Mayo Clinic Hosts Second Annual 'Doc Camp'

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Twelve high school students from the Phoenix metropolitan area will explore the world of medicine at Mayo Clinic this summer. For one week, July 18 to 22, students will participate in the second annual "Doc Camp," as they spend time with Mayo physicians and learn about a career in medicine.

The students, from five Valley high schools, were selected based upon the quality of their grades, teacher recommendation letters and personal statements. During the week, students will have the opportunity to observe Mayo Clinic physicians as they provide direct care to patients in areas such as the emergency department, operating room, rehabilitation unit and the Neurology and Oncology outpatient clinics. They will also participate in hands-on clinical activities such as suturing in the lab, learning CPR, and practicing with surgery simulators. Throughout the week, students will interact with Mayo physicians, residents, and medical students during scheduled presentations and meetings.

"The purpose of this program is to provide a comprehensive exposure to medicine as a career to a group of students who might not otherwise have a direct connection to medicine," said Dr. Jonathan L. Carter, director of the "Doc Camp" program and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education at Mayo Clinic. "We hope to track these students over time to discover how many ultimately choose to become physicians or enter a health-related career."

As one of the world's premier medical institutions, Mayo Clinic has a long tradition of integrating medical education with clinical practice and health sciences research for the benefit of patients everywhere. Mayo Clinic trains medical professionals to practice medicine and teach throughout the world.

The "Doc Camp" program supports a critical component of Mayo Clinic's mission: nurturing a scholarly environment of education and research. Establishing a local program for high school students provides a unique opportunity for Mayo Clinic physicians to mentor students interested in a health care career.

For further information about the "Doc Camp" program, please contact Silvana D'Alessandro at (480) 301-4338.

Mayo Clinic is a private group practice of medicine dedicated to providing diagnosis and treatment of patient illnesses through a systematic focus on individual patient needs. As a leading academic medical center in the Southwest, Mayo Clinic in Arizona focuses on providing specialty and surgical care in more than 65 disciplines at its outpatient facility in north Scottsdale and at Mayo Clinic Hospital. The 208-licensed bed hospital is located at 56th Street and the Loop 101 in northeast Phoenix, and provides inpatient care to support the medical and surgical specialties of the clinic.

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