Monroe, Ga. (June 24, 2025) – Piedmont Walton Hospital recently hosted their second annual Healthcare Day Camp, providing an opportunity for Walton County high school students to learn more about careers in healthcare through presentations and shadowing Piedmont Walton employees.

While Piedmont Walton Hospital offers work-based learning for high school students during the school year, it is only offered in two counties, so this day camp allows the hospital to expand their impact on the community and offer the experience to a wider range of students.

“Schools do the best they can with the time they have, but it’s limited as far as to what students are exposed to, and many students just don’t know what’s available,” said Jamilla Fontenot, Piedmont Walton Clinical Education Coordinator. “So, we try to show the students from an early age what’s possible in healthcare.”

During the camp, students participated in four 45-minute clinical rotations in the OR, Therapy Services, Wound Care and EMS departments. In these rotations, students learned about how to communicate with patients in various scenarios, what preparations are necessary before meeting with and interacting with patients, information on how specific operations work, and general insight about the departments from Walton employees.

Students also learned about the flight paramedic team through a presentation from Richie Caignan, a flight paramedic with Air Evac. Caignan explained the different responsibilities of the crew members, why the helicopter is necessary, and their team’s role in patient care at Piedmont.

Lastly, they participated in an Athens Tech nurse simulation led by Elizabeth Heath, Nursing Program Coordinator for the Walton campus. Students received hands-on experience with mannequins and other simulation tools to experience some of the responsibilities of being a nurse.