3 Young Women from Africa, 1 from Texas Shadow CarePoint Health Clinicians as Part of WorldDenver Program

CarePoint Health hosted four young women — three from Africa and one from Texas — for a day of panel discussions and physician shadowing on July 30, 2024, as part of WorldDenver’s summer exchange program.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the exchange program aims to empower and inspire young women (ages 15-17) to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). A nonprofit organization, WorldDenver brings more than 600 international visitors from over 30 countries to Denver each year through programs like TechGirls.

The young ladies — Angel, 16, from Cameroon; Justine, 16, from Rwanda; Lucia, 17, from Texas; and Treasure, 15, from Nigeria — began the day at CarePoint’s corporate office in Colorado. There, they heard inspirational stories from CarePoint’s Mark Kozlowski, MD, CEO; Gwen Dooley, Vice President of People, Growth, & Strategy; Anna Grammerstorf, Physician Assistant; Melanie Logan, Physician Assistant; and Lauren Harron, Human Resources Coordinator.

During the panel discussion, the young women learned more about the many different paths a person can take on his or her way to becoming a nurse, advanced practice provider, or doctor.

“Don’t be afraid to shake it up and try different things,” Dooley told the group. “Each path is going to take you into a world you never knew existed.”

Angel, Justine, Lucia, and Treasure also listened as Grammerstorf and Logan explained what a typical day is like in the emergency room — if any day in the ER can be called “typical.”

“You really have no idea what to expect when you walk in,” Logan said. “There’s no telling what kind of day it will be, unlike at a primary-care clinic, where you know how many patients you’re going to have each day.”

Some days in the ER are more challenging than others, which is why it’s important to have a strong support system, Logan said.

“Whatever you do,” she said, “you need to find people who are going to support and love you through the hard times.”

Added Grammerstorf: “The people part is huge. If you meet people who are just like you, those are the people you want to work with.”

Strokes, blood clots, infectious diseases, the different kinds of research conducted by physicians, and the challenges and rewards of being an APP or a doctor were all part of the discussion as well.

“Superman doesn’t exist, but doctors do exist,” Justine said. “I want to be a doctor to save lives. I want to do everything I can to provide a comfortable environment for everyone through medicine. I feel like medicine is a big pillar for our society and the world. I want to maintain that pillar.”

Said Lucia, who wants to be a material science engineer: “I haven’t had much exposure to the medical field. It’s interesting to learn more about and experience what medical professionals do every day. There are so many people doing so many amazing things in the world who are passionate about what they do. It’s amazing to see that.”

As for Treasure, a future pulmonologist, the 15-year-old said she wants to develop a medical device — in the form of a smartwatch — that would enable people experiencing an asthma attack to get help quickly or avoid asthma-inducing situations altogether. She envisions the device including a breathing tracker, a location tracker, an emergency help line, “air contamination” alerts, and other features.

“I want to help the people in my community who are suffering from these things,” she said.

Angel is ready to make a difference in the world, too.

“I have a desire to create change,” she said. “That’s what inspires me.”

After the panel discussion, the young ladies headed to Sky Ridge Medical Center (Lone Tree, CO) and The Medical Center of Aurora (Aurora, CO), where they got an up-close look at hospital and ER operations.

Shadowing CarePoint’s Clare Gunn, MD (Emergency Medicine Physician), Emily Lampe, MD (Stroke Medical Director), and Katie Sprinkel, MD (Emergency Medicine Physician), the young women observed an ultrasound, read an EKG, learned about the best questions to ask patients, and more.

“We were honored to host these remarkable young women from Africa and Texas,” Dr. Kozlowski said. “Watching them engage with and shadow our team was a powerful reminder of the impact and importance of mentorship on future healthcare leaders around the globe.”