Provo High School senior Milo Jaynes recently earned his ECG (electrocardiogram) certification, one of ten students to receive the certification this year, and in pursuing this credential through the CAPS Health Science program, Milo studied the intricacies of the heart; its anatomy, electrical rhythms, and its functions. Through the studies of the heart, Milo has set a pace for his post-grad plans, finding a potentially clear signal of what he wants: a future as a healthcare professional.
Jaynes wasn’t always set on a medical path. It wasn’t until CAPS that he started to explore medical professions.
He first heard about CAPS during a random school lunch presentation and initially thought he might join the business strand. “I actually wasn’t really interested in medical courses until I took a medical anatomy class,” he said. But that class changed everything. Inspired, Jaynes switched into the Health Science strand, a choice he now calls “the best decision he’s made.”
From day one, the ECG unit had him diving into unfamiliar territory. Jaynes and his classmates began with the basics; how the heart’s electrical signals create the peaks and valleys of an ECG readout. They practiced placing electrodes and memorized the waveform sequence of a normal heartbeat. Before long, learning became a puzzle-solving exercise. “Every day we’d find ECGs online, or in our textbook, and spend time testing out and finding what was wrong,” Jaynes said, describing study sessions spent poring over printouts of heart rhythms.
Studying as a team turned a daunting task into a shared mission. “With everyone in the same class working towards the same goal, it made it real easy,” Jaynes says. The material was still rigorous, but tackling it side by side with friends erased much of the intimidation. The group motivated each other, celebrating small victories together, and, in the process, forged friendships that will last beyond the semester. Or, as Jaynes describes them, “lifelong relationships.”
Jaynes practiced the hands-on skills of an ECG technician. He learned to place ECG leads on a patient (often a classmate) and operate the machine to capture a clear reading. It’s one thing to study a heart diagram; it’s another to watch your own heartbeat appear on the monitor. Those moments made the lessons stick.
“It’s completely different from normal school,” Jaynes says of CAPS. “You get hands-on experience in a profession.”
That real-world connection is by design. Erica Persson, CAPS Health Science Instructor, said the ECG program is built to move students beyond the classroom and into clinical settings.
“We’re excited to highlight our current ECG interns from Provo CAPS,” Persson said. “After completing their ECG certification last fall, they’ve been able to intern with the Cardiology Unit at Intermountain Health Hospital in Provo. These students are gaining hands-on experience in electrocardiography, working closely with skilled technicians and medical staff to deepen their understanding of cardiac care. Our program is designed to build strong clinical skills, foster professional growth, and inspire the next generation of healthcare providers.”
Persson added that CAPS students consistently demonstrate professionalism and dedication as they contribute to quality patient care.
CAPS takes learning beyond the classroom. The Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, for example, visited the CAPS students to offer a firsthand look at medical school. Through CAPS, Jaynes met professionals and began building a network. “This class definitely sets me up. And I want to do something medical now, especially after taking this class.”
Earning an industry certification is an opportunity most teens never have. Even the local technical college doesn’t offer this certification to high schoolers. It’s given Milo a head start toward his goals. He’s confident that it’s what he wants to do after graduation.
It’s ironic that a program literally centered on the heart ended up giving Jaynes so much heart in return: resilience, confidence, and a sense of direction. Or, maybe, it’s perfectly fitting.
We’re excited to see what Milo does next with these new skills and confidence. We’re proud to spotlight students like him, and we thank the CAPS educators and partners who make real-world learning experiences possible.
The original article from Provo City School District can be found here.
