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Overview
This program which began as a component of the established Math/Science Magnet in 1992, is currently a discrete magnet. It is a four-year program for students in grades 9—12 who are interested in pursuing careers in the healthcare field, including but not limited to physicians. The program is especially designed for students with well developed academic skills and a strong interest in the healthcare field. The program requires completion of all requirements for entrance into a four-year university. Enrollment in advanced courses is encouraged. All students must take a semester of introductory statistics. Honors level Science courses are required at the very least and Advanced Placement is recommended whenever appropriate. All students must take science, math and English classes each semester.
The medical component in the magnet is a four-year program that emphasizes medical careers as a future option. Students are required to learn in a hospital setting. Two local hospital are currently providing opportunities for student participation that are exclusive to the medical magnet program. Northridge Hospital Medical Center and Valley Presbyterian provide seminars and job shadowing opportunities for the 9th and 10th grade students. Students are required to perform 100 hours of community service during the 10th & 11th grades and to complete a research project during the 12th grade. Core courses in History, English Science, Statistics, Health and Life Skills incorporate a medical flavoring to the material in the curricula.
The student body of the Magnet is composed of students who would normally enroll at a large number of the district’s high schools as residential students. The Magnet student ethnic composition, as per the original court order and organizational chart, is 40% white and 60% minority
Educational Philosophy
This magnet appeals to students who generally excel in the fields of math and science and/or have a particular interest in exploring medicine as a career option. Because this is the type of student who is drawn to the magnet, teachers feel compelled to offer a competitive, creative atmosphere in the classroom and a variety of advanced classes in all areas.
Differentiated Objectives of the Program
Medical Magnet students are expected to pursue interests outside of the medical field through their participation in the various campus activities. These include but are not limited to athletic teams, performing arts groups, student leadership, journalism and our extremely diversified club program.
Since 100% of the students plan for post-secondary education and most choose a four-year university, the objectives in each course are to challenge and advance the knowledge and academic competency of the student.
9th grade students are enrolled in a mandatory specialized integrated science course that offers a medical illustration component that encourages the development of observational skills and microcoordination of the hands and fingers. Another component of the course is physical anthropology which offers students an opportunity to understand the diversity of human physiognomies. Another component for 9th graders is a one semester course in statistical analysis that proves to be very beneficial for the research project required in the 12th grade.
9th Grade Health and Life Skills have also been modified to specifically suit the needs of Medical Magnet students. They are encouraged to study health problems in greater depth and to explore the specifics of a variety of medical careers. This is facilitated by up to 14 trips per year to Northridge Hospital Medical Center where career seminars are presented to our students. This is an exclusive program available only to Van Nuys High School Medical Magnet students.
Advanced Placement courses are available in English, Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, Art, Computer Science and Music Theory.
The hospital component is exclusive to our Medical Magnet program and allows students to visit and work at various stations within the hospital.
In the 11th grade Medical Magnet students are expected to complete a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer service at a pre-approved healthcare facility. Most of the students complete this requirement easily and in fact the majority exceed the minimum. Most of the volunteer work is performed at one of the three hospitals that sponsor our program, but students not living in the San Fernando Valley are able to perform their volunteer hours at local facilities during the break periods.
12th grade Medical Magnet students are expected to enroll in an independent study class (Honors Research Lab) and develop a research project on some aspect of healthcare. The variety of topics has been very wide with many students opting to study diseases or conditions that affect either themselves or family members or friends. The degree of sophistication is exceptional in most cases. All written texts must be submitted through Turnitin.com a for pay service (funded by the Magnet program for the entire school) that provides a plagiarism rating. In the several years that this research project requirement has been in place, the worst plagiarism rating by a Medical Magnet student is a “B”, and the copied quotes were duly noted in the text. This year the top students will be required to enter their projects in the Young Epidemiology Scholars Competition.
Expectations of Student Performances
Through a program of advanced academic classes and a well-conceived four year plan, it is expected that grades of the program will be well prepared to enter and succeed at the appropriate level of university or professional school preparation. The student is expected to grow in knowledge, look forward to learning, see out knowledge outside the classroom and become an ethical contributor to society.
The students in the medical component will also, hopefully, find in themselves charity and compassion as they deal with patients and staff at the three hospitals. It is expected that students will be able to enter the medical and/or healthcare fields with their eyes open to the many possibilities and their hearts full of the compassion necessary to provide exceptional healthcare.
Multicultural Activities Curriculum
The ethnic mix of the study body of the Medical Magnet and the other magnets and the resident population of Van Nuys High School is such that it would be impossible for the students to participate in any type of group activities within non-magnet classes and extracurricular activities without forming a multiethnic, multicultural group. Classroom discussion groups, research groups, laboratory investigation groups, hospital work groups, athletic teams, newspaper staff, performing arts ensembles and student leadership committees all contain medical magnet students who represent a mosaic of cultures. As long as group activities are required within the curricular classes (and they are) and participation is encouraged in electives outside the magnet curriculum (which college admissions do), Medical Magnet students will be active in multicultural activities.
Likewise, it is impossible to staff a hospital within the Los Angeles metroplex without developing a multicultural staff of professionals. Those leading and speaking to the students will of necessity be representative of a variety of cultures.
Special Curriculum
The presence of three magnet programs on the Van Nuys High campus means that there are enough high level students to create a demand for more sections of advanced academic classes. Because of this variety there is a greater opportunity for students to create accommodating class schedules. All students are required to take a math and a science class each semester. Honors Research Lab may be taken at any time, but does not count for science credit. A one semester statistics class is required of all 9th grade Medical Magnet students and does not count for math credit.
English
- Humanitas, an interdisciplinary program available in all grades
- 10th grade World History places an emphasis on health issues and the history of medicine
- A.P. English Literature, Composition and Contemporary Composition are available to 11th and 12th grade students.
Science
- Intercoordinated Science (Special emphasis on medical illustration and anthropology for Medical Magnet students only)
Math
Special Enrichment Activities
Each year some of our very best Medical Magnet students participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum in Medicine. Because our previous students have been exceptional, the program welcomes our students to participate in an intensive two week experience at a major hospital experiencing medical procedures that are not available to the vast majority of high school students.
Our close association with two hospitals also gives our students an opportunity to make contact with a variety of healthcare professionals. One of the requirements for a top grade in Honors Research Lab is an interview with a practitioner, and this provides our students with an opportunity to develop thoughtful questions and speaking skills in dealing with a professional.
At various times we have had our students participating in the organization of the Health Fair at nearby Valley Community College. While this project has ceased, we may participate in a similar undertaking at Holy Cross. This year we will be participating for the first time in the national disaster drill at Holy Cross on November 17th.
Parental and Community Involvement
The parents of students in the Math/Science magnet along with the parents of the Performing Arts and Medical Magnets have collectively formed the Van Nuys High School Magnet Parents Association, a non-profit organization for support and advocacy. Through rigorous fund raising they support a number of projects that cannot be funded by the district. They have been instrumental in the renovation of the auditorium and in acquiring board support on a number of relevant issues. The affairs of the group are managed by an elected board that meets once a month independent of the general body.
The group conducts monthly meetings that cover topics relevant to the magnet community. The meetings also allow parents to form connections. The organization also publishes a monthly newsletter that keeps parents informed of activities and important dates for the students. They also represent the magnet programs during the articulations with the middle schools during December and January.
Liaisons have been established with Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Providence Holy Cross Hospital and Sherman Oaks Community Hospital. They welcome our students for both career seminars and hands on experience during the 9th and 10th grades. Because our students have a volunteer requirement for the 11th grade, they serve as representatives of the Medical Magnet at healthcare facilities throughout the San Fernando Valley, Northeast Los Angeles, the Central City, and Koreatown. A recent liaison with Baxter Healthcare will see them providing us with their year-old professional medical journals enabling us to establish a small medical library.
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