Listen to this articleWellSpan Health and York College hosted a youth summit to introduce a diverse group of middle and high school students to careers in health care on May 18.
The second annual Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit drew more than 300 students and caregivers to the event which is part of an effort to improve the health of south-central Pennsylvania communities, the organizations said.
“We need to look no further than our own communities for our future health care professionals and this youth summit ensures that anyone who has an interest in this career path has support in doing so,” said Kim Brister, vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, WellSpan Health. “At WellSpan, we believe in the power of diversity, and the importance of offering programs and an inclusive culture in which every person feels welcomed, respected, and valued.”
The interactive, hands-on activities offered at the event to students in grades 6-12 showcased the numerous career possibilities within health care and encouraged them to consider a career by introducing the practical aspects of health care professions and real people who look just like them, WellSpan Health said.
“We are thrilled to partner with WellSpan Health to host the Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit on our campus. We share in the mission of introducing young minds to all that is possible – in education, health care and in greater service to our community,” said Dr. Emmanuel B. John, Dean of the Myers School of Nursing and Health Professions, York College.
This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Damien Myers, who left clinical medicine in 2010 to teach and cultivate the next generation of Black health professionals. In the process he founded MedReimagined, a Baltimore-based program aimed at inspiring the minds of young people through his own experiences and empowering students to consider becoming physicians.
“For more than a decade, I’ve taught hundreds of aspiring medical professionals and a half dozen MDs. But we need a better way. There are 55,000 missing Black doctors,” he said.
The event also featured information sessions for parents, caregivers and adult attendees aimed at supporting individuals on career pathways in addition to expert financial advice in paying for college.
To continue to be a health care provider and employer of choice, WellSpan said it has made great strides to support an inclusive culture in which every person feels welcomed, respected, and valued. By being more inclusive, the health system can deliver patient-focused, seamless, high-quality care for patients.