As a chemistry teacher at Sharpstown Secondary School, Nabeel Ahmad noticed that some students were enamored with the material, and some expressed a desire to work as medical professionals. He found himself adding lesson plans to suit their interests.
But he couldn’t do much.
“I needed someone who wears a white coat or a nurse, or someone who has that extra knowledge,” Ahmad said. “I had this thought deep inside me that my students didn’t have that opportunity and didn’t have access to those resources.”
MORE FROM REBECCA: The KIPP alumni opened their own school, and then the pandemic hit. Here’s what they’re doing now.
He was working there as a member of the Teach for America body when he began to see some of the inequities that were happening in the public school system. Not only were Sharpstown students denied access to certain programs, but he noticed that many suffered from trauma, depression, and lacked primary care physicians. So he decided to apply to medical school.
This is a carousel. Use the Next and Previous buttons to navigate
Now, he’s a third-year medical student at the University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, where he’s part of the Health Career Collaborative, a nationwide program that began in 2013 to support underserved high school students in their pursuit of office. -high school education, acquire health knowledge and consider careers in the field of health.
The program partners with high schools and medical schools across the country. Its target population is high school students from underrepresented and low-income minorities. The organization partners with secondary schools that serve more than 90% of this population.
Ahmad and his peers at Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine pitched the idea of bringing the program to Jack Yates in both medical school and high school. They got the green light from both institutions and in 2021 they held their first course.
What was once a lofty goal he had as a chemistry teacher was now a reality. He stood outside an anatomy class at Jack Yates High School in his white coat and asked the class what they should do if they broke a bone.
“Cry,” said one of the students, and stifled laughter spread through the class. He smiled and told the student it was a likely outcome, but then explained that they would have to immobilize him until they could get medical attention. He then showed the students how to create a sling with a splint and a band. They then split into small groups to practice on each other.
Five other medical students were also in the classroom, who also gave presentations and led small group activities. Sierra Cowan, one of the other medical students who helped teach the class, taught the students how to identify the three different types of fractures – transverse, oblique and comminuted – by showing them different x-rays, which were also followed by a small group activity. , facilitated by medical students.
“Learning and relationship building happens better in smaller groups,” Ahmad said. “That’s where they start getting to know their students.”
REGISTRATION: ISD Houston’s class sizes are growing, but enrollment is shrinking. Here’s why.
Cowan helped his small group self-identify different fractures based on the lesson. Their group finished a little early, so they spent the remaining time chatting. One of the students told Cowan that she might want to become a dermatologist, but wasn’t sure. She wanted to try a bit of everything.
“You should think about family medicine then,” Cowan suggested.
Then another student intervened.
“I want to be a psychiatric nurse,” said Baylee Smiley, a senior citizen. “I like the rush.”
Smiley used to work with her mother, who is a psychiatric nurse at Ben Taub Hospital, and Smiley was fascinated by the work. Initially, her mother took her with her so she wouldn’t be home alone, but then Smiley started going with her because she wanted to be there.
The class isn’t just great for people who want to work in healthcare, Smiley said.
“They teach us all about the healthcare system,” Smiley said. “Every lesson we learn something new. They teach us about the body, infections and how to treat them. Even if you don’t want to work in healthcare, it’s still worth learning.
#Medical #students #mentor #Jack #Yates #high #school #students