Crozer Health Surgeon Exposes Minority Students to STEM Careers
Thomas Butler, M.D., MS, FACS, transplant surgeon at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, recently held a first-of-its kind program in Pennsylvania (and only the second in the nation) to expose minority students to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
From June 27-30, approximately 50 students aged 8-16 from the Chester area (and children of some Crozer Health employees) had the opportunity to hear from Crozer Health and Drexel University physicians, learn through dissection how frog and pig anatomy mirrors the human body, participate in their own “white coat” ceremony, and enjoy other activities designed to interest them in pursuing STEM careers.
Dr. Butler said exposure to these careers, especially at young ages, gives students the opportunity to focus their careers on STEM fields.
“If they see someone that’s like them, then they’ll want to become that person,” Dr. Butler explained.
The program, funded through the Gift of Life Donor Program’s Transplant Foundation, is modeled after last year’s Medical Internship Program, co-created by Dr. Anthony Watkins, who was then a transplant surgeon at NYU Langone Health.
Click the links below to see news coverage about the event.
https://www.delcotimes.com/2022/06/30/stem-program-held-at-crozer-chester-medical-center/
https://www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio/news/local/crozer-chester-medical-diversity-stem-program