Medway High School Students' Biomedical Science Project on HIPAA Awarded First Place in Mass STEM Hub Student Industry Connects
Students Kennedy Hamm (second from left), Lauren LeClair (center) and Chandrika Rajkumar (second from right) were awarded first place for their biomedical science project submitted to Mass STEM Hub’s Student Industry Connects program. Not pictured: Elizabeth McNeil. (Photo courtesy Medway Public Schools)
Principal John Murray is pleased to share that four students were recently awarded first place for their biomedical science project submitted to Mass STEM Hub’s Student Industry Connects program.
The winning team -- juniors Chandrika Rajkumar and Kennedy Hamm and freshmen Elizabeth McNeil and Lauren LeClair -- took this year's Principles of Biomedical Science course. The course is offered through Project Lead the Way and is now part of a designated Innovation Pathway.
Their project focused on HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996), which protects patient privacy. The team created two visuals that could be displayed at a doctor's office.
One visual, created for display in a waiting room, explains patients' rights under the law and outlines what information is protected, and when and why information could be shared. A second visual, created for internal reference, reminds employees of HIPAA do's and don'ts, such as what type of patient information cannot be disclosed, and when and how patient information can be legally and safely shared.
The team's project was evaluated by industry professionals and was awarded first place among the high school biomedical science projects submitted for consideration.
"The Student Industry Connects program provides an excellent opportunity for our students each year, allowing them to complete projects that give them hands-on, real-world experience, as well as receive meaningful feedback from experts in STEM," Principal Murray said. "Receiving first place in the Biomedical Science category is a great achievement and we are very proud of Chandrika, Kennedy, Elizabeth and Lauren."
The Mass STEM Hub Student Industry Connects program also accepts high school project submissions in the areas of computer science and engineering. Middle school students also may submit projects to the progra
