Incoming West Liberty-Salem freshman Jackson Reichardt recently participated in CampMed at the University of Toledo, a unique program designed to introduce students entering ninth grade to careers in medicine and the health sciences.

The two-day experience provides students with an inside look at life as a physician while encouraging an interest in science and medicine. Participants engage in hands-on learning opportunities and gain valuable exposure to the medical field.

During his time on campus, Reichardt took part in dissections and other clinical laboratory activities, stayed in the university residence halls and experienced what life as a pre-med student on a college campus is like.

The immersive program gave him the opportunity to explore a variety of medical concepts while interacting with professionals and educators in a collegiate setting.

Programs such as CampMed allow students to begin exploring future career paths at an early age and provide valuable experiences that can help shape their educational goals.

“West Liberty-Salem is proud of Jackson for taking advantage of this opportunity and for his commitment to pursuing his interests,” school officials said in a release.

“The district looks forward to following his journey and seeing where his hard work and passion for science and medicine lead in the future.