High school has long served as an opportunity for students to explore their interests and prepare for life after graduation, whether that be a four-year college, trade school, or a working gap year.
Camas High School (CHS), in particular, offers numerous clubs that allow students to explore careers in business, law, and medicine. For those interested in the intersection of athletics and medicine, CHS offers a sports medicine class that provides a gateway to other opportunities for practical use.
According to Jacob Howell, CHS head athletic trainer, sports medicine is part club, part class.
“Sports medicine is a class that students can sign up to take. It’s actually more of a program, so we have two years of classroom instruction, Sports Medicine one and Sports Medicine two, and then there’s also a sports medicine internship course that students can take,” Howell said.
The sports medicine internship program allows students to practice what they have learned in the sports medicine class. However, unlike the class, students spend the majority of their “class hours” serving as athletic trainers alongside Howell at CHS sporting events.
“A big part of medical education is not just learning things in a classroom setting, which is very controlled and very textbook … every person may have a very different reaction to the same injury or treatment,” Howell said.
The sports medicine internship program structure mimics requirements for collegiate athletic trainers, assigning students to a specific CHS sport with the expectation that they attend and assist at every home game. Interns also get the opportunity to travel with teams to playoffs and finals.
“So the club is community building, you get to meet a lot of people, and you learn a little bit about the sports medicine aspect, but not as much … the internship program is where you work with athletes. You’re in the training room for a lot of hours,” CHS senior and boys basketball intern Aeden Garling said.
Brook Barber, a CHS senior, is currently taking Sports Medicine two and interning under Howell for the girls basketball team during the first semester and the boys soccer team during the second semester, incorporating her internship experience into her senior project.
Barber hopes to one day work in physical therapy and enjoys the hands-on experience in athletic medical assistance.
“At games, we’re working on keeping the players hydrated … we go in at halftime and make sure all needs are fulfilled. If anyone needs taping, we’re available,” Barber said.
At CHS, the senior project is a graduation requirement for all seniors. Students choose projects based on their interests, with internships being a popular option for those who already know what they want to pursue after high school. The senior project requires a minimum of 20 hours; however, under the sports medicine internship, which includes commitments outside of school, Howell estimates students accumulate around 90 hours throughout the year.
“I try to be at every home game I can be … Howell has a system of doing at least two days a week. I aim to make sure I’m there and present for the time that I need to be,” Barber said.
Outside of game-day hours, Sports Medicine Club (SMC) students also travel with teams for events. From the Tacoma Dome to the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, assigned SMC members become part of the team, supporting athletes throughout the season.
Sports medicine at CHS sets students up for success in the medical field, giving them an outlet to prepare for life after graduation.
“I love the fact that I get to work with athletes in the medical field … it’s something I want to do in my future,” Garling said.
