With the help of Tucson Medical Center and other community donors, a second-grade class was given a learning experience they won’t soon forget.

TMC’s warehouse donated two boxes of supplies that included surgical gowns, rubber gloves, needleless syringes, IV tubing, face masks, disposable stethoscopes and surgical bed sheets to Callie Mattus’s Elgin School classroom. Mattus uses these supplies, along with other donated and purchased items, to transform her classroom into a hospital for a week so her students can learn about working in health care.

“It has become a highly anticipated event in our Elgin School community,” Mattus said. “I originally created it after noticing that many of my students didn’t know what they wanted to be when they grew up beyond becoming YouTubers or social media influencers. I wanted to broaden their horizons and introduce them to a variety of medical careers in a kid-friendly and engaging way.”

During the week-long unit, everything the students do is centered around the medical field. Mattus said she incorporates academics like reading, math and science through hands-on activities with a focus on teamwork, communication and problem-solving.

“One of the highlights this year was having Nurse Alyssa and Nurse Kortney from TMC’s pediatric unit visit our classroom to speak with students,” she said. “They were incredible with the kids and so kind, informative and inspiring. The students were completely engaged and left with a better understanding of what it takes to work in health care.”

This learning experience brings a lot of excitement to the Elgin campus, and has become a highly anticipated event for staff, families and students.

“It’s one of those experiences that sticks with students long after second grade, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of TMC,” Mattus said.