Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Fall/Winter 2019

4 www. GibsonHospital.org The local Girls on the Run program returned to the GCMS track this fall to give third- through fifth-grade girls the opportunity to be inspired and discover their own strength. Leading the young runners in 2019 were Erin Miller, PA-C, Director of Therapy Services, along with assistants Jessica Delost, Executive Director of Compliance and Legal Affairs, and Nicole McNary, a GCMS Elementary teacher. The girls met for 10 weeks each Monday and Thursday with the shared goals of increasing their physical activity levels, learning important life skills, and making friends through the interactive lessons and running activities. The Girls on the Run season ended with a noncompetitive 5K celebration with other area program participants on Nov. 3 in Champaign. Sparking an interest in science From the laundry to the laboratory, school tours serve a purpose far beyond providing a fun day out of the classroom. Patrick Bean, Director of Laboratory, has been welcoming youngsters to the lab with his own special spin. “I want it to be a fun experience that they’ll remember,” Bean says. “I hope their visit here will help them feel comfortable in a healthcare setting.” Bean’s approach to creating an interesting tour for the kids comes from their own curiosity. “The main question that kids have is ‘Why?’ They want to know why certain things are done when they do not feel well,” he explains. “For example, they want to know why a throat culture is needed when they have a sore throat. We try to answer these questions when they are visiting the hospital on school tours. And for me, because I work in a lab, I hope to spark some interest in science.” Gibson news Girl power