Ten local high school students shadowed 18 physicians in March as part of UC Davis Health’s second annual White Coat Week program. The program was started by the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society to help diversify the health care workforce with doctors from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine.

This year’s students dedicated four days each out of their respective spring breaks. They learned one-on-one from physicians across a variety of specialties and clinic locations, from Rocklin to the MIND Institute and many more. Participating physician specialty areas included ENT, GI, radiology, vascular neurosurgery, genetics, integrative medicine, hematology/oncology, internal medicine/ transplant, and pediatric neurosurgery.

The students appreciated acquiring new skills, like how to read MRI scans and X-rays. One 15-year-old student from Sheldon High School said it started to make sense when Cyrus Bateni, M.D., compared radiology analysis to the classic “spot the difference” games. “I am having fun!” she said.

It seemed surprises were around every corner. Students got to see a chemo port up close, and learned why ports are less invasive than needle pricks.

“My favorite part was visiting Dr. Prathima Prodduturi and being able to visibly see how chemotherapy works,” said another Sheldon High student, also 15. “I loved the last day so much because she showed me around and educated me on so many different things the whole time.”

Several participants wrote thank you notes following their shadowing experiences.

“I cannot thank you enough for giving me this opportunity! I truly respect doctors and those in the medical field because they dedicate their whole life to changing someone else’s life,” wrote Pleasant Grove High School student Nehchal Kaur, who learned how colonoscopies are done, what to do when there is excess cerebral fluid in the brain, and especially loved meeting the babies in pediatric neurosurgery.

“It is a great opportunity to provide students with insight into specialties like neurosurgery that are often seen as being out of reach for many students,” said Chief of Pediatric Epilepsy Julia Sharma. “We hope that early exposure to medicine empowers students to consider a wider range of career paths and to aim high when it comes to educational and career goals.”