It won't be a typical summer for Kayla Kilba, a Grade 11 Mackenzie Secondary student who will spend most of July in Vancouver learning the intricacies of the human cardiovascular system.
Kilba is one of 10 students selected from 170 applicants for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon annual High School Summer Research Program. It's Canada's only cardiovascular research mentoring program.
"My family has a history of cardiac diseases and I hope I will be able to focus on the knowledge of the heart and learn the 'why and how,'" said Kilba. "And with these answers the summer program should help secure my confidence in knowing this is the career and proper path for me."
Students will also participate in a wide range of activities related to the goals of the program, including an ambulance ride along, observation of an open-heart surgery, CPR certification, and nutritional cooking classes.
"Being accepted has made me feel like all my hard work has finally paid off," said Kilba.
See more in The Citizen.
