Summer academy program in the Department of Orthopaedics opens doors for high school students.
Inside the lab at the Diane N. Weiss Center for Orthopaedic Trauma Research, Dioscaris Garcia PhD’12, assistant professor of orthopaedics (research), supervises as 17-year-old Melanie Alvarez performs a routine bacterial culture test. Clad in a white lab coat, Alvarez follows Garcia’s instructions closely, using a cotton swab to streak a petri plate and gently spread the culture onto another plate.
The experiment, one of many performed at the lab by students, faculty, and research staff, is designed to isolate bacteria cultures from mixed populations, Garcia says. As he watches Alvarez finish, he can’t help but praise the young researcher for her diligence.
“She just pulled off one of the nicest spreads I’ve seen in multiple years,” Garcia says.
What separates Alvarez from others in the lab is that she is one of 10 high school students enrolled in the new Department of Orthopaedic Research Summer Academy Leadership (DORSAL) Program at Brown, which launched this summer. Students, primarily from low-income communities, participate in a five-week program designed to equip them with valuable laboratory, scientific writing, and presentation skills, clinical experience, and the tools and strategies for a successful career in orthopedics. A $50,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation helps fund the program.
While there is a strong focus on foundational skills, Garcia says, he and other mentors work to break down and demystify barriers and taboos that can prevent students from asking important questions. Each activity is designed to promote students’ independence while ensuring they aren’t siloed from the academic and clinical experiences in the process. Participants learn about laboratory safety and work-life balance, how dispel insecurities, ask questions in different environments, and network—all while gaining hands-on experience in orthopedic labs at Brown. At the end of the program, students give a research presentation.
It’s work that Garcia, an assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Medical School, finds deeply personal, as he sees much of his own experiences in his students.
“Many of these students are at a point where no one has actually told them what to expect from pursuing a career in health care,” he says. “We’re in a bit of a minefield. We don’t know what the good advice is, or the bad advice for that matter, so our main intent is to break things down in a way that makes sense to them. The reason why I’m able to do this is because I am one of those kids.” Garcia, a first-generation college student, grew up in Central Falls, and is still very involved in the community.
As a molecular pharmacology and physiology doctoral student, Garcia says, he faced unique difficulties because he lacked a clear support group. He was one of the only people of color in his program, and since becoming one of Brown’s first Dominican American faculty members nearly a decade ago, he has made it a goal to ensure underrepresented students receive proper guidance.
Garcia says one of the crucial aspects of DORSAL is that it pays each student around $3,750—close to what a Brown student would make while working in a lab. It grants students a level of freedom and demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of coming from low-income backgrounds.
“One of our students had told us they were dissuaded from becoming a member of the program because of difficulties in their personal lives,” Garcia says. “It’s important that we understand that we’re talking about equity and how we mentor these students with shared experiences.”
Alvarez, who attends Central Falls High School, says she found the program eye opening. She originally thought she wanted to deliver babies, but participating in DORSAL inspired her to keep her career options open.
“I’m really interested in finding out what’s next and what we’re going to do the next day,” Alvarez says.
Arianna Kelly, 16, a junior at the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, says one of her mentors—a surgeon at University Orthopedics—encouraged her to apply to DORSAL. Kelly says she was drawn to the field by her own injuries. Prior to DORSAL she interned with a local orthopedist, and says her experiences are helping her make connections for a career in medicine.
“Honestly, I love to plan things out. I have been building up my transcripts since my ninth grade year with things on medicine, and I feel like if these schools see my dedication throughout all four years of high school, it helps me get a better chance of getting into a good program,” Kelly says.
Kelly has enjoyed working with other students in DORSAL and is grateful to her mentors for making her feel like a true member of a research team.
“One of my research partners had a presentation at Brown medical school and they invited me to go,” she says. “They even invited me to go out to eat with them. They make you feel welcome and it’s honestly one of the best work environments I’ve been in.”
