Grade 9 students explore health careers at Rady Faculty’s Take Our Kids to Work Day

When Rafael D’Giovanni-Rotband grows up, he wants to be a dentist just like his dad, Leonardo Stoliar Rotband.

Stoliar Rotband, who worked as a general dentist and endodontist in Brazil, is now a fourth-year student in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry’s International Dentist Degree Program and provides dental care at the college’s clinic.

“It’s a lot because of my dad,” said D’Giovanni-Rotband. “If you’re a perfectionist, it’s really easy to like dentistry because you really want to be good at it.”

D’Giovanni-Rotband, who goes to school at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé, was one of 50 students in Grade 9 who participated in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences’ Take Our Kids to Work Day on Nov. 5, 2025. It gave them a chance to explore future health professions and the biomedical sciences through hands-on activities — and meet the people who work in these areas.

Grade 9 student smiling at the camera while holding a finger mould and a tooth model used for a filling exercise.

Rafael D’Giovanni-Rotband with a finger mould and tooth model, each from a different exercise in the dentistry session.

I got a taste of what it could be ... I really got to experience what I could be doing in the future.

Rafael D’Giovanni-Rotband

Learning about different health sciences professions

The first session was held at the Clinical Learning and Simulation Program’s (CLSP) simulation labs. Students learned about cardiac arrest and procedures to address it. They practised on manikins — from performing CPR and doing an ultrasound to administering medication and fluids through different methods.

At the College of Pharmacy, they learned about what pharmacists do, and made lip balm and sunscreen to take home.

Students explored microbiology during a microscopy session with the department of medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the Max Rady College of Medicine. They looked through microscopes and examined bacteria from samples taken from different surfaces, such as a doorknob.

At the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, students learned about occupational therapy, respiratory therapy and physiotherapy.

A participant favourite was the dentistry session, where they did tooth fillings, drilled on teeth models, and made a mould of their fingers.

Danny Kustra, clinician educator at CLSP, supports students practicing on a manikin in a clinical skills activity.

In a dental school lab, a dental student assists a Grade 9 student in practicing a tooth filling on a model.

Close-up of a student’s hand performing a hands-on exercise at the College of Pharmacy.

Group of students performing a hands-on activity, making lip balm and sunscreen in a lab environment.

Simulation lab, dentistry and pharmacy sessions

What students had to say

“It was really fun! I think it can help people find a career if they’re unsure,” D’Giovanni-Rotband said. “You meet a lot of fun people, and the day goes by really fast. The people who give you their experience are really nice.”

Adriel Gelle, a Murdoch Mackay student whose dad works at CLSP, said he found the experience extremely exciting: “I found all the activities interesting and extremely interactive.”

Ololade Bankole from Linden Christian School said she enjoyed learning from each session.

“It just makes me think, ‘Oh, what place do I want to go to when I get into university?’ I do want to come to University of Manitoba since my mom works here,” said Bankole. “It’s been a nice experience, seeing different sections — and I just really enjoyed it!”