical equipment reps brought instrumentation and set up a lab so students could practice teamwork, PPE and sterile technique.
Josie Johnson described the experience from a student perspective: "It was really cool because when I grow up I wanna become a physician assistant in the orthopedic surgery realm," she said, recounting hands-on time with drills, implants and a total joint demo that helped clarify career paths beyond textbooks.
Presenters said the district hosted a CAPS class simulation where students tried on PPE, learned sterile-field rules and practiced with real surgical trays; staff noted 17 interns participated through the partnership and that these connections provide authentic workplace exposure beyond traditional classroom instruction.
Board members and the superintendent thanked Saint Francis and the students for the partnership and testimony. No formal action was taken; the segment was presented as a community/partnership spotlight during the Sabre Spotlight portion of the meeting.
