Reaching Out To Future Doctors

Titus with psychiatrist Carolyn King and physician Don Tynes, co-founders of ROTY

“Every child has an ongoing curiosity about something they love,” said Carolyn King, a child and adolescent psychiatrist who graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. King is co-founder of an annual event called Reach Out to Youth: For the Future Doctors of Tomorrow (ROTY).

For the past 28 years, Wayne State has held the event, which lets kids ages 7 to 11 experience science and medicine in a fun way.

“We’re here to help identify future scientists and future physicians,” Richard Baker, vice dean of Medical Education at Wayne State, told me at this year’s event, which was held on February 11.

Students get hands-on experience in the organ room.

Diamond Moore, a medical student and the chairperson of ROTY 2017, planned an awesome day for attendees. Hands-on exhibits included a room where you could see a brain, heart, and lungs, and a room where you could test your reflexes. Wayne State faculty members and medical students, including Moore, offered their expertise.

“The goal of this program is to expose kids to science, arts, and the health care system,” Moore said, “so that hopefully, they’ll become interested in medicine.”

Some of the students were excited about the opportunity to tour the exhibits and learn more about the medical profession. “A doctor would be a cool job,” said first-time attendee Desiree Anders, 9.

Jeremiah Tower, an 11-year-old from Detroit, said that learning “about science and stuff about the body” was what the program was all about. Still, he wasn’t excited about having to get up early on a Saturday morning.

Titus with physician Richard Baker, vice dean of Medical Education at Wayne State, and University Counselor Jason Brooks, Ph.D.

This year’s theme was “Play It Safe: Brain Safety.” After seeing what a brain looks like up close, young attendees learned about the effects of concussions. A fun quiz was given about brain safety so that kids could see how much they had learned.

About 350 kids participate in the program each year. It’s a great way to get an idea of what it feels like to be a doctor.