Prescribing Literacy: McGovern Medical Students Champion Early Childhood Development
“Literacy is an important tool for patients because it allows them to be able to have a better understanding of what’s going on with their health. I think it’s very important for wellness as well in terms of community outreach and programs that help keep patients and families well before ending up in the hospital.”
In a powerful intersection of health and education, students from McGovern Medical School traded lab coats for literacy bags by partnering with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation as the selected nonprofit for a day of volunteerism. These future physicians stepped out of the classroom and into the community, packing 4,250 literacy bags for the Raising A Reader program. These resources were distributed to families at HCA hospitals across South Texas, helping newborns begin life with the tools they need for a strong, healthy start.
“I see literacy as being a source of power. It’s a way to empower the next generation of children and adults in terms of both reading and writing and the power of the spoken word and its ability to transcend time and space,” said Vershanna E. Morris, MD, McGovern Medical School Assistant Professor, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.
This is more than just volunteerism; it’s a reflection of a growing understanding in medicine that literacy is a social determinant of health. By engaging with the very tools they may one day recommend to patients, like books, parent engagement strategies, and early learning resources, these students are gaining hands-on experience in holistic care. They’re not just learning how to treat illness; they’re learning how to foster wellness from day one.
“Literacy is an important tool for patients because it allows them to be able to have a better understanding of what’s going on with their health. I think it’s very important for wellness as well in terms of community outreach and programs that help keep patients and families well before ending up in the hospital.” Dr. Morris added.
This collaboration represents a unique and meaningful way to bridge clinical knowledge with community impact. Perhaps one of these physicians will hand out the materials they helped pack for thousands of babies during their training, or maybe a parent will receive these same tools, exemplifying that volunteerism can create long-term connections within the community and beyond.
“My hope is that this experience helps complement their medical school education by fostering a passion for ongoing community service, that’s really the best way for us to stay connected to our patients,” said Dr. Morris.
“As first year medical students, we spend most of our time studying and don’t really get opportunities like this to directly impact clinical spaces at this scale, at least not this early in our educational careers. We were truly honored to make such a contribution to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, and the work we did serves as a reminder [as to] why we are studying to be physicians in the first place,” Said McGovern Medical Student Noah.
The Foundation is grateful for the volunteer engagement with the McGovern Medical School students and their support for Raising A Reader by serving families beyond hospital walls. Their efforts reflect a deep commitment to community, compassion, and the belief that literacy is a powerful prescription for lifelong wellness. To learn more about the Raising A Reader initiative, please visit www.barbarabushhouston.org/raisingareader