UF College of Medicine Office of Minority Affairs hosts Health Careers Day

Donna Parker, M.D., an assistant dean for minority affairs and a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine, explains various parts of the brain to (left to right) Lamont Phelps of Lake Weir High School, and Jerald Grimmage and Louis Bergmann of Loften High School.

The three students were among more than 200 high school students from around North Central Florida who participated March 8 in the annual Health Careers Day, sponsored by the College of Medicine’s Office of Minority Affairs. The program, which has been offered for more than 30 years, introduces students to medical and other health-related professions.

The day started with a welcome from Beverly Vidaurreta Wright, Ph.D., assistant dean for minority affairs, and a motivational talk by Parker. The students participated in discussions about health occupations, including basic science researcher, dentist, physician, nurse, occupational therapist, pharmacist, physical therapist, physician assistant, psychologist and veterinarian. Representatives from the six UF Health Science Center colleges led the sessions.