Inspired By Excellence & Innovation
We offer a wide range of high quality of teaching and extra-curricular activities.
The Doctor for a Day program began as the brainchild of Dr. Joy Thurman-Nguyen, who was a first-year medical student at that time in 2014. The program took root as a volunteer medical student run program. Since that first event over 6 years ago, medical student and resident volunteers have led the organization and implementation of approximately 8 events per year with 45-60 middle school and high school participants at each event.
The medical students take the lead in coordinating volunteer participants amongst their peers. The UW Network of Underrepresented Residents and Fellows (UWNURF) has worked in collaboration with the DFAD medical students’ leaders and arranged for residents and fellows from multiple specialties to teach at each event. This program began as a grassroots effort among medical students to serve the educational and mentorship needs of our most vulnerable students traditionally underrepresented in medicine. Through their efforts the program is now an institutionalized program through the medical school Center of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI). This program is rooted in service and we look forward to continuing its mission to grow it’s impact in the WWAMI region.
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Doctor for a Day is comprised of hands-on stations providing opportunities for direct mentorship and engagement with medical students, residents, fellows and faculty.
Regional focus – our students come from across King County.
People not profits – students pay nothing to participate and provided food.
Applied learning – D4AD provides participants hands on learning opportunities.
Reach out to learn more about our programming. We also welcome community partners.


Executive Leadership
Acknowledgment
DFAD Medical Student Leadership
Program Volunteers

Doctor For A Day (DFAD) programming is implemented by an exemplary team of volunteers including medical students, residents, fellows and attendings. Parents, participants and community organizers can expect that all of our volunteers have completed training in compliance with the University of Washington youth program volunteer Policies and Procedures. Volunteers also agree and adhere to a code of conduct in accordance with university standards for interacting with youth as follows:
General contact: in-person, online, verbal, physical
Expectations
- Observe the “Rule of Three” – have at least one other adult present during all interactions with youth.
- Limit physical contact to purposes that are consistent with the program’s mission and/or for a clear educational, developmental, or health related purpose, in the presence of another staff member, and with the consent of the youth.
- Use program-sponsored e-mail, phone and social media accounts for communication when there is an essential educational or programmatic reason to do so.
- Disclose any pre-existing relationships with youth in the youth program immediately to the program lead. Abide by these standards while affiliated with the youth program, despite any pre-existing personal relationships.
Discouraged or prohibited
Note: Discouraged behaviors are indicated by use of the word “avoid.” All other behaviors are prohibited.
- Avoid being alone with a single youth where you cannot be observed by program staff or other adults.
- Do not act in a manner that can be perceived as physical or verbal abuse.
- Do not discipline youth by use of physical punishment or by failing to provide the necessities of care.
- Do not engage in purposeful communication or contact including in-person meetings, phone or other electronic communication including social networking, with youth outside of sanctioned program activities.
- Avoid texting and other forms of electronic one-on-one communication between a single staff person and a youth.
Equitable Treatment
Expectation
- Treat all youth equitably, i.e. fairly and consistently, regardless of their actions or behavior, sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, culture, place of birth, age, class, ability, health, citizenship, language, or other identities.
Prohibited
- Do not discriminate against a youth based on their sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, culture, place of birth, age, class, ability, health, citizenship, language, or other identities.
- Do not give personal gifts to youth or their parents, e.g., any item intended to give a youth and/or parent special attention that is not given to others.
Sexual Misconduct
Expectation
- Understand and respect the physical and personal boundaries set by youth.
Prohibited
- Do not engage in sexual contact of any kind. (including any verbal or physical contact that can be perceived as sexual in nature.)
- Do not date or become romantically involved with youth.
- Do not discuss your own or a youth’s sex life or sexual activities.
- Do not share sexually explicit material with youth.
Safety
Expectations
- The safety of youth must be your primary concern above all others.
- Report any concerns for suspected abuse or neglect of a youth to authorities per University policy requirements.
- Notify University representatives per policy requirements of any violations of these standards for interacting with youth.
- Follow all University transportation procedures for transporting youth.
Prohibited
- Do not possess, sell, use, or be under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco or illegal drugs while engaged in program activities or on site.
- Do not bring or carry a weapon into the program.
- Do not transport youth in a personal vehicle.
If you are a medical student, resident or fellow please visit the Volunteer Tab to find more information about how to volunteer and links to necessary trainings to complete prior to volunteering with our program. If you are outside the University of Washington system and would like to volunteer with DFAD please email [email protected] to request access to the training video and assessment links that must be completed to volunteer with our program. You can reach out to us at [email protected] with any additional questions.