3/28/19 – 4:59 A.M.

A collaboration between community organizations allowed 120 area students to watch a live open heart surgery Wednesday. Most of the students are juniors in the Millstream Career Center health professions program. While the surgery took place at a hospital in New Jersey, it was live streamed into a classroom at Millstream.

Dr. James Slater performed the surgery. His wife, Fiona Laird, is an executive at Marathon Petroleum and recently moved to Findlay. They got to know Blanchard Valley Health System CEO Scott Malaney, who put them in touch with Findlay City Schools.

Cassie Van Horn is a health professions instructor at Millstream. She says the presentation was part of an effort to help kids explore different careers.

University of Findlay physician assistant students also took part in the presentation, answering questions during the procedure.

MORE: Students react to being able to take part in the live stream.