On February 27 we welcomed the University of Washington SNMA.  Their wonderful docs and medical students gave us a "Doctor for a Day" workshop.  In just one morning they covered so many of the core skills taught in medical school!  It was an awesome opportunity for our Healers to get hands on experience with medical skills.  We were also able to discuss what exactly it means to pursue a health career, and what the educational process entails.  Most importantly we had lots of fun!

Thank you so much to the UW SNMA, we had a great time!  
We are so proud of our Healers of Tomorrow.  They are smart, professional, and motivated.  Whatever career they choose we know they will be successful inshAllah :)

In Peace and Health,
Dr. Malik

On February 6, 2016 The Healers of Tomorrow visited the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center to learn more about how public health and the non-clinical professions affect health. 

In the Voices gallery, the students were introduced to personal stories of change.  One Healer identified with a family for whom gaining access to education ultimately led to being able to live in a home with dignity. 

We then learned about a latrine for about 20 minutes!  The students were extremely engaged learning that having access to a toilet with a waste collection system can save more lives than any hospital by reducing diseases such as Rotavirus.  There is a vaccine for this disease available in the United States, but otherwise the disease can be deadly for kids.

In the next gallery, the Healers learned about the Foundation's work through interactive displays.  They were especially distraught learning about the amount of kids that are not prepared for college and how many struggle to pay for this opportunity as well.  They then brainstormed what solutions they would employ if they had their own charitable foundation.  

The next hall focused on the importance of partnerships.  They were able to see that contributions can vary in size but still cary impact, such as a $50 mini-grant to a local cycling club to more than a billion dollars donation to the United Negro College Fund.  

The last exhibit allowed time for innovation, inspiration and fun where they wrote out ideas of what they may want to pursue, expressed love in art, and learned what role in a global health project may fit best with their skills.  

A big thank you the the BMGF Visitor Center for an inspiring look into how one may affect health from a population standpoint.

- Dr Mustafa