Camp YEHS Aims to Boost Interest in Health Science Careers

YEHS campers in a makeshift field hospital near the Anderson Center with Marilyn Foote-Hudson (far left), director of the N.C. Glaxo Smith Kline Foundation and Marina Skinner (standing next to Foote-Hudson) director of the YEHS program.

Twelve middle-school students from the Piedmont Triad region to Charlotte participated in a new Winston-Salem State University School of Health Sciences summer program in July to help boost the number of people of color entering tomorrow’s health science careers.

WSSU’s Youth Exploring Health Sciences (YEHS) Summer Camp is a two-week summer enrichment program for rising ninth-grade students from underrepresented populations.  The program is designed to educate, prepare and enhance students’ academic qualifications for careers in nursing and the health sciences.  The program included a two-week residency on campus and an opportunity to shadow a health care professional in their community. The program also included guided career facilitation sessions and a post-mentorship experience. The free program was sponsored by a North Carolina Glaxo Smith Kline Foundation grant.

“This program was specifically for those underrepresented students who would not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in such a program,” says Marina A. Skinner, director of the program.

Campers practice performing CPR.

Another goal is to increase parents’ engagement and enhance their competency and participation in helping their students prepare for college studies in nursing or other health science fields.

“We believe programs like these will make a real difference in tomorrow’s numbers of health care professionals from underrepresented groups and in the overall delivery of health care,” Skinner said.

See more photos from camp. View the video.