Cardiology Day Expands Learning Through Unique Partnership

SCH and the Community Partnership School (CPS) celebrated an expansion of their long-standing relationship this year, inviting CPS students to participate in the 4th-grade Cardiology Day, the 3rd annual hands-on heart unit.

The collaboration through B Inspired Philadelphia marked a new milestone, made possible by dedicated parents and faculty. The Wit & Wisdom heart unit first required extra preparation for the CPS students who do not use the same curriculum. 

Parent and physician Dr. Payman Zamani P’32, P’35 stepped up, visiting CPS to pre-teach the necessary foundational material. Once prepared, CPS students joined their SCH counterparts for the full, immersive experience, including observing echocardiograms (thanks to teacher Brian Zalasky P’34, P’41, Sam Earle P’31, P’34, and Danner Friedman P’33, P’34, P’38), and participating in dissections of cow and lamb hearts.

A major, and often unsung, aspect of this successful program is the tremendous effort by SCH parent volunteers. The team included Dr. Zamani, Dr. Danielle Spragan P’32, P’33, P’36, Dr. Brett Hartmann P‘32, P‘33, Dr. Liz Buzza P’35, P’37, Lauren Haimes, PA, P’35, P’39, Dr. Teresa Wang, Zack Tupper, PA, Dr. Tina Smith ’91, P’28, P’30, Dr. Alvin George, and Dr. Kiran Sidhu.

“If we can get even one student to think about the body, the heart, medicine, or science differently and as something that they could be interested in, then the day would be a success,” says Zamani.

From a curricular perspective, the learning goes beyond simple biology. Students study the heart both literally and figuratively through the Wit & Wisdom curriculum. As part of the same unit, students will take a trip to the art museum to view "The Gross Clinic" painting—an intersection of anatomy, art, and medical history, adding a unique cultural dimension to the scientific study of the human body.

"Cardiology Day helped me understand the heart and circulatory system because we got to see the parts in a real heart move and work! Also, a real cardiologist came and taught us more,” said 4th grader Noah Brown.

SCH maintains a long-standing partnership with CPS. Key to this relationship is the Next-Step Scholarship, founded by Springside alumnae. This scholarship guarantees comprehensive support for one female CPS student from 6th through 12th grade. SCH has admitted numerous CPS students over the years. Further solidifying the bond, Head of School Steve Druggan has served on the CPS board since his initial tenure at SCH.