医疗保健的火花 inspires interest in STEM
Medical resident 达娜厄聪明 created a program to encourage minority students to pursue health careers.
Dr. 达娜厄聪明 noticed a disparity in many pre-college students’ access to fields related to health care and STEM early in her time in medical school at Loma Linda University in 加州.
In response, Smart, now a second-year resident at UNC Family 医学, created 医疗保健的火花 at the end of her first year of medical school to encourage professionals in training to engage with middle and high school students. The goal is to spark their interest in medicine and related scientific fields.
“I believe there must be more diversity in healthcare,斯玛特说. “Lack of resources and lack of exposure to black and brown health care professionals are two barriers that inhibit minority students from pursuing health careers, barriers which 医疗保健的火花 addresses.”
Smart began with an afterschool enrichment program in San Bernardino, 加州, supported by Loma Linda University’s 健康y Neighborhood Project. Many of the children participating had parents who were incarcerated. Medical students led interactive sessions that reinforced concepts of basic anatomy and physiology with educational games, using a health care booklet that Smart has now published.
Starting her residency at UNC Family 医学, Smart hoped to expand the program to more institutions, noting the positive feedback from students.
“我在美国大学进行了一项调查.S. 圣贝纳迪诺的梦想学院, and all of the respondents reported learning more about science and being more interested in health careers since starting 医疗保健的火花,斯玛特说. “Feedback at Culbreth Middle School in Chapel Hill was similar, with students noting the session was better than they expected, and that they didn’t know a science lesson would be so enjoyable.”
医疗保健的火花 has now made its book and video resources 可在网站上查阅. Smart’s goal is to have more professionals in training who can lead the learning sessions.
“最终, I hope 医疗保健的火花 inspires students to pursue health careers and creates mentorship opportunities for volunteers who decide to start the program at their institutions,斯玛特说. “I want students to see providers who look like them and to know they can achieve whatever goals they aspire to.”
要了解更多关于这个项目的信息， 观看这个视频 和访问 healthcaresparks.org.
