2023 Department of Pediatrics Academic Annual Report

Education: Mini Medical School

The UAB Department of Pediatrics Mini Medical School was founded in 2022 to increase middle school students’ awareness of science, technology, engineering, medicine and math (STEMM) careers, both in general and in medicine. Its ultimate goal is to provide a longitudinal series of virtual and in-person experiences. An additional goal of the program is to increase the pipeline for those who have traditionally been underrepresented in medicine (URiM). The program is co-directed by Brian Sims, M.D., professor in the Division of Neonatology, and Shaundra Blakemore, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. The program is funded through the generous support of the Carlo Family and the Department of Pediatrics. It is overseen by Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, vice chair for Community Engagement. The first Mini Medical School cohort was comprised of 25 6th-grade students from the six following schools: W. J. Christian, Smith Middle School, Erwin Middle School, Huffman Middle School, Cornerstone Academy, and J. H. Phillips Academy. For the pilot program, students met weekly after school at the Northeast YMCA Youth Center from March to May 2022 to hear from a variety of healthcare and science professionals about their careers and participated in different hands-on activities. Since this successful 2022 pilot, the Mini Medical School has expanded to a full school year program for grades 6 to 8. It has also partnered with the Birmingham City School system to provide Mini Medical School activities for students during the school day. The Birmingham City Schools have been generous in their financial contribution to the program, as well as their support in providing a central meeting location and transportation to the students. This partnership has allowed the Mini Medical School to expand its reach from four Birmingham City Schools (BCS) during the pilot to fourteen now. In addition, the program has continued its partnership with the YMCA and has after-school sessions with students at the Northeast YMCA Youth Center for students outside of the BCS system. It now includes students from a variety of schools, including Rainbow City and Calera. In total, ~70 students participate in both the school day and after-school groups. Each group meets monthly in person and via Zoom once a month for the entire cohort to hear from healthcare providers about their careers. Since the start of the program, students have been exposed to a variety of healthcare and STEMM careers. They built a model lung out of a plastic bottle, straws, and balloons during the session with a respiratory therapist. Another session featured a forensic scientist, and the students practiced dusting for fingerprints and identifying their own fingerprint pattern. They have heard about a career as a toxicologist and the Alabama Poison Control Center. They listened to a nurse as she discussed a day in her life and then learned how to take vital signs. A highlight of the past year’s programming was a visit to the Pediatric Simulation Center and the Adolescent Medicine Center during a Saturday field trip to Children’s Hospital. During this time, the students learned about anaphylaxis and EpiPens, how asthma exacerbations are treated in the hospital, how different medical staff work together during a resuscitation and how to suture using bananas. They also visited the adolescent medicine clinic and learned what services are available there. To celebrate the end of the 2022–2023 Mini Medical School season, the closing ceremony keynote speaker was Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. In addition, U.S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell delivered a congratulatory video message.

PROGRAM LEADERSHIP

Shaundra Blakemore, M.D. Co-Director Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Brian Sims, M.D., Ph.D. Co-Director Professor, Division of Neonatology

2023 Academic Annual Report

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