Orangeburg County School District (OCSD), in partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Medtronic, successfully hosted a hands-on career exploration event designed to introduce high school students to the wide array of opportunities in health care and medical technology.
The event was held on Wednesday, April 2 at 410 Broughton Street in Orangeburg and welcomed approximately 200 high school STEM students from Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg counties. Students attended one of two sessions held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 2 {: } 3 0 \mathrm { p. m } . to 3 {: } 0 0 \mathrm { p. m } .
Throughout the day, students engaged with health care professionals and industry experts at 10 interactive stations — five hosted by Medtronic and five by MUSC. They explored innovative medical devices, learned about real-world applications of technology in operating rooms and clinical settings, and gained firsthand insight into a variety of career paths in the medical and health technology fields.
“This was an incredible opportunity for our students to explore the possibilities within the health care industry in a meaningful, hands-on way,”
said Mr. Robert Hemby, Jr., coordinator of CTE, Early College and K-12 School Innovation for Orangeburg County School District. “It’s one thing to hear about a career path — it’s another to speak directly with professionals and interact with the tools they use every day. This experience was lifechanging for our OCSD students, he said.”
Dr. Shawn D. Foster, Superintendent of Orangeburg County School District, emphasized the importance of community and industry partnerships in expanding student horizons, “We are deeply grateful for the partnership with MUSC and Medtronic. Opportunities like this expose our students to highdemand, high-impact careers
while demonstrating what is possible when education, health care, and industry leaders come together with a shared purpose. These experiences ignite aspirations and help our students envision a future of success, he continued.”
The event also served as the official kickoff for MUSC’s Innovation Awareness Month, a celebration of cutting-edge ideas, partnerships, and technologies that are shaping the future of health care. By collaborating with Medtronic, a global leader in health care technology, MUSC is highlighting how innovation drives education, enhances patient care, and inspires the next generation of medical professionals.
