Supporting Underrepresented Children Dr. Destiny Jamison, had no plans for the future while growing up in inner-city Akron. Then, her niece was born. Wanting to be a role model, Jamison was the first in her family to graduate from high school, college and medical school. “Helping raise my niece is my greatest achievement in life. She’s a good person,” said Jamison, DO ’15. “My niece being born really changed my outlook, because I had somebody looking up to me. ... It wasn’t until then I knew I wanted to work with children.” When Jamison performed well in science-related classes in college, she knew pediatric medicine was the career for her. However, the idea of applying to medical school—and paying for it—was daunting. During a Heritage College visit to her college, Jamison learned about Summer Scholars, a five-week program designed to give an immersive, realistic medical school introduction to students who come from educationally or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and/or who are from medically underserved communities. After completion, students have a chance to interview for direct admittance to Heritage College. “The Summer Scholars program really made a difference in my life,” Jamison said. “Summer Scholars helps people become doctors who wouldn’t have had that chance otherwise.” Now, Jamison is a pediatrician in Warren, Ohio, part of the Akron Children’s Hospital network. While she initially wanted to work in her hometown, Jamison now believes she is where she belongs. Access is an issue in Warren, where Jamison sees a mix of rural and urban patients; many specialists are 30 to 50 minutes away in the nearest cities and don’t travel to Warren often. “It really challenges you as a doctor,” Jamison said. “I can’t just send out everyone to a specialist, because they won’t be seen for a long time. The need is too much. With every patient, I try to see what I can do for them.” “I always knew I wanted to go to an underserved environment— because that was how I grew up—to take care of kids I could relate with and talk to. I always wanted to help and inspire the kids who are easily forgotten, especially minority populations and LGBTQ+ youth.”—Jalyn Bolyard
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