California: Gateway to Medicine Camp held in Sacramento benefiting the Indian American Teens

Sacramento, California: The “Suvidha International Foundation”, a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit, successfully hosted the “Gateway to Medicine Summer Camp” from July 21st to 23rd  2025 at the Art of Living Center in Folsom. This immersive three-day camp aimed to ignite curiosity and confidence in the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Welcoming “40 middle and high school students” from various schools across the Sacramento – California region. The camp was unique in that it was entirely led by youth leaders. “Anoushka Bellum”, a recent graduate of Vista Del Lago High School, along with “Sriram Vempati” and “Arjun Dhulipala”, both rising sophomores at Granite Bay High School, took charge of planning and executing the program.

Their personal aspirations to enter the medical field inspired them to create a relatable and engaging experience for their peers. Participants hailed from schools including “Sutter Middle School”, “Folsom High School”, and “Granite Bay High School”, fostering a sense of community among students united by a shared passion for healthcare. Below is a summary of the sessions conducted as part of this camp:

• “CPR Demonstration”: Led by Dr. “Vijay Parikh”, students learned to recognize cardiac arrest signs and perform chest compressions on professional-grade manikins.
• “Suturing Techniques”: Dr. “Venu Bellum” guided students in practicing suturing on synthetic skin pads, emphasizing surgical precision.

• “Lung Function Experiment”: Students conducted a creative experiment using balloons to understand respiratory mechanics.
• “Diagnostic Tool Practice”: Participants learned to measure blood pressure and listen to heart and lung sounds using medical tools.

A popular activity, the “Medical Scavenger Hunt”, challenged students to match 18 medical instruments with their uses, reinforcing their understanding while promoting teamwork. Students participated in workshops on bandaging and emergency care, gaining practical skills to control bleeding and stabilize injuries. The camp featured  insightful talks from accomplished doctors as cited below:

• “Dr. Alok Krishna” – discussed addiction medicine, emphasizing empathy in treatment.
• “Dr. Abhishek Rai” – addressed mental health, encouraging students to prioritize emotional well-being.
• “Dr. Hema Bhargava” – captivated students with a session on heart anatomy and disease prevention.

A key session led by “Venkat” focused on BS/MD programs, providing students with a roadmap to apply for combined undergraduate-medical programs to cut down the duration of BS-MD and reduce stress in BS program and advised interested students to reach out to https://securecollegeadmission.com/ for a free consultation session.

Participants expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for the camp. A student from Sutter Middle School remarked, “This camp really opened my eyes to what the medical field involves.” Another from Folsom High School shared, “The CPR and suturing sessions were my favorite. I felt like a real doctor!”.

“Bhaskar Vempati”, President of Suvidha International Foundation, extended heartfelt thanks to the lead volunteers and guest doctors for their contributions. The foundation is excited to make the Gateway to Medicine Camp an annual event, continuing to inspire young learners in their pursuit of healthcare careers.

Based in Folsom – California State, Suvidha International Foundation is dedicated to transforming lives through education and empowerment programs in both India and the United States. In India, the foundation supports over “105 underprivileged students” in various fields, while in the U.S.

It promotes civic engagement through educational activities and community service. For more information, visit Suvidha International Foundation at https://suvidhainternational.org