Bryan Students Immerse in Mini-Med School

(BRYAN, TEXAS)–On Tuesday, November 16, more than 160 high school students from Bryan ISD participated in the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) College of Medicine’s first Mini-Medical School for students at the TAMHSC Bryan campus.

The students, who attend Bryan ISD’s Hammond-Oliver High School for the Human Sciences, were welcomed by Dr. Sam Shomaker, Dean of the TAMHSC College of Medicine, and then organized into small groups led by current medical students.

The groups then rotated through stations: arranging the bones of a skeleton with Wei-Jung Chen, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Student Affairs; learning how to get into medical school with Wanda Watson, Director of Recruitment; and touring the Simulation Center with coordinators Benny Holland, Laura Livingston and Karon Witty.  In the Simulation Center students observed two computerized training manikins, one with a simulated burn and one experiencing cardiac arrest.

Van Wilson, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies wrapped up the sessions with a presentation on viruses.

The November 16 program was modeled after the TAMHSC College of Medicine’s Mini-Medical School lecture series for community members, the college’s signature community outreach program now in its seventh season. Each Thursday for six weeks, Mini-Medical School provides lectures by health experts, faculty members and thought leaders to educate the public about health related research and technology, disease prevention and health care policy.

For the past six years, Mini-Medical School has been hosted in College Station, and for the first time, it was also hosted in Round Rock in October and November 2010.

Bryan-College Station Mini-Medical School 2011 begins January 20 at the TAMHSC Bryan campus.  Visit the Mini-Medical School website for more information.