WellSpan Health hosts more than 300 students and caregivers for Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit
20 Mayo 2024 - 8:50AM
Area students engaged in a full day of career exploration and
networking this weekend as WellSpan Health partnered with York
College to host the 2nd annual Black Men in White Coats Youth
Summit. More than 300 students and caregivers networked with role
models at the event, part of a continued effort to improve the
health of South Central Pennsylvania communities by laying the
foundation for success for area youth. Students of all genders and
races were invited to attend.
“We need to look no further than our own communities for our
future healthcare professionals and this youth summit ensures that
anyone who has an interest in this career path has support in doing
so,” said Kim Brister, vice president and chief diversity, equity
and inclusion officer. “At WellSpan, we believe in the power of
diversity, and the importance of offering programs and an inclusive
culture in which every person feels welcomed, respected, and
valued.”
"We are thrilled to partner with WellSpan Health to host the
Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit on our campus. We share in
the mission of introducing young minds to all that is possible – in
education, healthcare and in greater service to our community,”
said Dr. Emmanuel B. John, Dean of the Myers School of Nursing and
Health Professions
The interactive, hands-on activities offered at the event to
students in grades 6-12 showcased the numerous career possibilities
within healthcare and encouraged them to consider a career in
healthcare by introducing the practical aspects of healthcare
professions and real people who look just like them.
This year’s keynote speaker was Damien Myers, MD, MPH, who left
clinical medicine in 2010 to teach and cultivate the next
generation of Black health professionals. In the process he founded
MedReimagined, a Baltimore-based program aimed at inspiring the
minds of young people through his own experiences and empowering
students to consider becoming physicians.
“For more than a decade, I’ve taught hundreds of aspiring
medical professionals and a half dozen MDs. But we need a better
way. There are 55,000 missing Black doctors,” he shared.
The event also featured information sessions for parents,
caregivers and adult attendees aimed at supporting individuals on
career pathways in addition to expert financial advice in paying
for college.
WellSpan has been intentional in supporting diversity, equity
and inclusion initiatives and programs and has been recognized for
this effort by Newsweek and Training Apex, among others. To
continue to be a health care provider and employer of choice,
WellSpan has made great strides to support an inclusive culture in
which every person feels welcomed, respected, and valued. By being
more inclusive, the health system can deliver patient-focused,
seamless, high-quality care for patients.
WellSpan’s Black Men In White Coats Youth Summit was sponsored
by the WellSpan York Health Foundation Kids First Committee,
Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Pennsylvania
Medical Society Health Diversity Task Force and York College of
Pennsylvania.
- Hands-on demonstration
- Hands-on demonstration
Ryan Coyle
WellSpan Health
7178513151
RCoyle@WellSpan.org