Hands on Hearts

Hands on Hearts
Creator/Director: Hannah L. Sorenson

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Program Accepted November 7, 2005 by Lincoln High School

I. Purpose

A)      Hands on Hearts is a program dedicated to bringing the educational benefits of a cardiac anatomy lab to middle school students in rural areas surrounding Lincoln High School.

B)      The program will identify an outstanding senior Anatomy and/or AP Biology student, and afford this student the opportunity to benefit smaller South Dakota communities. S/he will become both Director and sole instructor of the lab, sampling medical vocations and encouraging all biological sciences for the students taking part in the dissection lab.

II. Objectives

A) Identify:

pericardium
atria: right and left ventricles;
right and left papillary muscles,
chordae tendinae
outflow tracts
valves;
pulmonic,tricuspid,mitral and aortic interatrial and interventricular septa great vessels and pulnaonary veins coronary arteries and coronary sinus.

B) To ensure the Director-elect knows the process of the dissection, the Director will walk through a heart dissection with the Director-Elect before summer break.
C) To ensure that contact is established, the annual report will have contact information for the Creator and previous Director.

III. Hands on Hearts Board

A)      The Board is composed of 1) an administrator, 2) the current AP Biology/Anatomy instructor, and 3) the Director of Hands on Hearts (currently Hannah Sorenson).

IV. Qualifications for Director

This high school student must have taken Anatomy/Physiology and/or AP Biology and demonstrate an intense interest and proclivity for gross anatomy.
The student must have at least a junior standing.
The student must relate well with administrators and teachers and enjoy the challenge of instructing at the middle school level, with the ability to do so in a clear manner.

V. Director’s Responsibilities

A) The Director must conduct one session of cardiac dissection at one host school per academic year.

To facilitate implementation in the subsequent years, any problems in the method of receiving tools, communicating with schools, or instruction of the cardiac lab must be included in the annual report. The appropriate changes should be submitted to the Board Members at the end of the year.

VI. Rotation of Positions

Annually, the Director of the program will be selected by the Hands on Hearts Board. By March, the Board will vote on the Director-elect by casting one vote each on the nominations and/or requests from individual students for the position.
In the instance of a tie, it is in the Director’s power to break the tie with one extra vote.

C) Should there be a scenario that the administrator or the instructor needs to pass on his/her duties in the Hands on Hearts Board, the Board Member need simply name the replacement that s/he sees fit to uphold the responsibilities.

VII. Host Schools

A) Elk Point, South Dakota, accepted the pilot program in October, 2005. Elk Point Middle School hosted the dissection in the 7th and 8th grade science classes while the dissection was run by the Director of Hands on Hearts, Hannah Sorenson. Elk Point has agreed to continue to host the lab annually. With this support Hands on Hearts now has the chance to build a strong foundation. The program will expand to other schools as contact with middle school instructors increases.

VIII. Supplies

Dissection tools may be supplied by the current Department Head of Science at Lincoln, if the teacher hosting the program does not have the necessary equipment.
Hearts are donated by a commercial abattoir through the permit of the district or teacher.

IX. Finances

Finances are currently minimal, but they may increase. Transportation expenses may be covered independently by the Director.
The program may be brought to Avera McKennan Hospital, the Heart Hospital, or Sioux Valley Hospital to solicit additional funds if necessary.

a. In the case of a donation, the annual write up must also be given to the respective hospital representatives along with a thank-you card for their generosity.

B) To ensure the Director-elect knows the process of the dissection, the Director will walk through a heart dissection with the Director-elect before summer break.

The annual report will have contact information for the Creator and previous Director.

X. Continuation of Program

The program should be run by the one student that will commit the time to going to at least one school per year, and not more than three. More than three schools a year may take away focus that may be given more directly if there are a limited number of schools to visit per year.

XI. Resources

A) The Hands on Hearts web site: www.handsonheart.info

Hands on Hearts Hands on Hearts is a program dedicated to bringing the educational benefits of a cardiac anatomy dissection labs to middle school students in rural areas surrounding Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Hands on Hearts identifies an outstanding senior Anatomy and/or AP Biology student to implement the program's yearly agenda. What you should know about your own heart. Why study the heart? Download outline Download supply list Download handout Safety tips		Hands on Hearts Creator/Director: Hannah L. Sorenson Download PDF Program Accepted November 7, 2005 by Lincoln High School I. Purpose A) Hands on Hearts is a program dedicated to bringing the educational benefits of a cardiac anatomy lab to middle school students in rural areas surrounding Lincoln High School. B) The program will identify an outstanding senior Anatomy and/or AP Biology student, and afford this student the opportunity to benefit smaller South Dakota communities. S/he will become both Director and sole instructor of the lab, sampling medical vocations and encouraging all biological sciences for the students taking part in the dissection lab. II. Objectives A) Identify: pericardium atria: right and left ventricles; right and left papillary muscles, chordae tendinae outflow tracts valves; pulmonic,tricuspid,mitral and aortic interatrial and interventricular septa great vessels and pulnaonary veins coronary arteries and coronary sinus. B) To ensure the Director-elect knows the process of the dissection, the Director will walk through a heart dissection with the Director-Elect before summer break. C) To ensure that contact is established, the annual report will have contact information for the Creator and previous Director. III. Hands on Hearts Board A) The Board is composed of 1) an administrator, 2) the current AP Biology/Anatomy instructor, and 3) the Director of Hands on Hearts (currently Hannah Sorenson). IV. Qualifications for Director This high school student must have taken Anatomy/Physiology and/or AP Biology and demonstrate an intense interest and proclivity for gross anatomy. The student must have at least a junior standing. The student must relate well with administrators and teachers and enjoy the challenge of instructing at the middle school level, with the ability to do so in a clear manner. V. Director’s Responsibilities A) The Director must conduct one session of cardiac dissection at one host school per academic year. To facilitate implementation in the subsequent years, any problems in the method of receiving tools, communicating with schools, or instruction of the cardiac lab must be included in the annual report. The appropriate changes should be submitted to the Board Members at the end of the year. VI. Rotation of Positions Annually, the Director of the program will be selected by the Hands on Hearts Board. By March, the Board will vote on the Director-elect by casting one vote each on the nominations and/or requests from individual students for the position. In the instance of a tie, it is in the Director’s power to break the tie with one extra vote. C) Should there be a scenario that the administrator or the instructor needs to pass on his/her duties in the Hands on Hearts Board, the Board Member need simply name the replacement that s/he sees fit to uphold the responsibilities. VII. Host Schools A) Elk Point, South Dakota, accepted the pilot program in October, 2005. Elk Point Middle School hosted the dissection in the 7th and 8th grade science classes while the dissection was run by the Director of Hands on Hearts, Hannah Sorenson. Elk Point has agreed to continue to host the lab annually. With this support Hands on Hearts now has the chance to build a strong foundation. The program will expand to other schools as contact with middle school instructors increases. VIII. Supplies Dissection tools may be supplied by the current Department Head of Science at Lincoln, if the teacher hosting the program does not have the necessary equipment. Hearts are donated by a commercial abattoir through the permit of the district or teacher. IX. Finances Finances are currently minimal, but they may increase. Transportation expenses may be covered independently by the Director. The program may be brought to Avera McKennan Hospital, the Heart Hospital, or Sioux Valley Hospital to solicit additional funds if necessary. a. In the case of a donation, the annual write up must also be given to the respective hospital representatives along with a thank-you card for their generosity. B) To ensure the Director-elect knows the process of the dissection, the Director will walk through a heart dissection with the Director-elect before summer break. The annual report will have contact information for the Creator and previous Director. X. Continuation of Program The program should be run by the one student that will commit the time to going to at least one school per year, and not more than three. More than three schools a year may take away focus that may be given more directly if there are a limited number of schools to visit per year. XI. Resources A) The Hands on Hearts web site: www.handsonheart.info .



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