Interviews at Black Men In White Coats === [00:00:00] Martine Thompson: Okay, we're here with Nicole Mitchell, chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer [00:00:05] at Cedar-Sinai. How's it going today? [00:00:06] Nicole Mitchell: It's going well. This is a really energizing and [00:00:10] inspiring day with all of these people here learning about healthcare. [00:00:13] Martine Thompson: Can you talk to us a bit about your [00:00:15] experience, um, seeing the kids get to shadow doctors and just really be in the.[00:00:20] [00:00:20] Martine Thompson: Mix in the medical field today.

Yeah. [00:00:22] Nicole Mitchell: This is our third year to do this. So to see how [00:00:25] it's grown is really exciting for me. Um, just to see the exposure. So I think as [00:00:30] you expose youth to what they could be and have them interact with people who look like them [00:00:35] mm-hmm. A chance of us planting those seeds for them to be healthcare professionals of futures really high. [00:00:39] Nicole Mitchell: So for me [00:00:40] it's inspiring. It's kind of one of those things that fills up my cup. Um, when we think about the next generation of [00:00:45] what I say healthcare heroes all the time, but healthcare professionals.

Awesome. [00:00:48] Martine Thompson: What would you say was one of your [00:00:50] favorite things that you saw? Um, with the kids shadowing the doctors. [00:00:54] Martine Thompson: Like, is there [00:00:55] something new they learn and that was really exciting or.

[00:00:57] Nicole Mitchell: Yeah. My favorite part, honestly, as much as I [00:01:00] love the talks, I think it's when it comes down to those interactive stations and you see the [00:01:05] hands-on experiences because like when you touch and feel it, that's when you start to get excited. [00:01:09] Nicole Mitchell: So I saw [00:01:10] a couple students over at our OB GYN station doing laparoscopic on [00:01:15] oranges and like learning how to pull a stick out of a cover. You know, that was really cool [00:01:20] to see. And you're like, okay, you're like inspiring that next generation you're giving them.

Um, just [00:01:25] the tools that they may not have thought about and like get to actually feel the tools though to do the work. [00:01:29] Nicole Mitchell: So for [00:01:30] me it was that. And then there was another one, um, where they were doing CPR. On dummies, which was really cool. [00:01:34] Martine Thompson: [00:01:35] Oh, that's ama And those I feel like are long lasting memories that will stick with them. I think so, [00:01:40] yes. So, um, we're checking in with folks in the medical field, and if you could share one from [00:01:45] your own experience, what would you say is a green flag to look out for when [00:01:50] selecting a doctor?

[00:01:51] Nicole Mitchell: Um, I think a, a big green flag is making sure that they engage and they listen to [00:01:55] you. Right, and you are supposed to be coming there with your questions about your [00:02:00] healthcare and your personal experience and a, a really good doctor.

So that green flag, [00:02:05] as you've called it, is the person who wants to engage with you and answer those questions and really learn about [00:02:10] who you are as an individual to make sure you have the best healthcare possible. [00:02:13] Nicole Mitchell: That's what I think we all are [00:02:15] trying to do in healthcare, but those really good physicians are gonna be doing the listening and asking the right [00:02:20] questions. [00:02:21] Martine Thompson: And final question for, um, let's say there's a kid [00:02:25] who is maybe considering coming to the event, uh, next year, but maybe they're not right now, [00:02:30] interested in being a doctor going into the medical field.

[00:02:32] Martine Thompson: Maybe their, their focus is more [00:02:35] on a. Sports or the arts or something else. Um, is [00:02:40] there any kind of encouragement you would give, um, why it's still totally [00:02:45] worthwhile to come out and still experience this? [00:02:47] Nicole Mitchell: Yeah, I think, um, all of those professions are [00:02:50] great, but if you even have a little bit of an interest in healthcare, I think it's [00:02:55] showing up in seeing what that really looks like and what that means. [00:02:57] Nicole Mitchell: So coming to black, uh, uh, black men and white coats, [00:03:00] youth Summit, you know, I'd mentioned the hands-on activities.

That's the game [00:03:05] changer, where if you were like, I don't really know what this is, but I get to actually touch and feel and see and [00:03:10] ask questions of people here, that could be the thing that maybe sparks that interest for you to [00:03:15] go further.

[00:03:15] Nicole Mitchell: So I think that's a really important piece. So just come and show up. You never know what you're gonna learn. Ab you're gonna [00:03:20] meet. [00:03:20] Martine Thompson: Absolutely. Thank you so much.