Medical students reflect on ‘Junior Doctor for a Day’

For NEOMED medical students, the journey toward becoming a physician is shaped by the people who encourage, teach and inspire them along the way. At “Junior Doctor for a Day,” hosted in partnership with the Cleveland Browns at the Warren E. Anderson MidTown Collaboration Center, students had the opportunity to offer that same encouragement to 60 Cleveland first-graders, introducing them to the possibilities of a future in healthcare.

Through hands-on activities and conversations, the medical students helped bring medicine to life for the young learners. The experience also gave them an opportunity to reflect on their own journeys, reconnect with their reasons for pursuing medicine and consider the impact they can have on the next generation of patients and physicians.

The students shared their reflections with The Pulse:

A man in white coat gives a thumbs up while posing with a child in a white coat with a stethoscope

Edward Son, M2

“Seeing the kids smiles and hearing their laughs warmed my heart and reminded me, again, for the why for medicine. It was very grounding and really enjoyed being a part of such a positive event.”

A child in a white coat uses a stethoscope to listen to the heartbeat of a man in a white coat

Ethan Mardovin, M2

“Seeing the joy that medicine brought to these kiddos is something I will never forget, and I cannot wait to see so many of these bright minds grow into the white coats they received as they become the next generation of physicians.”

A woman and child, both wearing white coats, work on a coloring project together

Paige Milhon, M2

“It is a privilege to not only study medicine but also to inspire the future generation of physicians. The smiles and excitement from all the kids made this day one of my favorite days in a long time and I think it was for the children as well.”

A woman and several children in white coats give a medical checkup to a teddy bear

Brianna Bish, M4

“As a student pursuing pediatrics, I loved interacting with kids and teaching them about medicine, and seeing their joy and excitement made it even more meaningful.”

A woman in white coat helps a child in white coat adjust a stethoscope on their ears

Laura Deist, M2

“I think as med students we can forget how serious we can come across to other people; it was so special to see the kids become more comfortable with us throughout the visit. It reminded me that having an inviting attitude will play a huge role in establishing trust with our future patients.”

A man in white coat demonstrates how to use a stethoscope on a teddy bear to a child in white coat

Siddarth Dasaraju, M2

“Going to the doctor can be a scary thing for these young kids and we had the chance to inspire them and associate medicine with a positive experience. Seeing their excitement was really warming and reminded me how important it is to be present for our community.”

A man in white coat talks to a child in white coat while holding a teddy bear

Nafees Sathik, M2

“Watching a first grader confidently walk me through infant CPR, a skill usually taught in adult BLS courses, convinced me that the future of medicine is bright. These children’s energy reminded me what medicine is really about: our patients are the reason we’re here, and as future physicians, our purpose is to improve their quality of life.”

A man in white coat kneels while talking to a group in children in white coats

Andrew Bostick, M2

“I always enjoy being around kids and the infectious energy they bring, and it was amazing seeing how many of them are interested in medicine and their joy in being able to play doctor for a day!”

A woman in white coat helps a child in white coat weigh a teddy bear during a 'medical exam'

Briana Owairu, M2

“It was inspiring to see all of their bright and eager faces, and it motivates me even more to get to the finish line.”

a man in white coat has a serious conversation on a plastic walkie talkie with a child in a white coat

Sameer Parashar, M2

“It was inspiring to see how one meaningful experience can encourage young children to dream big and believe in their full potential.”

RELATED

READ: NEOMED and Cleveland Browns inspire children to dream big at “Junior Doctor for a Day” event in the Pulse

WATCH: Junior Doctor for a Day from NEOMED and the Cleveland Browns on our YouTube channel

WATCH: Cleveland Browns Foundation and NEOMED host Junior Doctor for a Day for 60 first graders in Cleveland on WEWS-TV5 in Cleveland

October 9, 2026
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