YEHS
from [Hi ye \1
African Americans and peo
ple of color, males and the
economically disadvantaged
... this type of f^ogram
exposes them to the\ealth
sciences. It's our hope\o be
able to help them choosfc to
go into the field."
The camp, which is cur
rently funded by a grant from
the National Institute on
Minority Health and Health
Disparities, grew out of a
similar effort that was offered
at UNC-Wilmington. This
year's 12 participants, all
rising ninth graders in
Forsyth and the surrounding
counties, were slated to
engage in a variety of activi
ties designed to increase their
interest in health sciences in
general, with a specific
emphasis on careers in
research and health dispari
ties, Skinnner said. The stu
dents, who were selected
based on a variety of criteria,
including grades and teacher
recommendations, live on
campus in dorms at WSSU
for the duration of the camp,
which runs July 10-22.
Over the course of the
two weeks, the students will
learn about the different dis
ciplines offered at WSSU
Photo by Layla Fanner
Camp YEHS participants pose with Skinner (fourth from the right) and
Performance Center researchers .
under the health sciences
umbrella and take part in
classroom lectures and
hands-on activities, includ
ing working with high fideli
ty simulators, high tech
mannequins that can be pro
grammed to simulate a vari
ety of ailments. The stu
dents also learn basic first aid
and CPR certification before
visiting three area medical
centers to witness health sci
ence professionals in action.
"It's been great. I'm hav
ing fun," Rayven said of her
experience thus far. "The
days are long and I'm tired at
the end of the day, but it's
worth it."
On Tuesday, the students
visited the Human
Performance and
Biodynamics Laboratory in
Piedmont Plaza, to learn
about the motion research
that takes place there. The
Labratory, which opened in
2009, is the result of a part
nership between Wake Forest
Baptist Health and WSSU.
"They had the space and
we had the equipment," said
Dr. Judy Fox worth, an asso
ciate professor of physical
therapy and co-director of the
lab, "It's the first partner
ship that we know of of its
kind, with a public and a pri
vate institution sharing
research space."
Foxworth and two other
researchers worked with the
youth in small groups,
demonstrating the wealth of
equipment and technology at
their disposal in the lab.
"My main objective is to
make them understand that
you can have a very simple
question and really impact a
lot of people," said
Foxworth, a UNC Chapel
Hill alumna. "It's not all
those other people that make
discoveries, it could be them.
They just have to have an
inquisitive mind."
Aaron Battle's inquisitive
mind led him right to Camp
YEHS this year. Aaron, a
Charlotte resident, heard of
the camp through one of his
middle school teachers and
seized the opportunity. So
far, the college experience
has been the best part of the
camp, Aaron said. Being a
part of the camp has piqued
his interest in health sci
ences and solidified his desire
to become a physical thera
pist, the 14 year-old added.
David Ramirez, a rising
junior at Parkland IB Magnet
High School, participated in
Camp YEHS in its inaugural
year. David, an aspiring car
diologist, returned to the
camp this year as a peer par
ticipant, hoping to help oth
ers navigate the program that
has meant so much to him.
"I reaJly love this camp; I
really love seeing the intelli
gence of the youth," said the
16 year-old. "I can't even
describe all the information
they taught us. Camp
YEHS has really excelled in
helping out people who want
to enter the medical field."
Skinner, who also serves
as director of Student
Advisement at the
University, has led Camp
YEHS since its inception
and says the youth continue
to impress her.
'They rise to the occa
sion," she declared. "If you
raise the bar high, they will
reach for it and they will
attain it. We have to recog
nize that our children have
the ability. What they lack
is knowledge and opportuni
ty."
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