An East Central High School student loads a mock DNA sample into a gel for testing under the supervision of Health Science Center research fellow Amanda Lipsitt (right).
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The UT Health Science Center San Antonio welcomed more than 2,300 students from throughout South Texas to the campus recently to try such hands-on activities as suturing simulated wounds, inserting a breathing tube in a manikin’s throat to open the airway and loading mock DNA samples into testing equipment in the laboratory of a nationally known HIV/AIDS researcher.

The purpose of the 2009 Health Professions Fair and Science Expo, held Nov. 7, was to interest middle school, high school and college students in medical, nursing, dental, other health professions and research careers.

Students visited two Health Science Center campuses
In the morning, the School of Health Professions, located on the Greehey Academic and Research Campus, showcased its 12 degree programs, including clinical laboratory sciences, cytogenetics, deaf education and hearing science, dental hygiene, dental laboratory sciences, dietetics, emergency health sciences, forensic and analytical toxicology, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy and respiratory care. After lunch, the students came to the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Campus to learn about medical, dental, nursing and research careers.

New record for annual event
Attendance at this year's Health Fair and Science Expo was nearly double the number of students who came in 2008. “This was the largest event we’ve ever held,” said Irene Chapa, Ph.D., director of recruitment and science research in the Office of External Affairs. “We would not have been able to accommodate all of these students without the help of our many faculty, staff and student volunteers.”

Hands-on format makes science real
She added, “You can’t beat hands-on activities to jump-start an interest in health careers. It provides students with information in a way that is memorable and understandable. Additionally, the attendees have the opportunity to visit with our students and faculty to find out how to prepare for and apply to our profesisonal programs."

Med Ed Coordinator Lupita Hernandez, who accompanied a busload of 50 students from the Lower Rio Grande Valley, said, "The hands-on opportunities for the students had them talking all the way home. The students were given different perspectives that will help them as they think about becoming health care professionals."

Volunteers are the scientific engine of the daylong event
While the event is meant to pique the interest of secondary and undergraduate students, it also is a creative and interactive endeavor for the more than 200 faculty, staff and student volunteers in the School of Health Professions and 350 more from the Health Science Center’s other four schools.

Health Science Center respiratory care students show off the lung model they made for the Health Professions Fair and Science Expo on Nov. 7. Shown (left to right) are Sade Adepoiju, Maria Cortez, Clarissa Guzman, Chelsea Mardon, Charlene Smith and Nora Fusick.

Research fellows design HIV/AIDS 'minicurriculum' Take, for example, the research team of Sunil K. Ahuja, M.D., which is conducting groundbreaking HIV/AIDS research in the School of Medicine. “I work with an incredibly talented team,” Dr. Ahuja said. “Not only are they top-notch researchers, but they are also very passionate about mentorship. They took on this endeavor independently and with great enthusiasm.” Dr. Ahuja is a professor of medicine, microbiology, immunology and biochemistry.

Research fellow Erica Hayes led a group of five volunteers from Dr. Ahuja’s lab to organize activities that presented different facets of research. To familiarize the students with the lab, they first learned about "polymorphisms" or genetic mutations of genes such as CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), which can protect some people against acquiring HIV infection. The AIDS clock from the United Nations Population Fund Web site was shown at the beginning and end of their experience to demonstrate the severity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and why concentrated efforts are required to eradicate this infection.

Next, the students visited five stations where they were given a general overview and hands-on experience about extracting, quantifying, dispensing and analyzing DNA from human blood. At the conclusion of their lab experience, students were given a quiz about each station they visited.

"This event was not only a success, but an indication of the importance of teaching science to our future researchers," Hayes said. "We tried to make it clear to the students that research is not solely about looking through a microscope. It involves hands-on activities, reading, asking questions and teaching others. Dr. Ahuja always makes it clear how important it is not only to learn about our projects, but to have the ability to teach and mentor others," she said.

Respiratory care students design giant lungs
Meanwhile, in the School of Health Professions, students in the Department of Respiratory Care set up a 5-foot by 8-foot display of lungs, complete with a descending trachea and balloons in the lungs representing the alveoli — the sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. “We wanted to get their attention, and this was a great way to show the anatomy of the lung,” explained Helen Sorensen, M.A., RRT, FAARC, associate professor in the Department of Respiratory Care.

The respiratory care students showed the visiting students how to intubate a training manikin, listen to normal versus abnormal breathing sounds, learn how ventilators work by observing a ventilator hooked up to a simulation lung, test their oxygen levels using a finger-tip pulse oximeter and check their air volume with a spirometer.

“It took our students several weeks to come up with their plan and to make the papier-mâché lung model. They really got into it and enjoyed the one-on-one time with the high school students,” Sorenson said.

Collaboration among all schools key to success
“This was a successful demonstration of all the schools working together. We had deans side by side with students and faculty and staff, and all of them were working together as one Health Science Center family,” Dr. Chapa said. “Everyone I spoke to was so grateful for the opportunity to attend and so happy we had the event.”