High School Students Awakened to Anesthesiology

Careers in medicine stem from strong foundations that start early, especially in highly technical specialties like anesthesia. Yale's fifth annual "Exploring Anesthesiology" high school mentorship program took place on Monday, July 13, 2026, providing an opportunity for 14 students to gain exposure to basic anesthesiology fundamentals. The hands-on program, coordinated through Yale Pathways to Science, offered participants a peek into a fulfilling career in healthcare.

Cheryl Gooden, MD, associate professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics, created the program and says she looks forward to it every year. “I really enjoy it. I was on call last night so that I could be off today. I’m passionate about this, and I just want to help the future generation.”

Yale Pathways to Science Summer Scholars is a free, two-week program that offers science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities for students in greater New Haven public high schools entering grades 10-12. Departments from across the university participate in hosting these programs, including Yale School of Medicine, Yale Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science, and Yale School of Nursing.

Gooden conducts an anesthesiology workshop each year that focuses on common tasks for anesthesiologists and relevant anatomy. Students participate in hands-on simulations using mannequins and trachea models.

“What I like most about this program is that I just get to give them a better understanding of what medicine is all about, and that it takes a lot,” says Gooden. “If you truly want to go into medicine, you have to be willing to commit to it.”

While teaching students about the specifics of the day-to-day responsibilities of an anesthesiologist, she also teaches about the differences between adult and pediatric anesthesia. She emphasizes that anesthesiology is a highly personalized specialty and that care plans are tailored to the needs of the given patient.

“I tell the students a little bit about what the typical workday might be for an anesthesiologist, the time that we come in in the morning, and how we set up our room,” says Gooden. “I tell them how we then go and see our patient and create an anesthesia plan based on the information that we obtain from them.”

Even if a high school student may not have it all figured out already, Gooden says that one of the most important things everyone should learn is CPR. She believes that’s an invaluable skill students should start to focus on when they are early in their journey to finding a career that’s right for them, whether it be in healthcare or something else.

While some students may spend several more years deciding what they would like to pursue, Gooden remarks that one student in particular from a past year was greatly inspired by the session.

“A student who attended the session actually reached out to me afterward, thanked me, and asked if she could shadow me. So, I made it happen for her,” says Gooden. “She has now completed her second year at Yale as an undergraduate. So, she’s doing a lot of great things. Out of this program can come so much for students."

Sessions like “Exploring Anesthesiology” can provide a starting point for a fulfilling medical career, but Gooden emphasizes that anesthesiology requires a continuous learning mindset. “I am a forever learner,” she says. “If you decide to go into medicine, you may finish medical school, you may finish residency, but you’re always evolving. Medicine in itself is exciting because there’s so much to learn.”