Harlem Children Attend Medical Career Fair
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Children in Harlem went to school Saturday to attend a conference encouraging them to pursue a career in the medical field. NY1's Cindi Avila filed the following report.It's a question we're all asked when we are young - what do you want to be when you grow up?
A group of medically-minded Harlem schoolchildren got some help pursuing their career of choice, thanks to the Mentoring in Medicine program, which held its third annual conference Saturday at Frederick Douglass Academy.
"I'm looking to be either a physician's assistant or a nurse," said 11th grader Nanakwame Darkwa.
"I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up and help different animals and make them feel better," said sixth-grader Chanel Cummins.
Dr. Lynn Holden started the program to mentor students she says are underrepresented in medical professions, mainly blacks and Latinos.
"We hold the conference because we really want to get children, especially children who are socioeconomically challenged to let them know yes, you can become a healthcare professional," said Holden.
Romel Rodriguez started in the program years ago and now he is an admitting clerk at Montefiore Medical Center, preparing to become an emergency room physician.
"It's a wonderful program. I'd recommend it to any student who wants to become a health professional," said Rodriguez. "I mean it shows you things you wouldn't see anywhere else."
Attendance at this year's conference has more than doubled. Last year, 700 students attended and this year, 1,800 came to learn more about medicine.
"I want to be a pharmacist because they help people out and they are also familiar with medicine," said seventh-grader Malik Swinson. "My grandma’s really sick and I would want to learn to help her."
"I want to be a veterinarian since I like animals," said ninth-grader Tyreik Davis. "And I might want to be a dentist because I hate when my dentists are mean to me, so I'd like to be nice to people."
The conference wants children to know the sky is the limit when it comes to their future profession.
"Everybody keeps telling me if I keep my priorities open, I'll one day be whatever I want to be," said Cummins.