Fifth Graders Become Doctors for a Day

TTUHSC School of Medicine Students to Host Mini Camp

5th Grade student at the TTUHSC campus in a classroom for the Doctor For A Day Mini Camp

Nevah Walker, along with more than 40 other fifth graders from Wolffarth Elementary School, had a lesson in what it is like to walk in the shoes of a medical student.

“I thought I wanted to be a firefighter, but I didn’t know you could do so much as a doctor,” Walker said. “We learned that when you eat it goes down to your intestines, where your body makes saliva. The best part was getting to work with the mannequins and the ultrasound.”

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Student National Medical Association (SNMA) hosted Walker and her classmates for the Doctors for a Day Mini Camp in efforts to inspire and inform the elementary students to experience a day in the life of a medical student. Briget Hyde, SNMA president and second-year TTUHSC medical student, said the organization created the event as an interactive and fun way to expose students to the field of medicine.

 “Doctors for a Day gives the students opportunities to discover medicine in an engaging environment but most importantly, our hope is the experience will cultivate a student’s interest in medicine as a potential career path.”

5th Grade student at the TTUHSC for the Doctor For A Day Mini Camp

Students received a hands-on experience at the TTUHSC F. Marie Hall SimLife Center by diagnosing patients with different medical scenarios, working with ultrasound equipment to learn how they are used by physicians, working with simulation mannequins in the simulation lab and seeing an emergency simulation act. Hyde said it is important to start sowing the seeds of higher education at these early and pivotal stages.

SNMA

“We want to get students thinking about medicine as early as elementary school, especially underserved and underrepresented minorities,” Hyde said. “Many students never may have imagined they too can go into this profession. When minority students see medical students who look like them in white coats, our hope is that the students will walk away knowing they too can become a doctor. The experience is invaluable and immeasurable.”

Fifth grader Jakobe Deleon agreed Doctors for a Day was eye opening and fun. When asked what was the best part of the day, he responded, “All of it!”

Related Stories

TTUHSC Names New Regional Dean for the School of Nursing

Louise Rice, DNP, RN, has been named regional dean of the TTUHSC School of Nursing on the Amarillo campus.

A Call for Change: Addressing the Invisible Workload of School-Based SLPs

Tobias Kroll, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, an Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, discusses the workloads and expectations of school-based SLPs.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents

Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.

Recent Stories

Education

TTUHSC School of Nursing Hosts Renowned Nursing Theorist

Internationally recognized nursing leader Jean Watson, Ph.D., RN, presented, “Overview of Caring Science,” on Friday, Sept.12 at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Education

TTUHSC MAT Students Receive Coveted NFL Internships

Jill Manners, ScD, LAT, ATC, PT, NREMT, COMT, FNAP, is giving us a closer look into the NFL internship opportunities that some of the MAT students are experiencing over the summer.

Research

Collaborative Team Earns Five-Year Renewal Grant from NINDS to Continue Stroke Research

Due to this high level of productivity and potential to create new medications for stroke injury, NINDS recently awarded a new $3 million competitive renewal that extends the grant for an additional five years.