LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County students are returning to Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport for the “Student Volunteen” program.

The students, in their teal colored uniform shirts, shadow a variety of hospital departments such as, admitting/reception, emergency, family birthing, family medicine clinic, information management, technology management, intensive care, laboratory services, imaging, medical and surgical nursing, outpatient care, physical therapy, surgery center, and purchasing and material management.

Students are required to complete multiple hours of shadowing in each of the departments to successfully complete the program.

Upon their completion, students may volunteer additional hours as their schedule allows, possibly including some evenings, weekends and holidays.

The Student Volunteen program allows students to get hands-on and shadow experience in a variety of professional medical areas and hopefully helps them make informed decisions about their future medical training and career opportunities.

Participation in the program comes with many requirements of the students. Among those requirements are an application and recommendation process, mandatory participation in an all day orientation, current basic life support (CPR) certification, HIPAA training, proof of immunizations, and hospital procedures training.

Only students who meet the requirements and have a clear disciplinary record at their high school are allowed to participate.

On Oct. 9, 18 students from Lower Lake High and one from Upper Lake High School participated in the first orientation of the year.

Lower Lake High instructor Nina Gibson has had the largest population of students attending this program, with 11 graduates of the program last year.

As part of her medical pathway program, she encourages student participation and provides transportation to and from the event to ensure success.

Other schools are encouraged to participate, however transportation is the responsibility of each school and/or student.

This is the third year of the Lake County Volunteen Program. It is open to all high school students, including homeschooled students, in the county who are in good standings with their school and complete the above requirements.

It is expected that more than 30 students will participate as Student Volunteens during this school year.

For more information on the Student Volunteen program, contact Jacolyn Moore RN at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, 5176 Hill Road East, Lakeport, 707-262-5000, Extension 5473, or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .