Doctor for a Day – Students Driving Change

  • Medical students, UW Medicine Staff, and Faculty smile and pose together in High School Cafeteria
    Doctor for Day Event at Issaquah High School this past November focused on the ‘Sweet Truths of Diabetes’
  • UW Medicine doctors and staff sit side by side at a table and speak on a panel facilitated by a medical students to educate about Diabetes to youth
    Panel discussion to hear about treating Diabetes and lived experience with the condition from UW Medicine faculty and staff facilitated by Nahome Geleta, a first year medical student
  • A group of students listen in on a presentation about the 'Sweet Truths of Diabetes'
    Students listen in as Briana Martin-Villa shares information about Diabetes
  • Students listen in on a workshop as a faculty member speaks
  • Students look on as a medical student leads a hands-on workshop
  • A student takes an ultrasound of a medical student as they look on at the imaging on a laptop
  • Medical students demonstrate for Doctor for a Day participants in a workshop
  • A medical student observes students engaging in a hands-on workshop
  • A medical student demonstrates for Doctor for a Day participants

Doctor for a Day (DFAD) is a monthly themed academy that exposes K-12 youth to health careers through hands-on activities. DFAD partners with clinical departments, school districts and non-profits to hold workshops led by medical students as near peer mentors bringing healthcare professionals to K-12 youth to serve as mentors and role models. DFAD has reached over 3,000 students and serves over 560 students per academic year. They recently held a successful event at Issaquah High School with over 100 students in attendance focused on the ‘Sweet Truths of Diabetes’, and protecting sight, filters, and balance highlighting Endocrinology, Nephrology, and Ophthalmology.

Students from elementary age all the way to high school had the chance to get hands-on experience learning from medical students, attendings, and residents in various workshops. The event concluded with a panel from faculty and UW Medicine staff that spoke to their career journeys in medicine and provided insight into treating Diabetes as well as living with the condition. This past year, (DFAD) participated in eleven community partner events ranging from Neuroscience Day, UW MAPS Pre-Health Conference, and the Association of Surgical Education (ASE) 2025 Annual Meeting. Doctor for a Day holds monthly events across the Pacific Northwest and you can find future events here.

Follow Doctor for a Day on Instagram @uw_dfad.

Upcoming Opportunities to get Involved!

DFAD is supporting the Sound Careers in Healthcare (SCIH) 2026 Career Fair on March 10, 2026, and they are currently seeking clinicians, students, staff, or departments to host hands-on activities during the event. There will be an anticipated 600-700 students at this event. Co-hosted by WABS, the Healthcare Industry Leadership Table (HILT), and the University of Washington’s Center for Workforce Inclusion and Healthcare System Equity (WIHSE), Sound Careers in Healthcare (SCIH) is an annual, free, half-day career fair for high school students featuring hands-on activities and networking with healthcare professionals and postsecondary institutions.

If you would like to host an activity table at the event or volunteer, head to the below forms to get signed up.

Hands-on activity table interest form (for those interested in providing hands-on activities at the event at a table)

General volunteer interest form (for those interested in general tabling, day-off volunteering, or financial support – no activity)

Questions can be directed to Bridget Garland, Project Manager for WIHSE at bsuweng@uw.edu.

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