How do we improve the education (especially STEM exposure), careers, and self-sufficiency of thousands of Memphis children being left behind by inequality? Dr. David Schwartz shares a new partnership between local cancer doctors, researchers, and schools trying to answer this question, while improving cancer care in Memphis. The program gives 6th and 9th graders from all walks of life the chance to submit their own cancer research grant applications, lead scientist-mentored community health projects, and present their results to local and national audiences. They anchor our kids’ exploration to a rich interactive curriculum covering scientific theory and methods. Research topics are limited only by our kids’ imagination, and can include mobile health tech, engaging healthy student peer behavior, and preventing chronic conditions associated with cancer (e.g., obesity, diabetes) in their neighborhoods.
Who says kids can’t cure cancer? Not me.