The Duke Undergraduate Pediatrics Association held its inaugural Pediatric Careers Meet & Greet on September 24, bringing together more than 100 Duke undergraduate students and more than 20 pediatric healthcare professionals from across Duke.
The event reflected the extraordinary breadth of careers devoted to children’s health. Participating professionals included general pediatricians, pediatric hospitalists, intensivists, pediatric subspecialists, a pediatric surgeon, a pediatric dentist, pharmacists, case managers, occupational and physical therapists, child life specialists, and others from across the pediatric healthcare community. The format was intentionally informal, giving undergraduate students the opportunity to speak directly with professionals about their careers, training pathways, daily work, and experiences caring for children.
The Duke Undergraduate Pediatrics Association is a newly established, formally recognized Duke University student organization led by Co-Presidents Maia Pope and Amira Hijazi and a full undergraduate executive committee, with Samrat Das, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Undergraduate Medical Education, serving as faculty advisor. The organization was created to give Duke undergraduates an early opportunity to explore the full spectrum of careers related to child health and to build meaningful connections with the people doing that work at Duke.
“Our hope is to create a real connection between Duke undergraduates and the incredible community of people at Duke who have devoted their careers to children’s health,” said Dr. Das. The longer-term vision includes opportunities for mentorship, shadowing, research, service, and other forms of direct engagement with pediatric healthcare.
Among the many Department of Pediatrics faculty who participated was Brad Marino, MD, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief of Duke Children’s. Dr. Marino welcomed the students and spoke about the rewards of caring for children and the many directions a career in pediatric healthcare can take. He also encouraged students to engage with Duke Pediatrics through opportunities in shadowing, research, service, and mentorship.
Dr. Das noted that since arriving at Duke, Dr. Marino has made education, mentorship, and the development of the next generation of pediatric healthcare professionals a visible priority. His participation in the organization’s first gathering reinforced the department’s commitment to engaging students early in their exploration of careers in child health.
The enthusiasm in the room was evident throughout the evening, as students moved among professionals, asked questions, and learned about career paths they may not previously have considered. The event marked an important first step for the new organization and demonstrated the strong interest among Duke undergraduates in pediatrics, children’s health, and the many professions that contribute to the care of children and families.
The association plans to build on this inaugural gathering by developing sustained opportunities for undergraduate students to connect with Duke’s pediatric community through mentorship, clinical shadowing, research, service, and future educational events.
