AUBURN - Jake Newert has always been interested in the biology of the human body.

The 14-year-old from Auburn has been exposed to the medical industry since he was a child, as his mother is a nurse. But now that he's getting older and thinking about what he wants to do with his life, he no longer wants to live vicariously through his mother.

He'd much rather join the industry himself, most likely as a radiologist.

Newert and 20 other teenagers from the Finger Lakes region got a hands-on look at the world of health care as they attended the Medical Academy of Science and Health Camp on June 30 and July 1 at Auburn Memorial Hospital.

Sponsored by AMH, the Central New York Area Health Education Center and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, the M.A.S.H. Camp - now in its fifth year - provided a group of junior high and high school students the opportunity see what medical professions are available to them as they consider what path they'd like to pursue in their schooling.

Campers were exposed to the ins and outs of different professions within the health-care field.

During one session, students listened to assistant director of radiology Joe Moran and radiologist Dan Nattell, M.D., as they spoke about interior scanning, which includes X-rays, ultrasounds, CAT scans and MRIs.

“It sounds very simplified, but it's true,” Nattell said about his field, “but it's just taking pictures with different cameras. I can actually see through you.”

Since X-rays emit radiation, Kasia Rybczuk, 12, of Skaneateles, wondered how many X-rays it would take to get radiation poisoning.

Nattell said the amount of radiation emitted in X-rays is actually considered diagnostic, and people can receive the same amount of radiation simply by flying in a plane. But even still, doctors try to limit how many X-rays patients receive.

“We don't do it unless you need it,” he said. “It's still radiation.”

AMH established M.A.S.H. Camp five years ago as a way to proactively deal with a shortage of hands in the health-care field throughout central New York, director of volunteer services Judy Santillo said. Rather than sit idly by as positions remain vacant in area hospitals, AMH began targeting teenagers and introducing them to the jobs health care offers.

“It strives to open their eyes to all the different varieties of health care careers that are available to them,” she said, “and make sure they get the right courses in their education.”

By also having the camp at AMH, Santillo hopes these students think about coming back to the hospital or others in central New York when they are looking for a job.

“They may want to come back here and work,” she said, “because we do have a shortage in this area.”

Campers traveled throughout the hospital, learning about every subject, including respiratory care and rehabilitation. They also participated in a decontamination workshop.

Crammed inside a hospital room inside the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, students learned from nurse Allison Salato about the heart muscle and what to do when a person is in cardiac arrest.

Using a dummy as a patient, Colby Buell, 12, of Skaneateles, used a defibrillator to shock “Fred's” heart back to a normal rhythm as Holly Grosholz, 14, of Marcellus, used an Ambu bag to regulate “Fred's” breathing.

“Three, two, one, clear, all clear, everybody clear,” Buell called as he shocked the dummy with 200 volts of electricity.

For several of the participants, the experience augmented and reaffirmed what they want to do when they get older.

Grosholz lost her mom to cancer when she was a child. Now she wants to become an oncologist to help other people and their families.

“I think that maybe I want to do something to make up for it,” she said.

And for Newert, his experience at M.A.S.H. Camp was more than positive.

“It made me like it even more,” he said. “It got me more interested.”