Building a foundation

An Event For Middle Schoolers Sponsored By The Ascension Foundation Encourages Young People To Consider Stem Careers

When more than 200 students from Haynes Middle School in Nashville, Tennessee, filed into Meharry Medical College, a historically Black medical school, last semester, they were unsure of what to expect. Any trepidation was overcome quickly when they were met with clapping, cheering, a host of fun science-based activities, and medical students who looked a lot like them.

Activity stations, including an obstacle course, a lifesize game of Operation, a spot for taking vitals, and a disco dance party that helped the students learn about CPR, had a deeper purpose than just fun. They were designed to inspire a group of kids who too often are discouraged from pursuing their dreams in healthcare and sciences to “Go Out And Love Science” (#GOALS).

Meharry medical, dental and doctoral students — who come from diverse backgrounds — led the activities for the middle schoolers.

“We are here with the students to make sure that they get the full exposure to see that you can go into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) majors, you can be a doctor, you can be a scientist, you can be a dentist,” said Joanne Obert, Meharry Medical School student. “You could be whatever you want in terms of science and engineering and medicine … finding a career that benefits you, benefits your family, and just truly makes you happy to get up every day and love what you do.”

Emmanuel Kotey, a first-year medical student at Meharry Medical College, helps seventh-graders learn how to use a stethoscope at the ‘Go Out And Love Science’ (#GOALS) event.

The event, whose medical-related activities were designed to inspire and empower students to pursue professions in healthcare and related fields, was sponsored by the Ascension Foundation.

“It’s important to introduce all students, but especially students of color, to these exciting careers earlier because sometimes they are actively discouraged from thinking that they can pursue these kinds of careers,” said Robyn Kress, Senior Vice President, Ascension Foundation. “And we really want to flip that. We want to encourage them that medical science needs them, patients and communities need them. And anything that we can do as a foundation to uplift students and inspire them, we’re here to do it.”

“It makes me feel very inspired to know that there’s people who are doing things that I would love to do one day and they’re being really good role models to show me what I could do,” seventh-grader Issac said.

“It makes me feel happy knowing there’s people that look like me or around me that can have the opportunity to do what they do,” added Kimora, an eighth-grader.

A diverse healthcare workforce benefits not only associates, but the communities Ascension serves as well.

“When we are able to diversify our workforce, it really has shown that it has an impact on our outcomes, our quality, the experience that our patients have,” said Stacy Garrett-Ray, MD, MPH, MBA, Senior Vice President and Chief Community

Impact Officer, Ascension, who serves on the Ascension Foundation Board. “Today is really that opportunity to get them engaged, involved, as well as to help them to envision themselves in healthcare.”