Kansas teens are 'Doc for a Day'
Annual program at KU School of Medicine-Wichita inspires Kansas high school students to pursue careers in medicine
Dozens of Kansas high school students recently took their first step inside of a medical school and experienced what being a doctor is like during the annual Doc for a Day program at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.
From checking vital signs to CPR training, suturing and even delivering a baby from a high-tech manikin in the Simulation Center, activities during Doc for a Day aim to inspire high school students to pursue a career in medicine.
The 74 teens who attended Doc for a Day in November went to different stations throughout the day at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, learning a variety of skills from current medical students.
"It is so encouraging to see the excitement from the high school students who attend Doc for a Day," said Tessa Rohrberg, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. "For some of them, this is their first exposure to a possible career in health care."
Rohrberg said she was also inspired by the medical students who continue to plan, create and host the Doc for a Day program every year. This year, 36 medical students volunteered to help with Doc for a Day.
"They are already planning for how to reach more high school communities," Rohrberg said of medical students in the Family Medicine Interest Group at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. "I really enjoy getting to observe them share their knowledge, skills and passion with the high school students."
High school principals and guidance counselors recommend high school students for participation in Doc for a Day, which started in 2001. The program is sponsored by the student-led Family Medicine Interest Group at KU School of Medicine-Wichita with support from the Department of Family & Community Medicine.
Students participating in the 2023 Doc for a Day program were from the following schools:
- Andover High School
- Augusta High School
- Campus High School
- Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center
- Clearwater High School
- Conway Springs High School
- Derby High School
- East High School
- Eisenhower High School
- El Dorado High School
- Heights High School
- Hesston High School
- Kingman High School
- Maize High School
- Maize South High School
- Manhattan Virtual Academy
- Mulvane High School
- Newton High School
- North High School
- Northwest High School
- Rose Hill High School
- South High School
- Southeast High School
- Trinity Academy
- Valley Center High School
- Wellington High School
Above, left: Yuto Iwakuma, a third-year medical student at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, guides high school students from Andover and Derby in medical techniques.
Above, right: Two Maize South High School students practice chest compressions on a half-manikin during the annual Doc for a Day program at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.
Doc for a Day photo album
To see more photos from Doc for a Day, view the online photo album.