Keara Williams and Brianna O”Neal want to be pediatric nurses when they grow up. Tristian Moody wants to be a cardiologist.
For these fifth-graders and hundreds of other elementary school students, professions in the medical field are more than just pipe dreams. They”re visions for the future.
This week, as nutritionists, dietitians and doctors from the University of Mississippi Medical Center took time out to encourage those dreams, they seemed more within reach.
“Our children need a vision,” said Jenny Purtell, medical science facilitator for Franklin Elementary Medical Sciences and Wellness Magnet School. “They really need a vision outside of their everyday occurrences, and this gives them that vision.”
It also gives them confidence to be able to talk with medical professionals face to face, Purtell said.
“They think, ”If they can do it, I can do it,”” she said, citing Dr. James Keeton, vice chancellor for health affairs at UMMC, as one example who inspires students.
Keeton grew up in Columbus and attended Franklin Academy. He lived nearby and walked to Franklin barefoot; at the time, the school had no air conditioning. Now, he tells his story to students there and encourages them to pursue their dreams, like he did.
Wednesday, Dr. Walter Boone, a gastroenterologist, talked to students about his career and the digestive system.
“There”s no comparison,” Boone said of making the temporary transition from teaching adult future doctors to teaching elementary schoolers. “It”s a very good surprise, a very cheerful surprise.”
The school is ending a unit on the skeletal system and now are focusing on the digestive system.
In addition to talking to students about careers in the medical field, the UMMC personnel also offer faculty members ideas on how to incorporate medical science into their classrooms.
“They”ve been able to provide our staff with ways to infuse medical sciences into their science curriculum,” said Patricia Overstreet, school principal.
And students learn to make health-conscious decisions.
“We learned how we are supposed to eat and to balance our food,” said Tristain, who noted using the food pyramid can help with finding the right balance. Tristain is the son of Christopher Moody.
“Looking at your serving size is very important,” added Brianna. “A can of soda might say it has 100 calories, but that may before half the can. … You can gain weight you didn”t mean to.” Brianna is the daughter of Jessica Barnes.
The sessions also have helped students clear up common misnomers, such as, fruit is healthy, so one can indulge freely.
Keara cautioned against eating too much fruit.
“If you eat too many (fruits), you can gain weight because there is a lot of sugar,” she said. Keara is the daughter of LaFreda Williams.
“I”ve enjoyed it a lot … learning about how our body works, how the nervous and digestive system functions,” said Brianna.
“And how it malfunctions,” added Tristain, who warned improper nutrition can lead to obesity, heart disease, clogged arteries and diabetes.
Franklin and UMMC kicked off a partnership in September, launching an effort they hope will encourage students to aspire for careers in the medical field and help resolve the state”s health care disparity.
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