A Medical School Dean on Why Early STEM Exposure Matters
A Medical School Dean on Why Early STEM Exposure Matters
What does it really take to become a doctor or biomedical scientist?
For many high achieving high school students, the dream of medicine begins with curiosity, about science, about people, and about how knowledge can be used to improve lives. But according to Dr. Stephen Ray Mitchell, former Dean for Medical Education at Georgetown University School of Medicine, curiosity alone is not enough. What truly sets future physicians apart is early exposure to medical careers, mentorship, and a sense of purpose long before medical school applications ever come into play.
During his talk at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders, Dr. Mitchell delivered more than inspiration. He delivered a perspective shaped by decades of medical education leadership, accreditation oversight, and personal experience guiding students from uncertainty to calling. His message was clear: the journey to medicine begins much earlier than most people realize.
Why Early Exposure to Medical Careers Matters
Medical education is often discussed in terms of grades, test scores, and admissions statistics. While these benchmarks matter, Dr. Mitchell emphasized that they are only part of the equation. True readiness for medicine develops through early exposure to medical careers, where students begin to understand not just what medicine is, but why it matters.
As a long-serving member of the National Council of Deans and a leader in more than 20 medical school accreditation visits, Dr. Mitchell has seen firsthand how students arrive at medical school. The most successful ones, he notes, are not those who discovered medicine late, but those who were introduced early to mentors, role models, and the realities of healthcare.
That early exposure builds resilience, motivation, and clarity, qualities that cannot be crammed for or memorized.
A Medical School Dean’s Perspective
Dr. Stephen Ray Mitchell didn’t talk about medicine as a far-off idea or a future goal reserved for “someday.” Instead, he brought the audience directly into the real challenges doctors face every day, from global disease outbreaks to healthcare gaps in local communities. Through powerful stories and real-world examples, he showed students what it truly means to pursue a career in medicine and why early exposure to these realities matters.
He began by reminding students that the practice of medicine exists within a global context. Pointing to the lingering effects of infectious disease, Dr. Mitchell referenced malaria, a preventable illness that still claims the life of a child every few seconds in parts of the world. While interventions like mosquito nets have saved countless lives, he emphasized that evolving diseases and environmental conditions demand continued scientific innovation, including vaccine development.
He then drew a direct line from historical pandemics to the present day, helping students understand how medicine evolves in real time:
- From the Spanish flu of 1918 to COVID-19, rapidly mutating viruses have repeatedly challenged public health systems worldwide.
- Hundreds of millions of people have been infected globally, highlighting the scale and urgency of these threats.
- Medicine is not static, requiring future doctors to continually adapt, research, and respond as new diseases emerge.
Beyond infectious disease, Dr. Mitchell spoke candidly about health inequities. He described communities without access to clean water, where water-related illness remains a leading cause of childhood death. He shared stories of students from impoverished regions, including one of the world’s largest slums, who—through education and mentorship—are now enrolled in U.S. medical schools. These stories illustrated a powerful truth: early exposure to medical careers can change not only individual lives, but entire communities.
Closer to home, Dr. Mitchell addressed disparities within the United States. He discussed stark differences in life expectancy and infant mortality across neighborhoods just miles apart, driven not by genetics, but by access to care, nutrition, and education. For students in the audience, the message was clear: the need for compassionate, well-prepared medical professionals is not distant or theoretical, it exists in their own cities.
Throughout his remarks, Dr. Mitchell returned to one central idea. Medicine is ultimately about service. The earlier students are exposed to the realities of healthcare, its challenges, responsibilities, and impact, the better prepared they will be to pursue the field with resilience, humility, and purpose.
For students who already feel drawn to science, medicine, or biomedical research, opportunities like the Congress of Future Medical Leaders provide early exposure to medical careers through direct interaction with medical school deans, physicians, Nobel Prize–winning scientists, and peers who share the same aspirations.
Nominate a high-achieving student to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders and help them explore what a future in medicine can truly look like.
Broader Implications for Students and Families
Dr. Mitchell’s message resonates far beyond medical school admissions. It speaks directly to families navigating how best to support motivated students without adding unnecessary pressure.
Early exposure to medical careers helps students:
- Clarify whether medicine aligns with their values
- Understand the academic and personal demands of the field
- Build confidence through mentorship and community
- Develop a long-term mindset rather than a last-minute scramble
For parents, it reframes success. Instead of asking, “How do we get in?” the better question becomes, “How do we prepare our students to thrive?”
This shift benefits not only individual students but the future of healthcare itself.
How the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Supports This Journey
The Congress of Future Medical Leaders was created to give high-achieving high school students exactly the kind of early exposure Dr. Mitchell champions.
Held annually at the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the Congress brings together thousands of students and families for an immersive experience unlike any other. Part conference, part inspiration, and part community, the event features:
- Medical school deans and admissions leaders
- Nobel Laureates and groundbreaking researchers
- A live surgery broadcast
- Real conversations about the path to medicine
- A national peer network of academically driven students
By hearing directly from leaders like Dr. Mitchell, students begin to see medicine not as a distant goal, but as a reachable future shaped by preparation, integrity, and purpose.
The path to becoming a physician or biomedical scientist does not begin with an application, it begins with awareness, mentorship, and belief.
As Dr. Stephen Ray Mitchell made clear, early exposure to medical careers gives students the context they need to grow into compassionate, capable leaders in healthcare. It helps them understand not just how to succeed, but why their work will matter.
Nominate a student to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders and give them the opportunity to learn directly from medical school deans, world-class physicians, and scientific innovators shaping the future of medicine.
