Oh, the Places You’ll Go: Inspiring Young Minds Through the Journey of a Scientist
During the final sessions of the semester, the Medical STEM Program (MSP), a program that is supported by the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and a grant from the Good Neighbors Campaign, brings in guest speakers from diverse backgrounds and careers in the medical field, offering students valuable insights into the wide range of opportunities available in medicine and healthcare. These speakers, who come from various specializations—such as research, public health, pharmacology, emergency medicine and more—share their unique experiences, challenges, and successes, providing inspiration and real-world perspectives to our students. This exposure helps them understand the many pathways within medicine and research, and the importance of diversity in these fields.
This semester, MSP Teaching Assistant Sanaa Alam had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Nana Gyabaah-Kessie, a PhD student in the Biomedical and Biological Sciences Program at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, into Mrs. Cortez’ classroom of third graders at Mack Elementary. She shared her inspiring journey through the world of science, offering students a glimpse into her path and experiences in the field
Using the concept of Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Places You’ll Go, Dr. Gyabaah-Kessie began the discussion by setting the scene of her hometown where she learned about topics like cancer that piqued her interest in her early years along with her passion to serve others.
Afterwards, the speaker figuratively took the third grade students’ classroom to the second location where she attended college, allowing the students to step into her shoes and witness how her love for scientific research blossomed. She shared the fascinating work she did using zebrafish as a model to study acute kidney injury. The students were captivated by how this exploration deepened her passion for science and inspired her to pursue a career in research. You could see the excitement in their eyes as they realized that real-life scientists, like Dr. Gyabaah-Kessie, make groundbreaking discoveries that can change the world.
Then, the speaker moved her slides to the third location where she completed cancer research for the National Institute of Health. The third grade students were very curious and had many questions to ask her about how she observed cancer in mice and other animal models.
Finally, the speaker closed the presentation by bringing us to her current position in her journey of scientific inquiry, the University of Southern California. She explained her current research conducted at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and spent time reflecting upon the lessons she’s learned throughout her journey.
As the presentation concluded, Dr. Gyabaah-Kessie’s finished with a powerful statement to the students as she professed, “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!” Her presentation was very engaging, capturing the attention and imagination of the students from start to finish. Dr. Gyabaah-Kessie’s storytelling and real-world examples brought the complex world of scientific research to life in a way that was both accessible and inspiring. The students left the session not only with a deeper understanding of science but also with a sense of excitement and possibility about the careers they could one day pursue. Her visit truly left a lasting, positive impression that continues to resonate with them today, sparking curiosity and a newfound enthusiasm for science.