Hamilton High School senior Mariah Craft is getting a glimpse into the future this summer as a participant in the prestigious TAP MD program offered by the Greater Cincinnati Health Council.

Craft was nominated for the program by Hamilton High School chemistry teacher Louise Jewett, who said she was one of 25 tri-state students selected for the program.

“The students will spend a couple of weeks this summer in various hospitals and doctor’s offices to find out what a doctor’s day is like,” Jewett said. “Mariah would like to be an oncologist, so this will be a good experience for her.”

Craft said that her interest in becoming a doctor was inspired by her mother working as a pediatric nurse.

“So I had early exposure to the medical field,” she said. “I loved the idea that a job could be so challenging and rewarding at the same time.”

She chose oncology as a specialty when someone very close to her, Stephanie Davis, died from cancer.

“It was a very sad thing to see someone I loved taken away too early in life and I decided I wanted to prevent that from happening to other families,” she said

“So far we have been to a meeting in which we learned about patient privacy procedures and three different hospital events,” she said. “At one we got to see an emergency helicopter take off from the helipad and learn about what is expected of a doctor on one of those helicopters.

“We also were able to experience a simulation used to train doctors who will work in the Air Force. Another event took place at the Cincinnati Center for Respite Care where we were able to hear the stories of homeless patients and the medical issues that led to their stay at the center.”

Craft hasn’t decided on a college yet, but wants to go to a big city.

“I hope to contribute in some way toward the improvement of cancer treatment and our progress as we search for a cure,” she said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.