Lake Nona High School recently welcomed over 25 distinguished pediatric anesthesiologists and medical students from around the country for an immersive and hands-on medical learning experience. As a Partners in Education, Nemours brings its experience to the classroom to educate and promote workforce experiences for OCPS students.

Timed with the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia 2025 Meeting in Orlando, these top-tier medical professionals—many of them department heads in pediatric anesthesia—flew early to mentor and inspire Lake Nona High School students. The event featured two parts: a didactic session on pediatric anesthesiology careers and interactive, hands-on medical training.

During the hands-on rotations, students engaged in critical medical skills, including:

• Bleeding control techniques

• Sonogram use for identifying veins and arteries

• Basic resuscitation and defibrillation

• Airway management and intubation

• Naloxone rescue training

• Wellness and resiliency discussions

• Q&A booths with medical professionals & information on allied health professionals’ career road maps

More than 120 students eagerly signed up for the event, with 60 students ultimately selected to participate in this invaluable opportunity. The program provided one-on-one mentorship from world-class pediatric anesthesiologists, allowing students to gain hands-on experience in life-saving procedures and explore careers in the medical field.

With a student population of approximately 3,000—of whom over 60% identify as Hispanic, 10% are English Language Learners, and 23% are economically disadvantaged—this event was especially impactful in broadening horizons and fostering aspirations in the medical profession.

“This experience was truly life-changing for our students,” said Principal Nikki Campbell. “To have these extraordinary doctors take the time to mentor and educate our students is an unparalleled opportunity that will inspire many of them to pursue careers in healthcare.”

Lake Nona High School extends its gratitude to: Society for Pediatric Anesthesia, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, Dr. Sabina Kahn, Dr. Mitchell Phillips, Ms. Jennifer Gautier, Mrs. Martha Santoni, SPA Committees (SPAERS, Disaster Preparedness, Pediatric Patient Blood Management, Well-Being, Dr. Kirk Lalwani), Verathon, and Fujifilm.

Thank you to all of these organizations and all the physicians and medical students who made this event possible. Their generosity and dedication have left a lasting impression on our students and the future of medicine.