In a classroom set up like a science lab, with the distinct scent of formaldehyde and scalpels in hand, students in Dallas ISD’s Future Doctors Summer Camp prepared pig hearts for dissection.
“I want to be a pediatrician, so it doesn’t really have to do with surgery, but now that I’ve cut into a heart, and seen all the different rooms of the heart, I think I want to do something with surgery in the future,” Ileana R., a rising junior at Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy said.
More than dissections, the camp provided an immersive look into the healthcare field including anatomy, pathology, and physiology. High school students also heard from medical professionals, gaining insights into their experiences and the paths they took as students.
“I had a great time working with students. They are super engaged and excited, and I love answering their questions,” Maleeha Ahmad, a third-year medical student at Texas A&M University, said. “A lot of them don’t know a lot about healthcare in general so it’s been humbling for me to be able to teach them because it reminds me of how much growth I’ve had, but also how much growth they’re going to have one day, too.”
For Abigail C., a second-year patient care student at Charmaine & Robert Price Career InstituteSouth, the chance to experience a dissection with her own hands was a long-awaited opportunity.
“We learned about the anatomy of the heart, the different structures like the four chambers, and how the blood flows,” Abigail said. “It was interesting and fun because I actually got to touch it and cut into it myself. I was very excited because we were supposed to do it in middle school, but we didn’t. I was an online student so I felt like I missed the opportunity.”
A veterinarian in the making, Abigail discovered her passion for the medical field in middle school by watching “The Incredible Dr. Pol,” about a man’s journey as a vet.
“I want to be a vet but I’m studying human medicine,” Abigail said. “I thought if I can’t study animals right now, I might as well learn about humans. It gives me somewhat of a similar experience.”
