Friday, 1/11: Enterprise, Business and Technology High School

After finishing at the Public Health Department, 5 UHS scholars set out to the Enterprise, Business and Technology High School (EBT) in Brooklyn to talk about health careers. First step: get the VOX car out of the garage! You wouldn’t think this would be so difficult, but as it turns out, nothing can be as easy as you expect in NYC… After handing over our parking receipt, we waited while many cars were moved around. We were soon presented with a bright red sports car. Nice, but definitely not the VOX vehicle we brought with us from Dartmouth! After a few more minutes, we got our car back and headed for Brooklyn.

We were incredibly excited for our afternoon at EBT. Asha C. and Emily had worked hard to create an engaging and exciting curriculum that would combine hands-on activities with learning about health careers and issues of urban health. We had almost 90 junior and senior science students attend the afternoon, split into three groups that rotated so everyone got to experience each activity. In one room, Emily taught a mini-lesson about the spine and students got to try out the lumbar puncture simulation. Almost everyone got it on their first try! Joe and Bianca taught a lesson about the skull and concussions, starting some great conversations about the importance of concussion awareness in teen sports. Asha C. and Inyang spoke about the different paths they each took to medical school, emphasizing the variety of different ways to get where you want to be.

Students with Asha C. and Inyang participated in a discussion about education and urban health issues. Students first brainstormed different health careers and were presented with average salary information for some of these, along with the average national values for a college graduate, high school graduate, or person without a high school diploma. The students were able to have a great discussion about the things an education can “buy” you, including financial security, (a limo!) and job security for your future. They also learned about some of the significant health issues facing people living in urban areas. We used maps of New York City that showed diabetes and obesity rates and compared these to a map showing grocery stores selling fresh fruits and vegetables. This, along with other information about asthma hospitalization rates and SIDS rates by race and ethnicity, sparked some thought-provoking conversations with the students. By the end, some students were asking when they should start preparing for MCATS! We had a great time meeting the students and faculty at EBT High School, and are very much hoping to make this annual event for the Urban Health Scholars.