It's completely quiet in the brightly lit hospital conference room where nine young women are working intently to suture four-inch incisions in nine pig's feet. Soft murmurs indicate some reticence and frowns betray the natural reluctance to pierce the cold, thick layers of skin.

Only one young woman slides softly into a puddle of faint and has to be revived in the hallway.

These serious and absolutely fascinated young people spent their time at Fauquier Health's summer Medical Camp learning how to suture incisions and set broken bones, courtesy of Fauquier Hospital where, for the second year, administrators, doctors and nurses committed many professional hours to teaching and encouraging students who are interested in a career in medicine.

Wearing teal blue scrubs and seated at long, operating tables, each student works quietly to close the incision by "coming in below, crossing over and tying a knot" to close each stitch.

Two nurses and recently retired orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Dart, move smoothly among the tables giving instructions and compliments on a job well done.

When the suturing task has been completed to Dr. Dart's satisfaction, he begins the stapling lesson and says "…if we have time, I'll teach you how to do a running suture. That will really be fun!"

Suddenly there is a lot of chatter as each student turns to help another to make certain they all finish the stapling in time to learn the running suture stitch, and the room begins to sound like any classroom filled with enthusiastic learners who are sharing a newly discovered aptitude.

Last summer, Fauquier Health offered their junior volunteers the opportunity to attend "Medical Camp." The only requirement was that only junior volunteers could attend. Fifteen junior volunteers signed up and the word rapidly spread that this camp was every bit as much fun as learning to row, ride or play tennis.

"When we received 48 applications this year we really didn't know what to do," Registered Nurse Wendy Greenwood explained. "It's expensive to make the time commitment of doctors and nurses to ensure that the camp is run successfully. We really weren't sure how many summer camp students we would be able to accommodate."

After deep discussion, the VI-Peds committee responsible for this program made a truly admirable decision:

Every student who wants to learn more about a career in medicine will be able to participate in our Summer Medical Camp. Not one student will be turned away if medicine is part of their dream.

The investment has been a good one with important, life-changing experiences for the students who participate, and for the community that now can offer a serious summer program to students who want to spend their free time opening a window on their future careers.

Suturing is not the only area of medicine students may study in the Fauquier Health program. They offer a Listening Lab where students learn more about heart and lung sounds, take blood pressures, use the Doppler to find a pulse and feel the "thrill" and listen to the "bruit" of a dialysis patient's fistula.

Sports Medicine, Medical Imaging, Cardiology, Mammography and Backboarding, to stabilize a victim's neck, extricate them from a vehicle and strap them down to a backboard are also offered.

There is also an Injections and Phlebotomy session that teaches students how to draw blood by using oranges to practice injections, a Laparoscopic session where students learn dexterity and how to perform surgery and a final Obstacle Course where all students push a wheelchair-bound 'patient' through various stations to perform the activities they've learned while wearing 'drunk goggles' that simulate how they would feel if they were impaired.

Among the many professionals who helped make the Summer Medical Camp a success are Nicole Polster of the staff development department; Wendy Greenwood, RN in surgical services; Julie Whisler, medical camp project manager; Sandy Williams, clinical coordinator; Dr. Robert Dart; Karen Gilbert and Jane Dale, RN's; Michele Glowicki, physician's assistant; Mel Brown, medical imaging supervisor; Erica Hansen, intern; Carla Adams, senior director of patient care services; Kim Ryan, RN; Angie Tolley, cardiopulmonary supervisor; Kathy Grammo, cardiopulmonary sonographer; Dr. James Koepke, Stevie Nicholas; Chris Kelleher, medical imaging, and Casey Flynn, RN.