FAYETTEVILLE : UA dangles pigs’ feet as lure to med school
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Jacob Crayne is conflicted.
The 17-year-old graduate of Har-Ber High School in Springdale plans to attend Arkansas Tech University in the fall to study engineering.
Staring at a pig’s foot Wednesday, he said he wasn’t certain that a career in the medical field wouldn’t be a better fit.
He looped a fine thread using tweezers and forceps and tied a clean knot into a tear on the foot. His knot was neater than most of the group of 20 learning about sutures at a twoweek camp meant to introduce students to medical professions.
The Medical Applications Science and Health camp is hosted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at the Area Health Education Center in Fayetteville.
Students go on “rotations” to operating rooms, eye doctors ’ and dentists’ offices and other places to get a feel for such professions, said Barbara Woody, a UAMS education programs manager.
“We hope they continue to learn and go into the medical field,” she said.
The program is in its 16 th year and is open to students from Madison, Benton and Washington counties interested in studying medicine. The camp is free, though the competition is tough for the 20 openings. Fifty-seven applied this year, Woody said.
Ty Greyson, a Prairie Grove High School senior, used a scalpel to make a jagged edge on his pig’s foot to make the suturing more challenging.
“I’m not too hot about this blood on the end,” he said, uncovering the foot’s stump with his hand. “But it’s pretty sweet. I’m not going to lie.” He thinks he wants to study either pediatrics or oncology, but he’s still not sure.
“Based on what I’ve seen today, it makes me want to go and help people,” he said.
The wide chunk of skin he removed from the foot proved too difficult and he had to start over.
Dr. Wayne Hudec, a surgeon at Washington Regional Medical Center, instructed students to stitch with the needles like they would swing a tennis racket.
He walked along two rows of tables helping students and showing them different techniques.
“If it were me, it’d have a huge impact on me,” he said of the camp. “It’s good exposure for them.” He thinks more needs to be done to introduce high school students interested in medicine to the field.
“It’s a great situation for these young science minds,” he said.
Crayne observed Hudec perform surgery Wednesday morning and said the doctor is the main reason why Crayne is questioning his choice in engineering.
He said he’d have a lot to talk about with his parents when he gets home. He might start by adding some pre-medicine courses to his undergraduate schedule, he said. “This stuff is fun,” he said.
To contact this reporter: aotoole@arkansasonline. com
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