ImagineU Day Gives West Valley City Students Hands-On Experience in Six Medical Fields
Last month, we welcomed 20 5th & 6th grade students from West Valley City schools for our 5th Annual ImagineU Day — a multiyear initiative to engage with and build lasting partnerships with students, parents, and educators in west-side communities.
These students — many of whom had little or no exposure to medical careers — were given hands-on experience of what it would be like to work in medicine. Students got to see, touch, and put into practice the tools and techniques that make medicine real, rather than just hearing about jobs in health care.
Students rotated through stations hosted by Anesthesiology, ENT, Plastics, Dentistry, General Surgery, and OB/GYN, and explored everything from ETTs and ultrasound to nasal scopes, drills, dental curing lights, laparoscopes, and more.
Beyond the hands-on moments, the real win was watching students connect the dots between science class and real-world careers. That spark can turn a "maybe someday" dream into a future reality. By the end of the day, the students had transformed from observers into engaged learners — asking smart questions, trying new things, and imagining themselves in health care roles they may never have encountered otherwise.
ImagineU Day works because of the clinicians, staff, and trainees who show up excited to teach and talk about their work. When students see that enthusiasm firsthand, something shifts — and what once felt out of reach starts to feel possible.
A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered their time, energy, and expertise to make this event such a success and to help it run smoothly.
Here's to the next generation of health care professionals — already on their way!
