Several teenagers with personal experience with pediatric health care lectured at the UI Roy and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine as members of the University of Iowa Children's Hospital Youth Advisory Council (YAC). The annual presentation is one of the most popular in the "Foundations of Clinical Practice" course for first-year medical students each fall semester.

Presenters are teenagers receiving health care services at University of Iowa Children's Hospital. Course instructors say these patients know best the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are important attributes of future physicians. By sharing their personal stories and observations, the young people provide valuable insight into the lives of children and their families as they navigate their health care experience.

Kathy Whiteside, YAC co-founder, said, "We continue to learn from our Youth Advisory Council members how best we can improve the care we give to kids. The medical students say this is one of the most informative and powerful lectures they hear. The eager exchange of perspectives during this presentation makes it clear that the medical students value the opinions of these young people."

Each year, University of Iowa Children's Hospital records more than 100,000 clinic visits and some 7,000 inpatient admissions. In addition, numerous pediatric outreach and satellite clinics provide primary and specialty care for children in communities throughout Iowa. A 175-bed "hospital within a hospital," University of Iowa Children's Hospital benefits from the sophisticated services and comprehensive resources of UI Hospitals and Clinics.

For more information:

University of Iowa Children's Hospital

Roy and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Kathy Whiteside