Piedmont Eastside Medical Center hosted Gwinnett County principals for ‘Field Trip’

Snellville, Ga. (June 18, 2026) – Piedmont Eastside Medical Center hosted more than 20 principals and support professionals from Gwinnett County Public Schools this week for an interactive learning event designed to forge connections with medical professionals, showcase the range of job opportunities in a hospital setting, and demonstrate activities that could benefit local students interested in health care.

“These educators are in a great position to instill a passion for science and medicine, impart the necessary foundational skills, and show students what is possible for them professionally right here in their community. It was our pleasure to welcome them and, hopefully, inspire them,” said Rozeena Noorani, community relations director for Piedmont Eastside.

The school leaders sutured pigs’ feet under the supervision of emergency medicine physicians, inserted IVs into dummy arms, learned about the virtual nursing program at Piedmont, and tested their knowledge of stroke symptoms before participating in a series of exercises designed to simulate those symptoms.

Hunter McRae, principal of Jordan Middle School in Lawrenceville, said he benefited from being the student again and observing his instructor’s teaching methods.

“I liked putting in the IV because it was hands on, and I got to experience what a medical professional might actually have to do,” McRae said. “Being in education, it was also valuable listening to the person who was working with me—how they taught me.”

Amy Washington, director of special education and psychological services for Gwinnett County Public Schools, said virtual nursing gave her some ideas for her own students’ virtual services.

“Seeing the virtual nurse made me think of the way we support our students who receive virtual speech language services and how to improve that process,” Washington said.

The educators left with knowledge to apply in the classroom—and beyond. Washington said she appreciated the rotation about stroke symptoms because hypertension runs in her family. She took home a magnet for her parents highlighting the signs of a stroke.

Piedmont Eastside was one of several sites in the life sciences and health care industries the principals visited on the June 16 field trip, a longstanding event organized by Partnership Gwinnett and Gwinnett County Public Schools.