Health & Medical Sciences Academy
The Health and Medical Sciences Academy is a Virginia Governor's Health Science Academy that is currently found on Monticello High School's Campus. The Academy provides opportunities for students interested in Health Care Careers. Course curriculum is designed to prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce. Students will engage in various learning experiences during their tenure in their academic course work.
Current Curriculum
The goals of HMSA include exciting students about health and medical science as a profession, increasing student exposure to a broad range of career opportunities in health and medical sciences, exploring Anatomy and Physiology in order to prepare students for the rigors of collegiate A&P course, and providing opportunities for preparation and practice via clinical rotations and internships.
Students enrolled in the Academy will engage in lessons and activities that will provide opportunities for students to demonstrate workplace readiness skills. During their first year, students are enrolled in an integrated curriculum covering topics in Biology, Health and Medical Sciences, and Health. This integrated curriculum was designed by teachers and feedback was provided by local Health Professionals, Professors, and Research Scientists in order to ensure that students would gain the skills necessary for current practice.
Second year students enroll in Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry. These courses are taught separately with a couple of integrated units.
During a student’s junior and senior year, students no longer come together as a cohort. Students are encouraged to enroll in rigorous coursework designed to prepare them for post-high school education. Additionally, students complete a Capstone course where they engage in workplace experiences or complete a research project prior to graduation
HMSA Program Changes
Albemarle County will be transitioning from 4 year STEM Academies to 3 year Career Learning Communities in the Fall of 2023.
Current students in HMSA will experience very little, if any, changes. Course selections and program opportunities will remain the same for current HMSA students.
Students currently enrolled in Grade 8 will not be applying to HMSA for the upcoming school year. Instead, students who are interested in participating in the New Medical Science Learning Community will be able to express interest in the spring of 2023.
As more updates are provided they will be posted here.
Congratulations Rachel Field
Started in 1942 as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search, the Regeneron Science Talent Search
(Regeneron STS) recognizes and empowers our nation’s most promising young scientists who are developing ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.
Each year, nearly 1,900 students enter the Regeneron STS, submitting original research in critically important scientific fields of study. Unique among high school competitions, the Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the most promising scientists among the nation’s high school seniors.
Program alumni include recipients of the world’s most coveted science and math honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes, 13 National Medals of Science, six Breakthrough Prizes, 21 MacArthur Foundation Fellowships and two Fields Medals.
Last year Senior Rachel Field was among the 300 top scholars selected by the Regeneron Science Talent Search for her research surrounding bio-pathways associated with the degenerative diseases, ALS. If her research is clinically supported it could help mitigate ALS symptoms as well as prolong the lives of those who suffer from the disease.
We are very proud of Rachel for her accomplishments, her commitment to learning and her contributions to Monticello High School and we hope she is enjoying her freshmen year in college.