Discovery Days offers high schoolers opportunity to learn about careers in health sciences

Mariel Guarang is interested in becoming a nurse, so she signed up for the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Discovery Days in Health Sciences held on the UM Bannatyne campus on November 13.

The Grade 11 student at St. Mary’s Academy said she’s thinking about going into nursing because she likes caring for people, and many of her family members are nurses.

At the nursing workshop, she was hoping to gain some insight into what it’s really like to be a nurse.

“Nursing can be portrayed in different ways, especially in the media. So, I just want to get a feel for what it is actually like,” said Guarang, while watching other high school students use stethoscopes on a training mannequin.

Harsahij Brar holds a medical instrument against a banana.

An instructor demonstrates medical skills using a baby training manikin.

An instructor speaks to a student. Both are wearing stethoscopes. In the background is a student wearing a stethoscope and there is a training manikin on a hospital bed.

Guarang is one of more than 370 participants from 80 high schools across Winnipeg and the surrounding area who had the opportunity to learn about careers in the health sciences. And seventeen students travelled from northern communities.

The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences has co-hosted Discovery Days with the London, Ont.-based Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) for the past 24 years.

More than 20 faculty-led workshops offered the high school students a chance to explore different fields in the health sciences – from dentistry and family medicine to medical microbiology and pharmacy.

Harsahij Brar, a Grade 10 student at the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, wants to become a physician and thought Discovery Days was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the field of medicine. He thought the family physician workshop was fascinating.

“I’ve seen stitching, but I’ve never seen how suturing is done, and it was really cool seeing the different types of stitches you can do, and the different biopsy tools they use. It was pretty interesting,” Brar said.

You can do anything you set your mind to, all of you.

Dr. Marlyn Cook

A student wearing gloves holds a model tooth. Dental instruments are on the table next to her.

A student places an acupuncture needle on an instructors arm.

Cyrill Martinez, a Grade 11 student at Sisler High School, took part in the dentistry workshop because she’s interested in going into dental hygiene.

“I’m interested in cleaning. I’m very detailed. I like working with my hands. It’s an extrovert job, so I enjoy talking with people and working with others,” Martinez said.

The day started in the Frederic Gaspard Theatre with opening remarks by Nani Moleko, director of development at the CMHF, and Dr. Jim Butler, associate dean, undergraduate medical education, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

Dr. Harvey Chochinov, distinguished professor of psychiatry at the Max Rady College of Medicine and 2020 CMHF laureate, presented a message to his teenage self. In his message, he said very few people, if any, would get in the way of him fulfilling his dreams.

“You will be your biggest obstacle,” Chochinov said. “Your own self-doubt will cause you to stumble on occasion more so than anyone else trying to trip you up. You’re going to have an extraordinary privilege of working to make the world a little bit better, so have faith in the future, have faith in yourself …”

Dr. Harvey Chochinov

Dr. Marlyn Cook, a member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation, gave the keynote lecture. When she graduated from the UM medical school in 1987, she became the first First Nations woman to graduate from medicine in Manitoba.

Cook has practiced medicine in several First Nations communities in Manitoba and Ontario. She combines traditional medicine with Western medical practice.

Cook shared her inspiring journey and encouraged the students.

“You can do anything you set your mind to, all of you. Whatever it is you want to do, you can just do it. And be aware of your thoughts. Your thoughts create your reality. Negative thoughts do not cause a positive life. You always have to stay positive and see the silver lining in every cloud. And take care of your body and your mind and your spirit,” Cook said.