Professional Clinical Practicum provides James Williams of Downers Grove new insights & opportunities

2015 Jun 12

The partnership between Presence St. Joseph's Medical Center and Lewis University provided biology students valuable experience in a clinical setting. Downers Grove resident James Williams was one of the students that was selected for the opportunity.

The new and unique Professional Clinical Practicum course, taught and created by Dr. Elizabeth Kozak, associate professor of biology, was offered for the first time in the spring semester.

"This gives our biology students an excellent introduction to the clinical environment and enhances their application to post-graduate programs in the health field which is very competitive," Kozak said.

Upperclassmen biology majors shadowed health professionals in various departments at Presence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Joliet. Students in the course had the opportunity to rotate through cardiac rehabilitation, oncology, the operating room, physical therapy, advance care of the elderly, immediate care and respiratory therapy. They observed medical protocol, various types of patient care and how to handle patients in different medical situations.

"It was an eye-opener to see what it was really like in a hospital setting," said student Araceli Gutierrez.

Enrollment into the course was done on a selective basis.

Lewis University offers one of the premier pre-professional Biology degree programs in the Midwest. Lewis Biology graduates have averaged 85 percent placement into their professional school of choice over the past five years. Pre-Health areas of study include: Pre-Chiropractic (doctoral option), Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Pharmacy (doctoral option), Pre-Podiatry (doctoral option), Pre-Physician Assistant, Pre-Physical Therapy and Pre-Veterinary.

Lewis University is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,700 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.