Maine High School Students Experience being Doctors for a Day

Tufts Maine Track program recently hosted their first Doc4aDay session since the pandemic on April 3rd, 2023, at the Hannaford Center for Safety, Innovation and Simulation on the Maine Campus. The event welcomed 15 high school students from two Portland High Schools. The Doc4aDay program provides students with an opportunity to experience medical simulations, engage with medical student mentors, learn vital skills such as suturing, and participate in a panel discussion on healthcare careers.

Founded in 2012 by Dr. Vicki Hayes, an associate professor of family medicine, Doc4aDay is supported by the Simulation Center and Shelly Chipman, RN. Maine Track student volunteers play a crucial role in organizing the sessions. This year, volunteers included Tim Downs, Mason Crocker, Bailey Carter, Caitlyn Farrington, Shivani Patel, Meredith Stanhope, Rayne Whitten, and Gillian Coates.

The goal of Doc4aDay is to inspire high school students to explore a career as a physician. The target audience for the program is promising high school students who have the interest and potential for a career as a physician, especially those from groups underrepresented in medicine. The program was held twice a year prior to the pandemic and will hopefully resume that schedule moving forward.

Dr. Hayes expressed her delight at the success of the event, saying, "We are thrilled to be back, and it's so gratifying to see the program continue to grow." She also emphasized the importance of the program's goal, stating, "We hope to provide inspiration, encouragement, and practical guidance to students who may not have considered a career in medicine before."

The Tufts Maine Track program plans to continue its efforts to encourage students from under-represented communities to pursue medical careers through the Doc4aDay program.