DBTS inspires Future Doctors of America Club

After participating in the AMA Minority Affairs Consortium Doctors Back To School event at the Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine in Chicago in the fall of 2005, Dr. Crystal D. Cash and Gail Y. Floyd, MD decided to form a Future Doctors of America Club under the auspices of Provident Hospital to further encourage and support students at this school.  After several meetings with the principal and the parents the club was formed and an induction ceremony held in February 2006.  Each child inducted into the club read their personal statement saying why they want to become a doctor and received a patch with the name of the program.

 Approximately 60 family members and guests, not including faculty, attended the induction ceremony.  Twenty-seven seventh grade students from the Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine were inducted into the club.  These students were selected by their math and science teachers and their counselor.  Membership is through the 12th grade.  Students must maintain a C average or better to remain in the club.

 About 15 faculty members from the department of family medicine at Provident Hospital of Cook County are serving as mentors to these students.  The mentors serve as supportive role models who commit to a student to help them maintain their focus, motivation, and passion for the field of medicine.  They also encourage good decision making and goal setting skills.