Teenagers today and potential physicians tomorrow will learn the tools of the trade and practice their clinical skills at the 16th annual CampMed program at The University of Toledo.
The two-day CampMed program will be held Thursday and Friday, June 20 and 21, on Health Science Campus.
The 36 students who will be freshman next year in high schools across northwest Ohio will get a taste of medical school for two days participating in hands-on lessons making wrist casts and suturing wounds, as well as taking tours of Life Flight helicopters and mobile intensive care unit vehicles.
CampMed is a scholarship program at no cost to the students, most of whom are first-generation college, minority, rural and other underrepresented groups.
“It’s imperative to reach out to young people early to nurture their interests in science and discovery. Their dreams for the future, which for some might include becoming a doctor, are attainable, and we want to show them there are people who want to help,” said Kathy Vasquez, director of the UT and Ohio Area Health Education Center programs and UT associate vice president for government relations.
“CampMed gives students the opportunity to learn firsthand what it’s like to be in the medical field before they even start high school. The participants really enjoy learning from current students in the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences.”
The camp is sponsored by the UT and Ohio Area Health Education Center programs, which along with other programs throughout the country, strives to improve the health of individuals and communities by developing the health-care work force. UT medical students serve as camp counselors, and the students also will interact with physicians and professors.
The students begin Thursday morning after the welcoming ceremonies with a “Tools of the Trade” session where they learn to use medical instruments like blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes. Lessons continue with students learning CSI-style forensic science, experiencing what its like to suit up in surgical gear, touring a gross anatomy lab and more.
CampMed, which works to spark interest in the medical field for students entering high school, began in 1998. The competitive program requires students to submit a letter of recommendation, a nomination from a science or math teacher or counselor, and a personal essay to be chosen to participate.