Saber medics help BMS students improve test scores Published March 19, 2008 52nd Medical Group SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Fewer and fewer young adults today are focusing on science and math-based studying, according to studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, so the 52nd Medical Group and Bitburg Middle School science department have teamed up in a new program to turn this trend around. The goal is to increase the middle school student's awareness of and attraction to the sciences with the assistance of guest speakers. "It's a fact: The academic coursework you need to get into these types of jobs are tough," said Maj. (Dr.) Craig McCluer, 52nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Optometry Flight commander and 52nd MDG coordinator for the program. "Thus, American youth are shying away from these studies." At the beginning of the 2006/2007 school year, Dave Martz, Bitburg Middle School science teacher, was on a mission: He was looking for individuals with science backgrounds. "I was looking for people who had a passion about their areas of expertise," Mr. Martz said, "people who could transfer their excitement to the students." Due to the high levels of science and math-based courses needed for medical positions, in the Airmen 52nd MDG fit the bill. "We put out the call to our fellow medics and the response was impressive," Dr. McCluer said. "All areas of clinical/scientific expertise from within the 52 MDG threw their hat in the ring and we were off to a good start." Since the program started last year, 52 MDG medics have visited the middle school and lectured on many topics. Mr. Martz said he was enthusiastic with the results from the program and this was reflected in the Terra Nova scores. "The Terra Nova test is a standardized test given to just about every student in the United States," he said. "It tests student's knowledge in academic topics that include science and math. Our 2007 seventh grade students had a 16 percent increase in average in these scores over the previous year! This all happened since the beginning of the MDG program." Dr. McCluer said, "This is all analogous to a chemical reaction. The Bitburg Middle School science teachers, Dave Martz and Marc Villareal are the substrates. They're there every day with these students educating them in the sciences. The 52nd MDG medics are the catalysts producing an increased change in the whole process for the better. The products are the intensified interests in the sciences the students are now showing with an end result of hopefully getting more of these students to pursue science and math-based career fields." Upon hearing this analogy and receiving the news of the improved Terra Nova scores, Mr. Martz said he believed that, "The MDG must be a powerful catalyst!" The program is currently riding along full steam ahead with the 52nd MDG planning on expanding it to include the high school.