Students Capturing the OR Experience (SCORE) 2019

Mechanical Ventilation Lecture to local high school students for SCORE 2019

Lack of diversity in the health sciences is a well-recognized problem with serious implications for the health and well-being of all communities. Resulting from hundreds of years of inequitable policies, laws, institutional and social structures, those from the African American, Hispanic / LatinX, Native American / Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander, and those whose ethnic make-up includes one or more races, are all under-represented in medicine. A 1994 study published in the Journal of the Association for Academic Minority Physicians found that “…lack of awareness of opportunities in academic medical centers, lack of mentors, [and] a shortage of role models…” were also contributing factors. Assistant Professor of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care and John A. Watson Scholar, Charlene Blake, MD, PhD, knew that something more could be done to combat these issues. In 2018, she conceived of and led the first Students Capturing the OR Experience (SCORE) program, an opportunity for local high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to have first-hand exposure to multiple health sciences careers, mentors, and role models. We are pleased to announce that the second annual SCORE program took place on February 15, 2019, with hands-on learning stations, lectures by UCSF community members sharing their career trajectories and tips, exposure to actual procedures in the operating rooms, small group discussions, and more, for 19 local high school students. Special thanks to the SCORE planning committee and to all of the volunteers who helped make this important day a success. Scroll down to see photos.

SCORE Planning Committee