CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation
CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation
Medical Careers Pathway Program
The medical field is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic industries of the 21st century, creating unprecedented opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals. The CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation prepares students for these opportunities through its comprehensive Medical Careers Pathway, designed to develop the academic, professional, and interpersonal skills needed for success in college and future healthcare careers.
Students have the opportunity to earn college credit through dual-enrollment courses with Pasadena City College and their Health Sciences department. In addition to their academic coursework, students develop hands-on clinical skills through training in CPR, emergency response, suturing, intubation, patient assessment, medical technology, and other healthcare procedures. Beyond the classroom, students participate in mentorships, internships, hospital volunteer experiences, research opportunities, and a capstone project that connects learning to professional practice.
Upon completion of the program, students earn a Certificate of Completion and graduate with the knowledge, confidence, and experience to pursue a wide range of health science careers while entering college with a competitive advantage.
Center Facilities and Equipment
What We Offer
Through our partnership with the Pasadena City College Health Sciences Department, students have the opportunity to earn transferable college credit while still in high school through dual-enrollment courses. Offerings include Introduction to Health Sciences, Medical Terminology, and Human Disease, providing students with a strong academic foundation in the language, concepts, and clinical principles of healthcare. These college-level courses enhance the Medical Careers Pathway by preparing students for success in higher education while giving them a valuable head start toward future health science and medical careers.
*Courses are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00–4:15 PM in the CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation. Students register through Pasadena City College, with enrollment paperwork and transcripts submitted to PCC by the Center Director. All students enrolled in dual-enrollment courses are expected to comply with Pasadena City College’s attendance and academic policies.
The CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation provides students with hands-on clinical training in a professional skills laboratory that simulates real-world healthcare environments. Students earn CPR/AED and First Aid certifications while developing essential patient care skills, including obtaining medical histories, assessing vital signs, managing medical emergencies, splinting fractures, stabilizing spinal injuries, and participating in mass casualty triage simulations. As they advance through the program, students gain experience performing clinical procedures such as suturing and endotracheal intubation using advanced medical simulation equipment. Integrating medicine with engineering, students also design and fabricate custom 3D-printed prosthetic devices, developing the technical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills needed for future healthcare careers.
Students have the opportunity to work with cancer cells and human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) while conducting authentic biomedical research and presenting their findings at science fairs and scientific conferences around the world. To support this work, the CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation features a state-of-the-art research laboratory equipped with the same advanced technology found in universities and professional research facilities, including BSL-2 tissue culture hoods, an iBrightTM Western Blot Imaging System, quantitative PCR (qPCR) instrumentation, thermal cyclers, microplate readers, and automated cell counters. These industry-standard tools provide students with hands-on experience in cell culture, molecular biology, protein analysis, and biomedical research techniques, preparing them for success in college laboratories and future careers in the life sciences.
Our State of Art 3D Anatomage table provides opportunities for our students to visualize human anatomy with the highest level of accuracy. This technology will transform the way kinesiology is taught and how students learn anatomy and physiology. Anatomage bodies provide active physiological responses inside a living human body, simulating and projecting the same responses one would experience in a research laboratory or clinical setting.
As part of our commitment to providing authentic, college-level learning experiences, the CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation incorporates the SynDaver Surgical Cadaver into its curriculum. Unlike traditional anatomical models, the SynDaver is a highly realistic synthetic human cadaver that replicates the appearance, texture, and function of living human tissues, muscles, organs, blood vessels, and skeletal structures.
Few things in life are harder than being born without a limb or losing a limb later in life. We have invested in high-end scanners and 3D printers to engineer and produce prosthetic arms, legs, hands, and feet to serve all those less fortunate who live life daily without. Young aspiring medical practitioners will become highly trained in the technical skills of the creation of artificial prostheses and consult with experts in the field to hone their skills in the design and application of each prosthetic. With great appreciation for those who served our country, our center will provide engineered prosthetics to help transform the lives of pediatric patients and honor the sacrifice of veterans.
Beyond the classroom, students expand their education through volunteer experiences at hospitals and biomedical
research laboratories, where they gain first hand exposure to healthcare and scientific research. Students also benefit from
mentorships with physicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals who provide guidance, career exploration, and
networking opportunities. For students seeking advanced experience, clinical and research internships offer meaningful,
real-world learning that strengthens college applications and prepares them for future careers in medicine, biomedical
science, and allied health professions.
Center Information
Certificate of Completion
Graduating seniors earn a Medical Careers Pathway Certificate of Completion and a red graduation cord upon successfully completing all program requirements during their tenure at La Salle College Preparatory, including:
- Completion of at least two Pasadena City College Health Sciences dual-enrollment courses.
- Demonstration of proficiency in all required clinical and hands-on medical skills.
- Completion of a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service in a healthcare setting.
Medical Careers Pathway Honors Distinction
Students who fulfill all Certificate of Completion requirements during their tenure at La Salle College Preparatory and complete an advanced capstone or internship are recognized with a white graduation stole. To earn this distinction, students must also complete one of the following:
- Design, conduct, and present an original biomedical research project at the Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair (LACSEF) and/or a professional scientific conference.
- Complete a clinical or biomedical research internship in a healthcare or biomedical research setting.
Students are required to purchase a set of navy blue scrubs. To participate in Clinical Skills Laboratory activities, students are
required to wear navy blue scrubs with the official CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation iron-on patch (provided by the Center)
and closed-toe shoes. Students enrolled in the CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation may wear their scrubs in place of their
regular school uniform except on school-designated dress-up days where students are required to wear the prescribed school
dress uniform.
The CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation is open Monday through Friday from 2:45 PM to 5:00 PM. During these hours, students have access to the Center’s laboratories, equipment, and academic support for coursework, skills practice, research projects, and individualized assistance from faculty and mentors.
The CARLOW Center for Medical Innovation at La Salle College Preparatory is generously funded by a grant from The Carrico Family Foundation.
Ms. Parga holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and teaches a wide range of science courses, including AP Biology, Human Anatomy, Forensic Science, Sports Medicine, and Chemistry. Before entering education, she conducted stem cell and cancer research at City of Hope and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, becoming a published scientist with expertise in cancer genomics and stem cell research. Inspired by her passion for science and desire to make a meaningful impact, she transitioned into teaching. Her mission is to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to succeed in science and healthcare careers.
