HCA Florida Northside Hospital Hosts Interactive Healthcare Field Trip for Boys & Girls Club
Richelle Hoenes
Richelle.Hoenes@hcahealthcare.com
(941) 544-0961
More photos/video on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C2csTvWJ2/
HCA Florida Northside Hospital Hosts Interactive Healthcare Field Trip for Boys & Girls Club
St. Petersburg, Fla. — (June 13, 2025) — HCA Florida Northside Hospital is proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay for an exciting and educational field trip designed to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals. On Friday, the hospital hosted over 30 students and chaperones in the Future Leaders Program for a behind the scenes look at how the hospital functions as well as hands-on learning and interactive experiences. The students also left with basic CPR education from the American Heart Association, a key partner of Northside Hospital.
“It’s such a privilege to partner with organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay to provide a fun but meaningful way to spark interest in the healthcare industry,” said Phil Marchesini, chief executive officer, Northside Hospital. “It’s a learning opportunity outside the classroom with hands on experience to the many different career options.”
The field trip featured activities, including:
- Hands-on Rotations in key care areas such as surgical robotics, vital signs monitoring, and the fun but important “Room of Doom” escape room, where students got to test their infection prevention knowledge in a fun and challenging environment.
- A guided tour of the Emergency Department (ED), radiology, laboratory and the Neuroscience Institute, offering students a behind-the-scenes look at critical care and cutting-edge services.
- Conversations with hospital experts, including members of the hospital’s highly skilled stroke team, who talked about signs and symptoms as well as how they diagnose and treat patients.
“Opportunities like this are game changers for our youth. When young people can step inside a hospital, speak with professionals, and try out tools and techniques - they don’t just learn, they begin to see themselves in these roles. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay, we believe exposure is the first step to equity. Thanks to partners like HCA Florida Northside Hospital, our students aren’t just imagining a future in healthcare- they’re starting to build it,” said Mari Nicole, director of work-based learning.
This initiative is part of HCA Florida Northside Hospital’s broader community partnership strategy, which includes a key impact area to focus on expanding access to healthcare careers and fostering early interest in the medical field.
###
About HCA Florida Northside Hospital
HCA Florida Northside Hospital is located in the heart of Pinellas County serving communities around Lealman, Pinellas Park and Kenneth City. It is a 288-bed, full service acute care hospital with more than 1650 physicians and colleagues caring for adults and children of all ages. The hidden gem of healthcare, Northside is a Comprehensive Stroke Center, providing preventive and corrective cardiac care and surgery, 24/7 emergency room services and the latest in minimally invasive and robotic surgery options. The hospital has been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals in 2025 and 2024 and was a 2024 Patient Safety Excellence award winner by Healthgrades. It is also recognized as among the Top 10% in the nation for Critical Care and Surgical Care. Additionally, HCA Florida Northside Hospital has earned the Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognitions from the American Heart Association. For more information about Northside Hospital and its community initiatives, please visit HCAFloridaNorthsideHospital.com.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay is one of the largest youth-serving organizations in Florida, providing safe, inclusive spaces and life-changing programs for thousands of kids and teens across Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties. With more than 60 locations, the organization serves over 24,000 youth annually through academic support, leadership development, workforce readiness, mental wellness, and enrichment programs. Learn more at www.bgctampa.org.