Dallas ISD's future doctors dissect pig hearts during the summer

Teachers in this summer program are second- and third-year medical students from Texas A&M University.

Summer break, like so many things, has changed. Teens from 16 different Dallas ISD schools hoping to pursue a career in medicine are taking part in a summer future doctor's program where they come together to take notes, dissect, and study how the body works.

Ararh Cho and Lily Rodriguez go to two different schools, but both showed up here for the same reason.

"Ever since my grandpa had cancer, after he got treated, I wanted to help," said Cho.

Lily's grandpa also fought cancer.

"You see [it] affect their life every day, and a lot of people go through the same thing, so it's amazing to see patients get treated and get cured. They get better and they just continue with their life, and it is something beautiful," said Rodriguez.

They were turning these pig hearts over in every direction.

"I knew that fats could build up on your heart, but I didn't know it could be this much, and now I kind of feel the need to be more careful about the stuff that I eat to be cautious about it," said Cho.

The "camp" isn't just like "class." The teachers are just a few years older than these students. They are all incoming second- and third-year medical students at Texas A&M University.

"I think sometimes the idea of something is different than the real-world application of something. And we want to close that gap for students to be able to say, 'You know what, I really like this idea, but maybe I don't want to be a surgeon. Maybe I want to be a pediatrician,'" said Lisa Whitaker, with the Dallas ISD.

It also gives flexibility. Teachers are locked into teaching the curriculum exactly as the state dictates. During the summer, these kids can take side trips to areas the kids may be interested in and help them investigate why they're here.