Glendale Campus Celebrates Families at 21st Annual MWU Kids’ Day
Children learn aspects of healthcare, spend quality time with adults in their lives
- AZ - Glendale
On October 9, nearly 60 families on Midwestern University’s Glendale Campus came together to celebrate the 21st annual MWU Kids’ Day. Originally started in 2002, this family event, which is organized and hosted by the Human Resources Department, aims to expose the children of faculty and staff to different aspects of their parent or guardian’s workday. This year, a total of 96 kids ranging from ages five to 15 were split into three separate groups and sent across campus to participate in various hands-on healthcare-related activities.
One such activity took place at the Animal Health Institute’s Large Animal Clinic and was presented by Sarah Matyjaszek, D.V.M., DACVS (CVM), Clinical Associate Professor. The kids learned all about the day-to-day life of a large animal veterinarian. This included meeting one of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s resident horses, using the high-fidelity mannequins to learn about equine anatomy, and assisting in the birth of a calf using the cow birthing simulator.
On the academic side of the campus, the kids joined Colin Macpherson, M.A., CCC-SLP (CHS-Glendale), Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathology. Mr. Macpherson introduced the field of speech-language pathology (SLP) to the kids and talked about the many ways SLPs help people with their ability to communicate. With the help of MWU students, the kids learned some basic phrases in sign language and practiced signing and translating other people’s signs.
Lastly, the kids all got to meet with Melinda Burnworth, Pharm.D., BCPS, FAzPA (CPG), Professor of Pharmacy Practice, to learn more about the many roles of a pharmacist. At the end of the educational session, they donned safety gear and made slime – an activity that simulates the act of compounding medications, which is one of a pharmacist’s main jobs.
“Kids’ Day is a day when children visit their parent’s workplace and explore the various departments at Midwestern University. The activities that are organized by the different departments are educational and fun for everyone. I enjoy seeing the energy and enthusiasm that children bring to all of these experiences! We get to see our workspaces from a child’s fresh, new perspective,” says Angie Alvarez, M.S., SHRM-CP, Assistant Director of Human Resources.
