STEM Futures Day introduces middle school students to healthcare STEM

On Feb. 18, SPRI’s EPOC program and partners brought healthcare professionals into Homestake Peak School for hands-on orthopaedic and STEM activities for eighth graders; the event involved BONE Academy, Vail Health, The Steadman Clinic, and support from Smith+Nephew.

The Steadman Philippon Research Institute's EPOC program held STEM Futures Day on Feb. 18 at Homestake Peak School in Eagle‑Vail, Colorado. The event brought orthopaedic surgeons, fellows, athletic trainers, researchers, physical therapists and technicians into eighth‑grade classrooms for a day of hands‑on learning. EPOC was founded in 2012 and has worked with 38 schools across seven Colorado counties, reaching more than 5,400 students. The program partnered with BONE Academy, Vail Health, The Steadman Clinic and Smith+Nephew for this inaugural middle‑school expansion. Key details: - Date and place: STEM Futures Day took place Feb. 18 at Homestake Peak School in Eagle‑Vail, Colo. - Organizers and partners: SPRI’s EPOC led the event with BONE Academy, Vail Health, The Steadman Clinic, and Smith+Nephew providing volunteers and supplies. - Participant roles: Medical and allied‑health professionals staffed classrooms and led interactive stations for eighth graders. - Activities: Students practiced foundational orthopaedic skills such as suturing, splinting, safe tool handling, drilling and fixing hardware on a mock bone, and identifying anatomy with ultrasound. - Program background: EPOC offers programs from elementary through high school, including lab tours for fifth graders, a High School Science Club, and SPRI Summer Scholars; BONE Academy was founded in 2022 and now has chapters in multiple cities. Summary: The event extended EPOC’s outreach to middle‑school students by offering immersive, career‑focused STEM activities in collaboration with local health partners. Organizers reported plans to continue collaborations and expand programming to reach more students in the region.