U.S. Army Suture Lab & HPSP Information Session

Students show their sutured pigs' feet.
From left to right: Gabrielle Smith, Kaitlyn Dickinson, Alexia Hodgson, Kaelyn Kaul, Jordan Fostvedt, Kathryn Weyeneth, & Colin Jones.

Last night, seven of our SD Mines students gathered in the Chemical & Biological Engineering and Chemistry building to learn basic suturing from U.S. Army Health Care Recruiter, Sgt. Christopher L. Sturdevant.

Sergeant Sturdevant demonstrated the most fundamental technique for suturing as the students gathered around. Next, the students were given pieces of pigs' feet that had been cut to simulate a wound. They were then given sutures and allowed to practice suturing the "wound" using what they had just learned from the demonstration. Because of the small group size, students were able to ask questions and interact with Sgt. Sturdevant throughout the suture lab. A few of the students even got to experiment with using sutures with needles of different sizes and strings of different widths and made of different materials.

After the suture lab, students cleaned up before walking upstairs to enjoy free pizza and learn a little more about the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) that is offered by the U.S. Army for those interested in health professions. The HPSP offers many benefits for students, the most attractive of which is a full-ride scholarship through medical school. Medical schools cost students an average of $200,000 in tuition over four years. Students who earn the HPSP have their tuition and books covered by the U.S. Army (along with a generous living stipend of $2,000+/month) in exchange for a 4+ year commitment to practice in an Army facility after completing your training. There is also a $20,000 sign-on bonus for the program that is paid out over three years while you are in a medical program. While in residency and during the "payback" period, HPSP scholars do not have to purchase their own malpractice insurance as they are covered by the U.S. Army.

To learn more about the HPSP, you can go to https://www.goarmy.com/amedd.html.