On July 16, Women’s College Hospital (WCH) welcomed 50 students participating in the University of Toronto’s (U of T) Steam Design program. This initiative aims to support high school students from underrepresented backgrounds in health sciences with research and design thinking.
“The Learning Institute has been working intentionally on building opportunities for underrepresented youth to connect with the Women’s community to learn more about health science post-secondary pathways and healthcare careers,” says Amy Gleiser, director of the Learning Institute at WCH. “We have been working with the Steam-Design team at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at U of T to engage students with the great work happening across WCH.”
The three-part event included a career panel discussion featuring professionals in research and healthcare, a presentation by WCH’s archivist highlighting the hospital’s vast history and a tour of the Learning Institute and clinical areas, including the cardiac rehab gym facilities.
“The participating students from the STEAM design program had a chance to hear from our amazing panelists about their various careers in healthcare and the path that brought them to WCH,” says Gleiser. “It was inspiring to learn about the amazing work of each of our panelists and the innovative culture that has enabled so many firsts in healthcare.”
This event aligns with the Learning Institute’s mission of engaging community and making research and education more accessible for equity-deserving communities. Students were able to get a real-life glimpse into the workings of a hospital and had the opportunity to network with healthcare professionals from a wide range of disciplines.
“Teaching and mentoring the next generation of healthcare providers has been a hallmark of WCH since its inception,” explains Gleiser. “Events like this nurture curiosity and imagination — the foundation to learning and discovery!”
To learn more about the Learning Institute and future healthcare education opportunities, click here.