The classroom can only teach so much. For students in Archbishop Curley High School’s Principles of Biomedical Science and AP Biology classes, a November field trip to Baltimore’s renowned R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center turned months of textbook learning into something far more visceral and unforgettable.
The visit pulled back the curtain on how emergency trauma teams work together to save lives every single day and gave students a rare opportunity to step into the action themselves. For many, it was the moment their interest in medicine stopped being abstract and started feeling real.
The R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center is the nation’s first integrated trauma hospital, founded by R. Adams Cowley, known as the father of trauma medicine, who developed the concept of the “golden hour,” emphasizing that the first 60 minutes after a traumatic injury are often the most critical in saving a life. What started as two beds in a basement has grown into one of the most recognized trauma centers in the world, its staff identifiable by their pink scrubs representing teamwork and lifesaving care.
The program, known as Minds of the Future, introduced students to trauma care, injury prevention, and careers in the health professions and was led by Sarah Hewitt, a licensed occupational therapist and injury prevention program coordinator. Hewitt walked students through the history of the center and explained how car crashes remain one of the most common reasons patients end up there, a sobering fact given that Maryland alone reported more than 110,000 car crashes in 2023.
One of the most powerful moments came from Owen Bell, a Bucknell University student who survived a severe traumatic brain injury after a car crash, was airlifted by helicopter to Shock Trauma, and had to relearn many basic skills during a long recovery. His story hit differently because of how close he is in age to the students listening. The dangers of distracted or unsafe driving were no longer a statistic; they had a face and a name.
“Hearing from someone our age who actually went through that made everything feel real,” said one student who attended the trip. “It wasn’t just numbers anymore.”
Students also got hands-on time in the simulation lab, working together to treat a high-fidelity manikin with unstable vital signs. By checking the patient’s pulse, listening to lung sounds, and reviewing the monitor, they identified an opioid overdose and administered Narcan as part of the scenario. There was no multiple choice and no partial credit. Either the patient made it or they didn’t.
Students also completed Stop the Bleed training and toured the trauma center itself, standing on the rooftop helipad where helicopters carrying critically injured patients land every day. For students with dreams of careers in medicine, nursing, or emergency response, that view from the top carried real weight.
Students left knowing that their choices matter and that informed decisions can help save lives in their communities. For those with dreams of medical school, nursing programs, or careers as first responders, the Shock Trauma visit was more than just a field trip. It was a glimpse into their future and a reminder of exactly why the work they do in the classroom matters.
Some lessons, it turns out, can only be learned in person.
