DARLINGTON — Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County (MHLC) concluded its 13th year of the Club Scrub Program, which is designed to educate and encourage young students to explore healthcare careers. Club Scrub was designed by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health for the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative and includes a detailed program outline designed to spark junior high student’s interest in the healthcare sciences.

MHLC started its pilot program with three of the seven Lafayette County school districts in 2010, which included Argyle, Belmont and Darlington, with a total of 20 students. It has continued to see Club Scrub participation increase over the years.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the program from being offered in 2021 and 2022. The program returned last year and was met with similar enthusiasm as in previous years. The 2024 Club Scrub enrollment was comprised of 54 participants from Argyle, Belmont, Benton, Black Hawk, Darlington and Shullsburg school districts.

From March into April, these students come to MHLC one day a week for five fun, hands-on 45-minute sessions to learn about healthcare careers side by side with MHLC employees. The rehab, surgery, laboratory, radiology, and nursing departments were selected to create interactive sessions. Stapling pig’s feet, balance activities, microbiology, blood sugar testing, and giving an orange an injection are just a few of the exciting things these lucky students got to perform during their “Club Scrub” sessions.