Duke Department of Pediatrics hosted its first Pediatrics Career Exploration Day on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the JB Duke Hotel. Students from North Carolina Central University, Shaw University, North Carolina A&T State University, and other surrounding institutions had the opportunity to learn about the field of Pediatric Medicine.
The day began with our opening keynote speaker Dr. Joseph Jackson (Associate Dean and Director of the Duke University School of Medicine Office of Student Affairs and Professor in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health) reminding participants that slow and steady wins the race and to always remember your why.
The morning continued with Dr. Mia Mallory (Program Director for the Duke University Health System Pediatric Residency Training Program and Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine) who shared her journey towards becoming a physician as well as the ins and outs of Pediatric Residency. Participants also had the opportunity to engage with current Duke Medical Students asking them questions related to a day in a life of medical school.
The program continued into the afternoon with a session titled Navigating the Medical School Admission Process with Dr. Linton Yee (Associate Dean for Admission and Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician) sharing valuable information about how to prepare for applying to medical school.
From there, participants embarked on a hands-on learning experience designed for participants to interactively learn about different subspecialties within Pediatric Medicine as well as other fields in healthcare. Students engaged with Pediatric fellows and faculty and were able to explore the following areas of Pediatrics as well as other healthcare professions: Critical Care Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Hospital Medicine, Neonatology, Nephrology, Medicine Pediatrics, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, and Physician Assistant.
Wrapping up our incredible day was the Pediatrics Research and Innovation Panel led by our two moderators Dr. Tarshona Stevens (General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health) and Dr. Larissa Truschel (Pediatric Emergency Medicine). Our fantastic panelist included Dr. Michelle White (Pediatric Hospital Medicine), Dr. Kanecia Zimmerman (Pediatric Critical Care Medicine), Dr. Andrew Landstrom (Pediatric Cardiology), Dr. Olga Gupta (Pediatrics Endocrinology), Dr. Victoria Parente (Pediatric Hospital Medicine), and Dr. Rasheed Gbadegesin (Pediatric Nephrology). Participants spent time learning about our panelists research focus areas, research opportunities, and asking questions about what embarking on a career in Pediatric research entails.
Thank you to each and every one of our volunteers who dedicated their time to ensure the event ran smoothly (event volunteer staff) and to make sure participants had an amazing experience learning about the field of Pediatric Medicine. A special thank you to Dr. Malbert and Mrs. Alisa Smith for helping to make this event possible. We look forward to 2025 Pediatrics Career Exploration day where we will expand and continue offering the opportunity for students to explore the world of Pediatrics.