"STEM Behind Health" puts students on the front lines of the medical field exploring diseases still in need of a cure

Texas Instruments and Sanford Health partner to inspire students to pursue STEM careers

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Mar 17, 2015, 10:00 ET

DALLAS, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For parents and teachers tired of answering the question, "Why do I have to learn this?" comes an exciting new activity series from Texas Instruments (TI) and Sanford Health called "STEM Behind Health." Developed with top medical experts and researchers, "STEM Behind Health" provides students with an interactive, hands-on way to explore the math and science concepts behind diseases still in need of a cure.

The new STEM Behind Health activities provide students with an interactive, hands-on way to explore the math and science concepts behind diseases still in need of a cure.

Aimed at getting more young people interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects and careers, "STEM Behind Health" puts students on the cutting edge of the medical field, helping real patients manage very real diseases. The free online activities, available at www.STEMbehindHealth.com, allow students to explore the math and science behind the management of diseases such as breast cancer and diabetes. For example, students will learn how to keep blood sugar in a safe range, why small changes in DNA can cause big problems and how cancer cells replicate.

"By focusing on the math and science behind the causes, treatments and research of certain diseases, TI, along with researchers and scientists at Sanford Health, are bringing STEM to life in the classroom," said Peter Balyta, president of TI Education Technology division. "Nationwide studies suggest future labor shortages will primarily occur in healthcare and STEM professions, so by partnering with Sanford Health, we can generate student interest, as early as middle school, in these critical subjects and in-demand careers."

Teachers and students can download "STEM Behind Health" activities to the TI-Nspire^TM CX graphing calculator, Student Software or TI-Nspire™ Apps for iPad®. The first activity in the series, "Managing a Critical Ratio," engages students in the math and science behind insulin replacement therapy by sharing the daily struggle of Sanford nursing student and diabetic, Chelcie Weber.

"For me, life is a never-ending math problem," said Weber. "By bringing awareness of type 1 diabetes to students and teachers around the country, I hope to inspire a student to go on to one day develop a cure." Weber is studying to become a pediatric nurse so that she can help other kids diagnosed with the disease.

"From nurses and doctors to technicians and therapists, a solid understanding of the applications of math and science is critical in improving the well-being of all people," said Dave Pearce, Ph.D., president of Sanford Research. "Together with TI, we are committed to getting more students interested in STEM subjects and filling the pipeline for future careers in medicine."

For more information about Texas Instruments Education Technology:

Follow TI Education Technology on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TICalculators
Follow TI Education Technology on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TICalculators
Visit TI Education Technology on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/tiforeducators
Visit TI Education Technology online: education.ti.com

About Texas Instruments

Education Technology, a business of Texas Instruments, provides a wide range of tools connecting the classroom experience with real-world applications, helping students and teachers to explore mathematics and science interactively. TI's products and services are tested vigorously against recognized third-party research, which shows that the effective use of graphing calculators improves the mathematical skills of students and their attitudes toward mathematics. For more information, visit www.education.ti.com.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world's brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping more than 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com.

About Sanford Health

Sanford Health is an integrated health system headquartered in the Dakotas and is now the largest, rural, not-for-profit health care system in the nation with locations in 300 communities in nine states. In addition, Sanford Health is in the process of developing international clinics in Ghana, Mexico and China.

Sanford Health includes 43 hospitals, 243 clinics and 1,480 physicians in more than 80 specialty areas of medicine. With more than 27,000 employees, Sanford Health is the largest employer in North Dakota and South Dakota. The system is experiencing dynamic growth and development in conjunction with nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford. These gifts are making possible the implementation of several initiatives, including global children's clinics, multiple research centers and finding cures for type 1 diabetes and breast cancer. For more information, visit sanfordhealth.org.

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SOURCE Texas Instruments