Portsmouth, VA  –   Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) Healthcare Simulation and Bioskills Training Center (HSBTC or SIM Center) held a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, including Computer Science (STEM/CS) event for Portsmouth School System (PSS) high school students, Dec. 9.

NMCP has signed an Education Partnership Agreement with PSS for mentorship of high school students to medical simulation, and the command’s diversity committee was instrumental in coordinating the event.
“This was a STEM initiative through the Diversity and Inclusion Committee,” said Lt. Cmdr. Abiola Babawale, EPA mentorship program manager. “The goal is to mentor and foster local high schools students who are interested in a future career in medicine.”

Twenty-two 10th to 12th grade students from Portsmouth’s Manor, Churchland, and I.C. Norcom high schools visited the SIM Center to see demonstrations on the simulation medical training that is done at NMCP.

“The SIM Center has supported STEM events in the past, but this is the first time in years since a school has come to our facility,” said Kim Gunzelman, NMCP’s SIM Center manager. “It was a pleasure to host the visit, and we look forward to future events.”

As the U. S. Navy's oldest, continuously-operating hospital since 1830, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth proudly serves past and present military members and their families. The nationally acclaimed, state of the art medical center, including its ten branch and TRICARE Prime clinics, serves the Hampton Roads area and additionally offers premier research and teaching programs designed to prepare new doctors, nurses and hospital corpsmen for future roles in healing and wellness.