Milton Hershey School Students Gain Career Exposure from Penn State Health Neurosurgeon

Milton and Catherine Hershey dreamed of providing children with a high-quality education and vocational training so that they could lead successful and fulfilling lives. More than a century later, the Milton Hershey School community comes together every day to fulfill their wishes. Recently, the school’s partners at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center provided Senior Division students with a hands-on experience with the human brain.

Dr. Mark Dias, professor of neurosurgery and pediatrics and vice chair for neurosurgical education, at Penn State College of Medicine, visited MHS to share his knowledge of brain anatomy and his experience as a neurosurgeon with an advanced placement psychology class.

Over 30 students heard from Dr. Dias about the complex anatomy of the brain and got an inside look at some of the operations Dr. Dias has performed. Students watched as Dr. Dias dissected a brain and were then given the chance to handle a piece of the dissection to see the anatomical structure up close.

“I want to major in psychology, so knowing all the parts of the brain is a key factor,” said senior Alyssa Garber. “I thought it was awesome to see him dissect the brain and show the different parts of it.”

During the dissection, students asked Dr. Dias many questions about brain structure and neurosurgery. They came alive as he spoke about his field experiences and explained the impact of brain structure on bodily function.

“I just absolutely love coming to the high school level and seeing the enthusiasm of the students,” said Dr. Dias. “I do it for the fun of it, just for the looks on their faces.”

In MHS classrooms, students of all ages gain exposure to unique educational experiences and a variety of careers allowing them to apply their practical knowledge to real-world examples. Career-focused education programs in all scholastic divisions help MHS students realize the many opportunities available to them after graduation. Thanks to MHS community partnerships, students gain access to expertise and experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have.

“Our One Hershey Partnerships are providing hands-on learning experiences such as this one working with Penn State Health,” said MHS Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction Tara Valoczki. “Our students are having the firsthand opportunity to learn from professionals actively working in the field, growing their foundational knowledge of skills in specific careers.”

Read More about our Entity PartnersLearn More about the History of Career-Focused Education at MHS