Discovery Healthcare Camp Brings Hands-On Training to Young Minds (July 14-18th)
July 14, 2025
The halls of Hanover and District Hospital are buzzing with excitement this week as the next generation of healthcare professionals gets their first taste of life-saving medicine through an extraordinary hands-on learning experience.
From July 14 to 18, Hanover and District Hospital (HDH) and Hanover and District Hospital Foundation (HDHF) proudly hosts Discovery Healthcare Camp, a transformative medical science summer camp that's giving local high school students the chance to step into the shoes of doctors, nurses, and medical professionals. This isn't just another summer camp – it's a launching pad for future careers that will shape the health and wellbeing of our community.
"At Hanover and District Hospital, we believe in nurturing tomorrow's healthcare leaders today," said Dana Howes, President & CEO. "There's nothing more energizing than watching young people discover their passion for healing and helping others. We're thrilled to open our doors and share the incredible world of medicine with these bright minds."
The camp comes alive through the mentorship of first and second year medical students from Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, who guide campers through an action-packed week of discovery. These young mentors bring fresh energy and relatability, showing participants that a career in healthcare is not just a dream – it's an achievable goal. Additionally, HDH physicians, registered nurses, laboratory, diagnostic imaging and physiotherapy personnel will be providing instruction and offering hands-on learning opportunities to the campers to enhance their learning.
What makes this camp extraordinary:
- Real skills, real impact: Students learn clinical techniques including suturing, wound care, and casting with HDH Physicians and Staff
- Life-saving training: CPR certification and emergency response skills that students can use immediately
- Specialty department exploration: Hands-on experience in dialysis, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, obstetrics, and emergency medicine
- Behind-the-scenes access: Exclusive sessions with infection control, EMS professionals, and physiotherapy
- Community health focus: Interactive "Social Determinants of Health" sessions connecting healthcare to community wellness
- Team building: From daily icebreakers to obstacle courses and team challenges that build collaboration skills
"We're not just showing students what healthcare looks like – we're showing them how they can be part of the solution," added Mark Rogan, Board Chair, HDHF. "Every camper who walks through our doors this week has the potential to return as a healthcare professional who will serve our community with compassion and expertise."
Hanover and District Hospital joins seven other forward-thinking healthcare partners across Southwestern Ontario in this innovative initiative, each bringing their own unique community perspective to inspiring the next generation.
This is more than education – it's about igniting passion, building confidence, and creating pathways for young people to envision themselves as the healthcare professionals our communities need.