What Happens When 100+ Campers Learn to Think Like Doctors?

A behind-the-scenes look at DxR Health Academy’s summer pilot on campus

This summer, something remarkable happened on a university campus.

Over 100 middle/high school students gathered for a special hands-on experience: DxR Health Academy’s Medical Detective Day - a live workshop designed to introduce real clinical reasoning skills in a fun, age-appropriate way.

These weren’t your typical science campers. They were curious, gifted students ready to go beyond worksheets and dive into how real healthcare professionals think.

From Curious to Clinical

During the session, students stepped into the shoes of healthcare providers. They learned two foundational tools:

• SOAP – a method used by doctors to organize their thinking

• OLDCARTS – a step-by-step framework to investigate symptoms

Through guided role-play, students practiced asking clinical questions like:

“When did the pain start?”“Can you point to where it hurts?”“What makes it better or worse?”

They used their findings to solve a case involving abdominal pain — learning how doctors connect symptoms, location, and timing to reach a diagnosis.

Science Meets Simulation

Instead of memorizing anatomy terms, students jumped into interactive activities:

√ Kahoot quizzes to test what they learned

√ Role-play interviews as “doctor” and “patient”

√ Quadrant-based organ mapping

√ Friendly competitions like the “Abdominal Pain Detective” challenge

They weren’t just absorbing facts. They were practicing clinical reasoning.

Future Healthcare Thinkers in the Making

For many, this was their first taste of medical thinking. By the end of the day, dozens of students said they could see themselves pursuing healthcare careers in the future.

One student shared:

“This made me feel like I was really thinking like a doctor - not just learning about them.”

Ready to Bring This to Your Students or Start It Yourself?

If you're an educator, counselor, or school leader looking to spark interest in healthcare careers, without needing a simulation lab,  DxR has you covered:

✅ Ready-to-use clinical cases

✅ Step-by-step teacher guides

✅ Bilingual worksheets (English/Chinese)

✅ Self-paced online modules

✅ Personalized completion certificates

📩 Request access to the DxR Explorer Course here: sales@dxrgroup.com

And if you’re a student thinking about a future in medicine, nursing, PA, or health research. This is your starting line.You don’t need lab equipment. You just need curiosity and a system that teaches you to think like a real clinician.

Start your journey with the DxR Explorer Course today.