Annual Holiday Festival Helps Students Engage with Youth in the Community

On Thursday, Dec. 6, medical students held the annual UC College of Medicine Holiday Festival, engaging with area youth. In this Q&A, second-year student Bill Clark, a member of the medical student association who helped organize the festival, talks about the event and why it is important for students and the College of Medicine.

What is the holiday festival?

"The Holiday Festival has been an annual event the past couple of years in which medical school student organizations invite local kids from the Greater Cincinnati Urban League after-school program to come to the medical school and participate in various holiday activities. About 14 medical school student groups sign up for booths/activities to organize for the kids at the festival ranging from ornament making and face painting to ‘Play Doctor.’”

About how many kids were in attendance this year?

"Approximately 55 kids from the Greater Cincinnati Urban League after-school program showed up as well as a several kids from other schools that are involved in the MedMentors program at the College of Medicine.”

So, how did it go? What was your favorite part of the day?

"The event was very successful, with plenty of participation from the medical students and the kids. My favorite part of the Holiday Festival this year was the International, Poverty, Justice, and Health Student Organization (IPJH) booth where the kids got to ‘Play Doctor’ by putting on white coats and getting to use a stethoscope. The booth even took their picture and printed them out on the spot for the kids to keep.”

Why do you think events like this are so important, for students like yourself and for the kids you see, as well as for the College of Medicine?

"Annual events like the Holiday Festival are important for medical students to take a break from studying and participate in a fun opportunity that focuses on interacting with kids and reminds us that we are passionate about medicine because we want to make a difference in the community and people's lives. Even though this event is only one day out of the year, we hope this event reminds students to stay involved and brightens the day for a few children in the local community.”