Sparking an Interest in Science and Medicine in Youths
Sparking an Interest in Science and Medicine in Youths
It can never be too early to get children interested in the fields of science, medicine, and health care, says Kenya Townsend, Director of the Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE) at Mount Sinai. That has been the mission of the program since its founding in the 1960s: helping students in New York City prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering, and medicine (STEM).
And what better way for students to learn about what it’s like to work in research and health care than hands-on learning in an academic hospital? One recent initiative from CEYE had middle-school students from Riverdale Country School in the Bronx attend an immersive three-day program at Mount Sinai’s campus in East Harlem on Monday, March 16, where they learned what being a health care professional and researcher entails.
Eighth graders from the Riverdale Country School visiting at The Mount Sinai Hospital campus, March 16, 2026.
The event was jointly supported by the BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute (BMEII), part of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and by the Talent Development and Learning division of the Mount Sinai Health System.
“I was able to deepen my understanding of different aspects of medicine,” says Athena Pearson, an eighth-grade student. “It was really interesting to see actual people in the field come and teach us about their jobs and what they do.”
“I loved how many different things we were able to cover in such a short amount of time,” says Lily Lappas, also in eighth grade.
The eighth-graders donned lab coats and toured research labs, saw magnetic resonance imaging machines in action, learned to code, and more.
“Everything we’ve been learning is very relevant, about stuff that could happen in our lives, and I’ve always been interested in medicine, so I think it was really nice for me to get a little bit of background information before heading into high school,” says Lily.
Kenya Townsend, Director of the Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE) at Mount Sinai (center), introducing the three-day curriculum to the students of Riverdale Country School.
Ms. Townsend and two instructors who participated in the Riverdale Country School visit share their thoughts on what motivates them to inspire young school children to have a passion for health and science.
What was teaching in this program like?
“It was a very meaningful experience,” says Yun Soung Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology at BMEII. Dr. Kim, who participated in a CEYE program for the first time, conducted a MakerSpace session—a collaborative workspace for learning and discovery—in which students learned to measure materials, got hands-on with mixing silicone rubber, and learned to record electromyogram signals.
For Dr. Kim, meeting the students brought back memories of when he was younger and would sit in class full of questions, always asking why and what if: “Their curiosity was a powerful reminder that this mindset should not fade once you become a scientist, engineer, or educator.”
“The kids asked really great questions. Some of them answered some of my questions in a very impressive way,” says Tamiesha Frempong, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, who has participated in CEYE programs for more than a decade. Dr. Frempong led a course on the eye, its anatomy, eye health, and diseases. “It’s always really fun.”
CEYE has evolved over its many decades. It serves more than 500 students annually and continues to grow, notes Ms. Townsend. Its programs are now credit-bearing at New York City public schools and are reflected on students’ transcripts as part of their science experience.
“Through our partners and students, we have learned that while students seek out these opportunities to shape their career trajectories, we also rely on them to share what they need—and to return and give back to the next generation of future scientists and medical professionals,” says Ms. Townsend.
What motivates you to be part of CEYE?
“One thing I often say is that once you are in CEYE, you become family,” notes Ms. Townsend. “Community has therefore been a consistent theme for us—and that matters, because strong support systems are one of the most critical factors in student success in STEM. Our students are mentored not only by Mount Sinai faculty, but also by CEYE alumni who return, eager to give back in meaningful ways.”
That mission resonates with Dr. Frempong, who adds that exposure gets students to think about health and science in ways they’ve never thought before.
The eye, for example, is something one might not learn very much about normally, says Dr. Frempong. “I actually thought it was dumb to go to medical school and become an eye doctor until I learned about ophthalmology in medical school,” she remarks. Early exposure to specialties is not only helpful for helping students think about their careers, but also helps with awareness about their health too.
“We know there are so many things about the eye that can impact diabetes, stroke, preventable blindness—they can use it to benefit themselves, their parents, their grandparents. It’s education, it’s exposure, it’s getting kids excited about medicine and the eye in particular,” says Dr. Frempong.
For Dr. Kim, the CEYE program was an opportunity to communicate science to the broader public as a researcher. “I have always found it rewarding to share my work with people outside my field,” he says. “I was excited to see how students at that age and stage of learning would respond to the work we do in the lab. I also viewed it as a valuable opportunity to reflect on how to explain complex ideas in a way that is clear, engaging, and meaningful.”
What do you hope CEYE programs can achieve?
The Center prepares students to succeed in health, science, and other professional pathways and to contribute to a more equitable future. “Getting young people interested in STEM is an investment in our future workforce,” says Ms. Townsend. “It fosters innovation, expands opportunities for those who need them most, and helps shape students’ identities while building their confidence.”
CEYE also creates opportunities for students to network with professionals whom they can continue to connect with beyond their time in the Center’s programs.
Representation in medicine influences health outcomes, says Dr. Frempong. The more diverse groups of kids CEYE can reach, the better it bodes for the future of medicine.
Dr. Frempong (center) with the students from the Riverdale Country School.
“They’re going to be our doctors, so [in a way] I’m kind of looking out for myself,” she laughs. “I’m looking to make sure we have knowledgeable, compassionate, passionate people to take care of all of us.”
Dr. Kim hopes he can help the students see that science and engineering are not just classroom subjects but fields that can directly shape human health and patient care: “I found myself wondering whether, for some of them, this visit might become one of the moments that helps shape what they choose to study in the future,” he says.
