High School Students Learn that a Career in Medicine Is Possible

For 50 students from University Preparatory Academy High School (UPA High) in Detroit, a recent campus-to-community event offered a firsthand glimpse into the world of medicine. Paired with 21 MSU College of Human Medicine Detroit Campus students, they explored the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a medical career.

“Together, we are committed to supporting Detroit high school students as they explore careers in health care and envision their futures,” said Nakia V. Allen, M.D., FAAP, MSU College of Human Medicine Detroit community assistant dean and professor, and Henry Ford Health Undergraduate Medical Education director.

UPA High, situated directly behind Henry Ford Health’s corporate offices, participated in the special event as part of the Future of Health: Detroit and Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences initiative to expand opportunities for Detroit high school students to pursue careers in health care.

“The purpose of this event was to show high school students that a career in medicine is possible, while giving our medical students a stronger connection to the communities they serve,” said Abigail Entz, M.D., assistant professor and course director at the college’s Detroit Campus.

This was the third campus-to-community event, with another planned for mid-spring. Each gathering continues to grow in size, reaching more students and strengthening connections between UPA High and the College of Human Medicine.

“I think sometimes the thought of becoming a doctor can be almost like an abstract thought, and the biggest thing that [the high school students] can get out of [today] is to believe that they can do it,” said Doyle David Ford, third-year medical student, who is interested in orthopedic surgery.

During the community event, MSU medical students partnered with UPA High students to review medical cases and help them apply clinical reasoning while exploring differential diagnoses. “I used to be a high school teacher,” said Cordella Tuan, third-year medical student, class representative, and aspiring psychiatrist. “So, supporting high school students and discovering their passions is definitely a passion of my own.”

Tuan, who previously taught math, is part of the diverse group of medical students at the Detroit Campus, many of whom come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including other teachers. UPA High students had the chance to ask about these experiences and learn about the many paths that can lead to medical school.

As the conversation unfolded, MSU students shared personal stories of perseverance and inspiration. One medical student shared that she started a family before being inspired years later by her parents, both health care professionals, to pursue medical school. Another student described improving his college grades to qualify for medical school, after a low high school GPA.

“I really appreciate the diversity of this panel, and I really hope that my students are inspired by all of their individual stories,” said Amanda Hughes, UPE High assistant principal. “You never know what might be the catalyst in my students’ story to becoming a doctor in the future.”

To view more photos from the event, click here.