Students at Mt. Vernon Middle School (MVMS) are stepping into the role of real-life problem solvers through the school’s Medical Detectives class—an engaging, hands-on elective now in its second year.

Designed for eighth-grade students, the course brings science to life by combining anatomy, medical research, and critical thinking. Rather than simply reading from textbooks, students actively explore how the human body works while developing skills they can carry into high school and beyond.

Throughout the class, students participate in interactive labs and activities that make learning both memorable and meaningful. From racing down the hallway to correctly label bones on a skeleton to analyzing bacteria and testing antibiotics, the course emphasizes learning by doing. 

Another highlight of the course is a unique diagnostic simulation during the disease unit. Parent volunteers visit the classroom, each taking on the role of a “patient” with a specific illness. Armed with only symptoms and their growing medical knowledge, student groups rotate through each patient, asking questions, gathering clues, and working together to determine a diagnosis.

The activity challenges students to think on their feet and apply what they’ve learned. 

“It was different… kind of hard to know what questions to ask,” eighth-grade student Callie Zelencik shared, reflecting on the experience. “But it’s definitely different from any other class or normal science class.”

For many students, the class is more than just an elective—it’s a glimpse into their future. “I think it’s beneficial for going into high school and knowing what courses to take,” Zelencik added.

MVMS Science Teacher Cindy Macmillan says that interest in medical careers is common among her students. Early in the course, students research careers across the medical field, learning that there are opportunities available at many different education levels—from entry-level positions to advanced specialties. One of the most anticipated experiences comes at the end of the term, when students dissect a sheep’s brain as part of their study of the nervous system.

Beyond career exploration, the class focuses heavily on building real-world skills. Activities like taking and charting vital signs, conducting lab experiments, and diagnosing simulated patients help students strengthen their ability to ask questions, analyze information, and think critically.

By combining hands-on learning with career exploration, the Medical Detectives class is helping students discover new interests and build confidence in their abilities. Whether they pursue careers in medicine or not, MVMS students are gaining valuable experience—and perhaps even taking their first steps toward becoming the next generation of healthcare professionals.