Summer Students Explore Diversity of Health Professions

By Jon Parham

 Kids in the Summer Science Discovery Program watch a demonstration in the back of a simulated ambulance.
Kids in the Summer Science Discovery
Program look around in the back
of a simulated ambulance.
Radiologic technology instructor Katy Kordsmeier answers questions from students.
Radiologic technology instructor Katy Kordsmeier answers questions from students.
Respiratory therapist Tonya Cook helps a student try on the vibrating vest that is a breathing treatment for cystic fibrosis patients.
Respiratory therapist Tonya Cook helps a student try on the vibrating vest that is a breathing treatment
for cystic fibrosis patients.

The arms of nearly all 105 students in the Summer Science Discovery Program and Youth Enrichment Summer (Y.E.S.) Camp shot into the air. Cook explained one of the many roles of a respiratory therapist is working in a sleep lab with patients whose snoring interferes with their breathing.

Ranging in age from 6 to15, the students were learning about some of the many health professions as part of the weeklong program packed with math and science-based activities and the presentations about various career options in health care and science. This year, the UAMS Center for Diversity Affairs, which sponsors the program, partnered with the St. Mark Baptist Church Y.E.S. camp to host the week of activities for campers.

“This week is not so much about teaching but more about exposing you to the idea of becoming a health care worker,” said Billy Thomas, M.D., M.P.H. UAMS vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, to the students. “And I say health care worker because there’s more to taking care of people than just what the doctor does.”

He noted the work of nurses, pharmacists and the many professions that make up the modern health care team. This includes professions such as respiratory therapists, who work in many types of settings, from the hospital and medical clinics to medical helicopters and sleep labs, said Cook, an instructor in the Department of Respiratory Care and Surgical Technology of the UAMS College of Health Related Professions.

She showed a video of a young girl receiving a breathing treatment for her cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs. The child wore a vest that vibrated to help break up mucus in her lungs. Cook brought a similar vest and let one of the students try it on.

“So how many of you have ever had an X-ray?” asked Katy Kordsmeier, an instructor in the Department of Radiologic Imaging Sciences. Kordsmeier’s presentation included several X-ray images, allowing her to challenge the students on what part of the body was being shown.

“Ewwwww!” was the loud response from most to the X-ray image of a mouth with braces.

“Ohhhh…” was the response to the X-ray image of a patient who had swallowed a fork that was plainly visible in the chest X-ray, as well as another X-ray of a man’s head with several nails from a nail gun shot into his skull.

Kordsmeier talked about how the radiologic technologist helps detect cancer and diagnoses disease. She showed examples of different imaging tools that technologists use, from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to computed tomography (CT).

Thomas charted a path for the students to a career in health care: “The first thing you need to do is read and get serious about learning.

“Be curious. Ask why things work, because curiosity is a first step for moving into science and health care.”

And as they get older, he told the students, their generation will be needed to be the next generation of health care professionals.