Falls Church Governor’s Health Sciences Academy

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Established Health Sciences Academies

Project Title: Falls Church Governor’s Health Sciences Academy

Program Focus: The program will increase awareness of the growing and ever-changing health field, increase knowledge and applicable skills of young adult moving ahead in their health science pathway of choice, and increase their connection with industry professionals who can direct and encourage students to pursue health science related careers. The program will also include extensions with other CTE program areas, such as engineering and technology, business and information technology, and marketing programs to provide opportunities outlined in the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Plan of Study Pathways for Therapeutic Services, Support Services, Diagnostic Services, Health Informatics, and Biotechnology Research and Development.

Executive Summary

Partnership Members: Fairfax County Public Schools, Annandale Chamber of Commerce, Falls Church Chamber of Commerce, George Mason University – Department of Nursing, Northern Virginia Community College, Howard University College of Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University – School of Pharmacy, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Association of American Medical Colleges—Aspiring Docs Program, Inova Health System, Capital Caring (hospice & palliative care), Walgreens Pharmacy, US Department of Homeland Security–Secret Service, County of Fairfax, VA (Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office), Arlington County Fire Department, Sterling Fire and Rescue, Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Fire and Rescue, James Madison Fire and Rescue, Virginia Tech Fire and Rescue, Prince William County Fire and Rescue – Paramedics, International Association of Fire Fighters, Falls Church Early Childhood Class B ased Special Education Center, Northern Virginia Dental Clinic, Mission of Mercy–Northern Virginia Dental Association, Donate Life Virginia, Allegra Dental, Brother’s Brother Foundation, Patterson Dental, Pace Dental, Federal Bureau Investigations, FEMA- Community Emergency Responde Team (CERT), Giant Foods- Pharmacy Operations, Heartland Dental, INOVA Cares Clinic for Women and Children, Quest Diagnostics, USNaval Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED)

Lead/Fiscal Agent: Fairfax County Public Schools

Contact Person:
William C. McGreevy
Governor’s Academy Administrator
Falls Church High School
7521 Jaguar Trail
Falls Church, VA 22042
703 207-4181
[email protected]

Academy Location:
Falls Church High School
7521 Jaquar Trail
Falls Church, VA 22042

Number of Students Served: The Governor’s Health Sciences Academy will have the capacity to enroll 300 students, grades 10-12.

Career Pathways:

• Diagnosis Services (2013-2014)
• Therapeutic Services (2013-2014)
• Biotechnology Research and Development (2014-2015)
• Support Services (2014-2015)
• Health Informatics (2018-2019)

Academy Goals and Description:
The overall goals of the Governor’s Health Sciences Academy are to provide expanded options for students’ health science literacy and other critical knowledge, skills, and credentials that will prepare them for high-demand, high-wage, and high-skills health sciences careers in Virginia.

Specific Governor’s Health Sciences Academy objectives include:

• Improve academic achievement of students in the Academy;
• Increase completion of dual enrollment courses;
• Provide work-based experiences for students through strong partnerships with businesses and health care institutions;
• Increase high school graduation rates;
• Reduce dropout rates; and
• Increase enrollment and retention in postsecondary education.

Program Highlights:
As a result of participating in the Governor’s Health Sciences Academy, students will:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the skills and knowledge incorporated in their health sciences fields of study;
• Benefit from specialized, project-based courses which develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, preparing them for the 21st century world;
• Acquire greater communication and collaborative skills;
• Develop workplace readiness skills;
• Receive opportunities to earn industry certifications preparing them to be more competitive in the work force and when applying to advanced training schools or postsecondary institutions;
• Obtain meaningful hands-on experiences in their career pathway studies; and
• Benefit from opportunities for internships, mentorships, clinical, and cooperative experiences, providing the student with an advantage when entering postsecondary education and/or the workplace.

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