McGovern students lead childhood development volunteer effort
Students from McGovern Medical School recently partnered with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and their Raising a Reader Program. The students packed 4,250 literacy bags to distribute to families at HCA hospitals across South Texas, helping newborns begin life with the tools they need for a strong, healthy start.
“I see literacy as being a source for power. It’s a way to empower the next generation of children and adults in terms of both reading and writing and the power of the spoken word and its ability to transcend time and space,” said Vershanna Morris, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics.
The students used the event as an opportunity to practice the tools they will one day use in their careers as physicians. By gaining hands-on experience with patients and their families, students are learning more than just treating patients; they’re learning how to foster wellness.
“Literacy is an important tool for patients because it allows them to be able to have a better understanding of what’s going on with their health. I think it’s very important for wellness as well in terms of community outreach and programs that help keep patients and families well before ending up in the hospital,” Morris said. “My hope is that this experience helps complement their medical school education by fostering a passion for ongoing community service. That’s really the best way for us to stay connected to our patients.”
The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation expressed gratitude for volunteer engagement with the McGovern Medical School students and their support for Raising a Reader.
“Their efforts reflect a deep commitment to community, compassions, and the belief that literacy is a powerful prescription for lifelong wellness,” the foundation said.