"The Science is All of Us"

Apr 28, 2022 | Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira

The Science Museum of Minnesota featured two Mayo Clinic physicians as part of an exhibit titled "The Science is All of Us." It explores how race is an idea created by people to define and divide ourselves into groups. And while people have different genes and backgrounds, we are more similar than different. The stories include videos of our experts.

Dr. James Hill – Community Internal Medicine

“I said, ‘Oh, maybe I can do that!’”

What do masonry and medicine have in common? According to Dr. James Hill, who worked as a brick mason before pursuing medicine as an adult, both are based on STEM principles but at their best include art, as well. From working in bricklaying with his father to seeing his cousin studying to be a doctor, James has found STEM inspiration from the people around him.

“Black males in medicine are quite unique. If I didn’t have a cousin who had done it before, I probably wouldn’t have done it at all.”

Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin – Community Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine

“We’re role modeling even when we don’t think we’re role modeling. It’s a privilege and it’s a tremendous responsibility.”

As someone who works with children—many of whom she has known their whole lives, Mayo clinic pediatrician, Nusheen Ameenuddin, M.D., M.P.H., makes it a point to ask her patients what they want to be when they grow up. Being her authentic self is one way she shows them that the world needs scientists and physicians who come from different backgrounds and life experiences, when many children are subtly or overtly told STEM isn’t for them.

“Bring your whole self to work. If you’re not your whole self, you're not going to be able to bring your whole self to your patients, who need all of you. Be who you need to be.”