Ponce Health Sciences University–St. Louis Medical Students Lead Research-Informed Teddy Bear Project to Build Early Healthcare Confidence

PHSU–St. Louis partners with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Head Start program to deliver the Teddy Bear Project, a hands-on, research-informed experience designed to help young children feel more comfortable with healthcare.

St. Louis, Missouri – February, 11, 2025 – The project engaged children ages 3 to 5 in guided pretend medical play, an approach supported by peer-reviewed research as an effective way to reduce healthcare-related anxiety and improve early health understanding. Rather than observing demonstrations, children were encouraged to actively participate and take ownership of the experience. 

“Early childhood experiences strongly shape how individuals perceive healthcare later in life. This program helps remove barriers to understanding healthcare while planting early seeds of trust, confidence, and self-advocacy,” said Chiedozie I. A. Waturuocha, MBBCh, MD, FWACP (Pediatrics), MS, PhD, Associate Professor, Assistant Course Director for Introduction to Clinical Skills and Pathophysiology, and Pediatrics Infectious Disease Professor at Ponce Health Sciences University–St. Louis. 

During the event, children were provided teddy bears to keep and, with guidance from PHSU–STL medical students, practiced caring for their own “patients” in a simulated healthcare setting. Medical students worked with small groups using hands-on activity kits that allowed children to explore medical tools and concepts in a playful, non-threatening environment. 

Children practiced eye inspections and simple vision checks, explored reflexes, vibration, and hearing, listened to heart and lung sounds using stethoscopes, and wrapped paper towels as casts and bandages to simulate injury care. The experience intentionally placed children in the role of the caregiver, helping transform unfamiliar medical concepts into confidence-building activities.

The Teddy Bear Project is grounded in a growing body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of pretend medical play in pediatric health education. A systematic review published in BMJ Open found that Teddy Bear Hospital–style programs are commonly associated with lower anxiety levels, improved healthcare knowledge, and more positive emotional responses to medical environments among preschool and early elementary-age children.*

Additional research published in The BMJ highlights that these experiences also benefit medical students by strengthening age-appropriate communication, empathy, teamwork, and patient-centered care through experiential learning. 

Early exposure to healthcare environments plays an important role in shaping children’s long-term perceptions of medical care. Research indicates that negative early encounters may contribute to lasting healthcare anxiety, while positive, educational experiences help normalize routine care and foster trust in healthcare professionals. 

“I hope they walk away inspired to dream big. When I was young, I didn’t have opportunities like this with doctors coming to my school and being present,” said Georges M Ambroise, M3. “Being here today is one of the greatest moments of my life because I get to inspire them.” 

For medical students, the Teddy Bear Project provided meaningful practice in observation, communication, and patient education, while requiring them to translate clinical concepts into language and activities appropriate for very young children. This type of community-based experiential learning reinforces ethical responsibility, empathy, and service.  

Through its partnership with the Urban League’s Head Start program, PHSU–STL advanced its commitment to community-centered medical education and preventive health advocacy, particularly for families who may face barriers to healthcare access. 

“Having the medical students come in and use the teddy bear to show young children what to expect at the doctor’s office helps reduce fear in an age-appropriate way,” said Shantana Payne, MEd Lead Center Coordinator for Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Head Start. “Head Start serves low-income families from six weeks to age five, and this partnership is incredibly valuable. When we ask children what they want to be when they grow up, these experiences inspire them — many begin to see themselves in healthcare.”

Internationally, Teddy Bear Hospital–style initiatives have been recognized as effective public-health education tools, and the Teddy Bear Project builds upon this evidence-based model while tailoring the experience to local community needs. 

The Teddy Bear Project reflects PHSU–STL’s mission to prepare compassionate, ethical physicians through innovative, research-informed education that extends beyond the classroom, supporting both the development of future physicians and the long-term well-being of the communities they serve.

About Ponce Health Sciences University: Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), founded in Puerto Rico with locations in St. Louis and Tortola, boasts nearly 50 years of excellence in medical and health sciences education. PHSU St. Louis prepares students for successful healthcare careers through its rigorous programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), and Doctor of Medicine (MD). PHSU remains dedicated to educating culturally competent healthcare leaders to reduce health disparities in the populations we serve through high-quality education in a global environment.

Natalie Gutierrez Schmidt, Marketing & Communications Manager-Contact

St. Louis, Urban League, Head Start, Teddy Bear Project, children’s healthcare, early childhood education, health awareness for kids, community health programs, pediatric healthcare, childhood comfort with medical environments

#StLouis #UrbanLeague #HeadStart #TeddyBearProject #ChildrensHealth #HealthcareForKids #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #CommunityHealth #PediatricCare #FamilySupport