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The buzz of curiosity, the snap of gloves, and the whir of ultrasound machines filled the Education Resource Center (ERC) as UVA Health Day Camp returned for its third year — bigger, broader, and more hands-on than ever.

Led by University of Virginia’s Department of Anesthesiology in partnership with UVA Health and the Housestaff Community Development Initiative (HCDI), the program once again welcomed Charlottesville’s City of Promise middle-school students for a day of immersive exploration into the world of healthcare. 

Held on Wednesday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., this year’s camp built on past success while expanding to include Radiology as well as Perioperative Nurses and Surgical Technicians, bringing even more of the care team into view.

At its core, UVA Health Day Camp is about sparking possibilities. Through hands-on activities, mentorship, and real conversations with healthcare professionals, students get a glimpse of what a future in medicine could look like and the many paths it can take.

“Every time I partner with City of Promise, I walk away inspired,” says Josh Roach, MD, UVA anesthesiologist and event co-lead. “Their middle schoolers approached Health Camp Day with excitement and curiosity, which made the entire experience unforgettable. I’m also deeply grateful to all the volunteers whose time, energy, and heart made the day possible.”

Led by Dr. Roach and Khaing Nwe Phoo, MHA, alongside HCDI President Ansley Scott, MD, MPH, MS, the day was designed to be interactive from start to finish. Students didn’t just learn about medicine; they stepped into it.

“It was exciting to have more representation of healthcare fields with the addition of Periop Nursing this year,” says Dr. Scott. “Optimal healthcare requires so much more than doctors, and I hope that in the years to come we can introduce students to more and more fields. I was also overjoyed to recognize some of the students and see their growth.”

The morning kicked off with icebreakers and a resident panel, where students asked thoughtful questions about the journey to medicine and explored career paths ranging from nursing to pediatrics. 

From there, the group moved into interactive sessions such as scrubbing in like surgical staff with perioperative nurses and diving into the world of imaging through a new Radiology station.

By the afternoon, the energy only grew. Students rotated through hands-on stations where they practiced intubation, used ultrasound to visualize the heart and veins, and perhaps, most memorably, located their own veins using real ultrasound machines. In the Anatomy Lab, curiosity turned into awe as students examined real organs, compared healthy and diseased lungs, and gained a deeper appreciation for the human body.

The day wrapped up with smiles, new inspiration, and gift bags filled with portable CPR kits, stethoscopes, and other tools to keep the learning going.

As the program enters its third year, one thing is clear: UVA Health Day Camp is more than a one-day event. It’s a growing investment in the future of healthcare. The Department of Anesthesiology extends its gratitude to the Graduate Medical Education Office for its continued support, to City of Promise for their partnership, and to the many interdisciplinary volunteers whose enthusiasm and dedication bring this experience to life year after year.

Special thanks to our organizers and volunteers:

• Tad Abbey, Graduate Medical Education Office
• Faith Arimoro, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Holly Atkinson, Department of Anesthesiology
• Victoria Bailey, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
• Billy Ray Carag, RN, Perioperative Services
• Ranithra Chelliah, Graduate Medical Education Office
• Sam Konkol, MD, Department of Internal Medicine – Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
• Christa Mazur MSN, RN, CNOR, Perioperative Services
• Sheila Mike, CST, Perioperative Services
• Brandon Moore, RN, Perioperative Services
• Juan Olazagasti, MD, Department of Radiology
• Lilian Oseguera Rojas, RN, Perioperative Services
• Khaing Nwe Phoo, MHA, Department of Anesthesiology
• Faiz Plastikwala, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
• Josh Roach, MD, Department of Anesthesiology
• Amrita Sarkar, MD, Department of Surgery
• Ansley Scott, MD, MPH, Department of Pathology
• Olivia Sears, MD, Department of Surgery
• Nouran Sinada, MB, BCh, BAO, Department of Pathology