Chances are that you have heard of one of FM High School’s rising clubs: STEM Connections. Whether you have glanced at the colorful and vibrant posters hung around the halls of the school or heard about it during FMTV announcements, you have likely come into an encounter with the club; however, how much do you truly know about this club?
STEM Connections is a club at the high school that is catered towards students with an interest in medical or STEM related fields as a future career or are simply interested in this subject matter. Founded by Sureeta Das, a current junior, this club hosts lectures given by a professional in the STEM field, ranging from doctors, to engineers, and more. One of the first lectures was given by Michelle Klick, the clinical research manager at the Upstate Global Institute, boasting 24 years of diverse research experience across multiple clinical areas. Throughout her time, she has made substantial contributions to vaccine development for various diseases. During the lecture, Ms. Klick gave the audience a wonderful and informative presentation on her career as a clinical research manager and gave advice to students who might be interested in following that career path.
A second meeting was led by two engineers from Lockheed Martin, Evan Matson and Eric Matson, both of whom are graduates of Binghamton University. Their lecture discussed the role engineers play in their respective fields, and the education required to get into this field. Additionally, they also gave advice on the logistics of a career in engineering, for example, the work-life balance, the salary, and what a day-to-day life looks like for an engineer.
A most recent meeting was led by Subhash Das, an anesthesiologist who hosted an incredibly didactic lecture on what a medical career will entail and provided a hands-on workshop on intubating patients using mannequins. Similar to the engineering lecture, Dr. Das provided information on the schooling required for a career in medicine and the general pathway needed in order to eventually specialize in a specific medical field.
Stem Connections gives a foundation and an insight into whatever STEM-related field students might wish to pursue in the future. Attending the club’s meetings will earn SHS hours if you are a member of Science Honor Society, and snacks are always available during the meetings. The next club meeting is still undecided but when the decision is made, make sure to come. You won’t regret it!
