Written by: Dr. Shea Jorgensen, Prairie Ridge
Last April, I found myself carrying our toddler while jogging after our six-year-old (pretty much our family’s usual pace anywhere we go) into the Mason City High School Fieldhouse. The kids were fired up to explore and play! I was excited for my first STEM event as a parent.
During medical school at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, I volunteered at various community events. More than once I caught myself thinking, “I wish I’d had this growing up.” Local elementary students got to step right onto a medical school campus, learn about science, meet medical students and physicians, and see what opportunities were possible for their futures, all while having fun.
Around that same time, Iowa was putting more emphasis on recruiting students from rural communities into medicine, including through loan repayment programs. I was fortunate to receive that support, and now I serve on the committee that helps select students who commit to practicing in rural areas. Every year I’m struck by how few applicants there are, largely because not many students from rural Iowa are matriculating into medical school in the first place. When I think about the opportunities available to kids growing up near major universities, it’s not surprising that rural students remain underrepresented in STEM fields.
So, when I heard about our local STEM event in April 2025, an opportunity to expose North Iowa kids (including mine!) to hands-on science, I added it to the calendar. I was blown away by the range of activities that had both boys completely engaged. My mind immediately started spinning with ideas for a future Prairie Ridge table focused on mental health and the brain, which will debut this year! I’m excited to go back with our kids, and this time to be on the other side of the table, hopefully inspiring the next generation of North Iowa scientists.