ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL AND LAUSD BREAK GROUND FOR NEW MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL; Partnering for Educational Outreach in Los Angeles County

To better meet the growing needs of students throughout Los Angeles and play a significant role in dealing with the critical physician, nursing and other health care professional shortages, Orthopaedic Hospital has partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to develop the new Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School. Ground was broken on Wednesday, July 2nd, for the new school that will be located adjacent to Orthopaedic Hospitals downtown campus.

(PRWEB) July 3, 2003 - To better meet the growing needs of students throughout Los Angeles and play a significant role in dealing with the critical physician, nursing and other health care professional shortages, Orthopaedic Hospital has partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to develop the new Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School. Ground was broken on Wednesday, July 2nd, for the new school that will be located adjacent to Orthopaedic Hospitals downtown campus. The specialized school offers more students the opportunity to attend a medical magnet high school and achieve their educational goals and vocational potential. The medical education program will include both clinical and research activities.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Orthopaedic Hospital President, CEO and Medical Director James V. Luck, Jr., MD, was joined by Los Angeles Unified School District School Board Member José Huizar, Councilmember Jan Perry, Superintendent of Schools Roy Romer, Local District H Supt. Rowena Lagrosa, and other local officials, as well as students, teachers and parents, to mark the beginning of construction of the Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School in Central Los Angeles. The construction will add 32 new classrooms with the capacity for 762 two-semester seats.

We are excited to break ground for the new Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School and reach out to local and L.A. County high school students with a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity," said James V. Luck, Jr., MD, president, CEO and medical director of Orthopaedic Hospital. We are especially pleased to broaden the scope of our educational mission to include high school students, as we continue to educate future orthopaedic surgeons worldwide," he added.

This is a model for educational partnerships," said LAUSD Superintendent Roy Romer. It is a wonderful leveraging of resources that provides good opportunities for students while creating the classroom space we need," he added.

The 90,000-square-foot magnet school will sit on 4.27 acres and include 32 classrooms, as well as a library, food service, cafeteria, science labs and administration offices. The school is designed to create an intriguing, graffiti-proof facility that carves its own quiet environment from the central city, allowing students a safe and accommodating place of study adjacent to Orthopaedic Hospitals park-like campus.

Our partnership with Orthopaedic Hospital extends far beyond the coordinated planning of joint campus facilities," said Kathi Littman, director of the New Facilities Program for the Los Angeles Unified School District. The Orthopaedic staff will provide real-world opportunities for interaction with the students programmatically and in the development and delivery of curriculum. Since the school is also located adjacent to Trade Tech Community College, there are additional opportunities for our high school students to expand into programs at that site as well," she added.

In 2001, 50,000 to 70,000 students were turned away from the LAUSDs magnet school programs because there were only 15,000 slots available," said Dr. Luck. By establishing the new Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School in conjunction with LAUSD, we will offer more spots -- and significantly more opportunities -- for thousands of Los Angeles students," he added.

Magnet schools were originally intended to improve integration by offering specialized programs in particular fields of study. By doing just that, Orthopaedic Hospitals Medical Magnet High School will offer a concentrated study in medicine and health care upon its planned completion in the summer of 2004. Available in a unique learning environment, courses will allow students to explore various careers and professions related to the medical field while preparing for college.

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Orthopaedic Hospital is a recognized world leader in patient care, teaching and research in orthopaedic medicine, resulting in an improved quality of life for children and adults with crippling disorders. For more than 90 years, Orthopaedic Hospital has been helping children afflicted with crippling conditions lead healthy, active lives regardless of their families ability to pay. For additional information on Orthopaedic Hospital and its services, please visit the website at www.orthohospital.org.