REACH Delta Event Shows Teens the Pathway to Health Careers
| Students from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) sought to offer encouragement and inspiration to the more than 200 high school teens who attended an outreach event earlier this month at the Pine Bluff Armory in White Hall.
Meena Chatrathi, a third-year student in the UAMS College of Medicine, gave an overview of the pathway to becoming a physician, which entails years of classwork and specialty training.
“It’s a long road, but the work is so rewarding and exciting,” she told the teens. “You’re constantly learning, making important decisions and helping people in ways that truly matter.”
Chatrathi served as executive chair of this year’s Raising Exposure and Awareness of Careers in Health (REACH) Delta event, an annual affair organized by the UAMS chapter of the Student National Medical Association. Open to high school juniors and seniors in the Arkansas Delta region, the event gives students an opportunity to explore their career options in the health care field.
The students engaged in a variety of hands-on activities intended to pique their curiosity about these health professions. The College of Medicine provided stethoscopes, an anatomy model that depicted the sounds of heart murmurs, and 3D models that showed the progression of several diseases. Nearby, an ultrasound machine gave the teens a real-time view of the different cross sections of the heart.
At another station, the College of Nursing set up manikins to show students how to intubate patients. And the College of Health Professions’ Department of Dental Hygiene used teeth models to lead the teens through exercises that showed the importance of dental hygienists.
Representatives from the colleges were on hand to answer questions about admissions, careers and other topics. Additionally, a National Guard representative spoke to the students about opportunities to have their medical education paid for if they enlist in the U.S. Army.
This year’s REACH Delta event included students from White Hall High School, Watson Chapel High School and Pine Bluff High School. Chatrathi said these students could represent the next generation of health professionals in a region that faces challenges stemming from health disparities and a lack of care providers.
Health careers offer stability and good pay, and keeping local talent in the area will support both economic growth and access to quality care, she added.
“Exposing students to these career paths expands their horizons and could be the push they need to pursue a future in health care,” she said. “This effort is about more than just recruiting — it’s about building a healthier, stronger community.”
Chatrathi said she met students who are interested in health careers but were unsure about how to proceed. Others believed they didn’t have the academic abilities to become health professionals. In one conversation, Chatrathi assured a student that although academics are important, traits such as hard work, empathy and people skills can carry him to a successful career.
“I saw his eyes light up as he thanked me for sparking more interest,” she said. “I don’t know whether he will pursue a future in health care, but I do know that this event made him realize that these are careers he can truly consider — and not just a dream he experiences from the sidelines.”
The Student National Medical Association organized the REACH Delta event with support from UAMS Regional Campuses and the UAMS Division for Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships. Brian Gittens, Ed.D., MPA, vice chancellor of academic pathways and workforce partnerships, praised the UAMS students for serving as role models for those who might one day follow them into health professions.
“Events like REACH Delta demonstrate that our young leaders at UAMS are already striving to make an impact on the future of health care in Arkansas,” he said.