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Volunteer Encourages Students To Pursue Medical Careers

High school seniors know the question all too well, "What are you going to study in college?" The problem is many students in college haven't decided what they want to be when they grow up.

But a there's a volunteer in Parker who says hejust the prescription to give high school students a leg-up on their careers. He is a retired doctor named Pete Baker.

Three days a week, Doctor Baker gets to Chaparral High School at 5:30 a.m. in the morning. He organizes a class that looks at the field of medicine as a career. "This is called the medical class at Chaparral High School," Baker.

Even though the class begins at 6 a.m., nearly 60 juniors and seniors take part in the class. It is not a required class, but the students earn elective science credit. As one student put it, "I think even though it's that early in the morning, they are like, 'Yeah, I'll come because it's awesome.'"

Doctor Baker spent 40 years in the field of gastroenterology. For the last two years he has invited medical professionals to come to class to discuss career possibilities. Recently students have heard from an emergency physician, a malpractice attorney and a dentist. The idea is to expose students to the many avenues of medicine.

"I just feel like it is going to prepare me more for college when I study what I'm going to do," said Erika Guise, a senior at Chaparral.

"The specialty I wanted to be when I grow up, like what kind of doctor, has changed completely because of this class," said senior Brent Arocho.

"I really like those doctors are teaching it and not just a teacher reading out of a textbook," said Brysen Keith, also a senior.

Doctor Baker said, "It is an opportunity for me to give back. Medicine has been so good to me; I have enjoyed it so much."

Baker adds the future of medicine looks promising because of these bright young minds.

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