Downtown Phoenix Youth to Visit UA Med School

uanews.org

Youth from a downtown Phoenix community will get first-hand experience at The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix under the growing community partnership between the city and the medical school.

On Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 5-7 p.m., local youth will come to the medical school campus, 435 N. 5th St., to learn from future physicians how to scrub up for surgery, listen to the heart and do sutures (stitches), as part of a new, monthly community program.

In partnership with the FitPHX healthy-living initiative, the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix launched a program at Verde Park, just two blocks from the medical school campus. Wildcat Night @ Verde Park has attracted more than 75 students in its first two months, with medical students visiting the park’s recreation center monthly to teach youth about a variety of age-appropriate, health-related topics.

FitPHX is a citywide program, led by Mayor Greg Stanton, Councilman Daniel T. Valenzuela and Olympic Gold Medalist Misty Hyman, with the goal of improving health and wellness in the region and making the Phoenix area one of the healthiest in the nation.

As part of the Verde Park partnership, the university supported a new WalkPHX sign and mileage markers this fall at the park, 916 E. Van Buren St., and began holding the health-related sessions at the park’s community center in September.

The Dec. 10 visit to the medical school will give community youth a chance to see the latest technology in clinical education as well as time with medical students, who can relate their path to higher education.

“These future physicians working with kids in the Garfield neighborhood demonstrate what FitPHX can accomplish,” said Councilman Daniel T. Valenzuela. “So far, they have shared experiences with our youth that they might not have in the classroom, including bringing in a real cow heart. They’ve also engaged the kids on the importance of a healthy diet. In the next few months, they will have the opportunity to get a first-hand look at a future career in health sciences. This partnership is making, and will continue to make, a significant impact on the lives of these kids.”