DETROIT, MI — The Detroit Youth Health Expo is growing beyond its original high school audience this fall, adding undergraduate and graduate students for the first time since the program began in 2023. The event will take place Oct. 1-2 at the Wayne State University Student Center, bringing together students, physicians, researchers and other health care leaders for two days of career exploration.
Organizers say the expanded format is meant to give more students a chance to learn about health care pathways, build mentorship connections and see what work in the field can look like across different levels of education. The expo has already reached hundreds of Detroit-area students, and this year’s version is expected to draw as many as 400 participants.
How the expo grew from a student idea into an annual program
The expo was founded in 2023 by School of Medicine students who wanted to create more programming for Detroit students interested in health care. What began as a conversation among friends has developed into an annual event that now draws support from multiple universities and health programs.
Jordan Hicks, a second-year medical student and member of the outreach team, said the response has been stronger than organizers expected. Since the first expo, more than 40 health programs have taken part, and nearly 600 high school students have been reached over three years.
One example of that impact is Adanna Nwamba, a Med-Direct student who first learned about the B.S./M.D. program while attending the expo as a high school senior. She later joined the event’s leadership team, showing how the program has helped create a pipeline from awareness to participation.
What students can expect during the two-day conference
This year’s schedule is split into two conferences. The Undergraduate/Graduate Conference will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 1, while the High School Conference is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 2. Both days will include panel discussions, breakout sessions and research presentations.
Topics will cover health care, medicine, career exploration and the future of the industry. Organizers say the goal is to give students direct access to professionals and a better sense of the many roles that exist in the field, from clinical work to research and leadership.
Participating universities include Wayne State University and its School of Medicine, Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Human Medicine, Eastern Michigan University, Schoolcraft College and the University of Michigan.
New pitch competition gives Detroit high schoolers a chance to solve local problems
A new feature this year will let high school students take part in a pitch competition focused on community problem-solving. Students will be asked to present ideas for addressing an issue in their own neighborhoods or city.
The winning groups will then work with participating university partners to explore how those ideas could be developed further and possibly brought to life in Detroit. Organizers say the addition is designed to make the expo more hands-on while connecting classroom learning with real-world needs.
Research abstracts are also being accepted ahead of the event, with a submission deadline of 11:59 p.m. Sept. 18. That piece of the program gives students another way to present their work and engage with faculty and peers.
Community mixer and dinner cruise broaden the event beyond students
The expansion also includes events aimed at building relationships outside the conference sessions. On Oct. 1, NextGen Detroit will partner on a community mixer for students, faculty, physicians and local leaders. The evening program will run from 5 to 9 p.m. and is meant to encourage conversation about Detroit and its future.
On Oct. 2, organizers will host a fundraising sunset dinner cruise at 1340 Atwater St. in Detroit. The cruise is intended to celebrate the expo and help support its future growth. Tickets are being sold for the event.
By adding these gatherings, organizers hope to strengthen the network around the expo and give participants a chance to connect in a more informal setting.
Organizers say the mission is access, mentorship and long-term career stability
Hicks said the program is built around two ideas: helping students find stable careers and encouraging them to stay connected to their communities. She pointed to health care as one of the fastest-growing industries and said students from urban communities are often more likely to return and serve where they grew up.
That belief, organizers say, is central to why the expo exists. They want Detroit students to have the same kind of exposure, guidance and professional networks that can help open doors to future careers. The emphasis is not just on awareness, but on creating a lasting support system.
Organizers also said they hope the event continues to attract sponsors and partners. Their larger aim is to challenge older narratives about Detroit students and show what they can achieve when they have access to the same opportunities as their peers elsewhere.
