Test Brainworks Shows Students the Possibilities

Park Labrea News and Beverly Press recently covered Cedars-Sinai’s annual Brainworks event, a day-long program of unique scientific and medical learning experiences for middle school students that is led by Keith Black, MD, chair of Cedars-Sinai's Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai. 

Black kicked off the day of learning by showing the young students photos of brain matter, blood vessels and tumors. Although some of the students from Dobson Middle School, Cochran Middle School and Rise Kohyang Middle School groaned and covered their eyes, Black was not discouraged. He noted that not everyone could be a brain surgeon and that it takes a team of people working in operating rooms, labs and rehabilitation centers to save lives in the high-tech world of brain surgery. 

“I see some of you guys cringing,” he told the crowd. “You guys can be the computer guys.”

Black seemed to expect the mixed reaction and encouraged the students to pursue their dreams, whether they were to follow in his footsteps or not.

“Whatever you guys decide to do, the key is to…find something you’re really passionate about,” he said.

After his presentation, Black said he knew that not all of the 115 or so kids who came to the 21st annual Brainworks would be fascinated by strokes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“Even if we only touch one out of 100, it’s a good day for us. We just need that little spark,” he said.

Click here to read the complete article in the Beverly Press.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: What Do Vikings Have to Do With ALS?