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Partnering with the Community
At Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD), we invest in the next generation of health care professionals by inspiring high school students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in the medical field. Through mentorship and various science, technology, and math-related activities, students learn about health care careers and how science applies to various disciplines.
Journey into Medicine Mentorship Program
A Collaboration with Blanche Ely High School
In partnership with the Blanche Ely High School Medical Magnet Program, NSU MD helps students from underrepresented backgrounds develop skills to increase their competitiveness for admission to schools of medicine. Matched with NSU MD clinical faculty mentors, students receive first-hand information about careers in medicine and how to navigate the application process.
The program runs for one academic year. To be eligible to participate, you must be a high school sophomore, junior, or senior, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
STEM Seminar Series
A Collaboration with Stranahan High School
To increase the chances of successfully entering a health professions program, Stranahan High School 10th grade students participate in the NSU MD’s STEM Seminar Series. The seminars align with the content in the school’s curriculum, helping students develop an understanding of the relevance of the basic sciences across multiple health professions.
NSU MD basic science faculty from six disciplines – anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology – provide the weekly one-hour interactive seminars. To date, more than 200 students have been impacted. The program begins in January and runs throughout the academic year.
Medical Students Encouraging and Teaching Aspiring STEAM Students
A Collaboration with the Immaculata-LaSalle High School
The NSU MD Latino Medical Student Association Chapter partners with the Immaculata-LaSalle High School Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math (STEAM) program in Miami, Florida to stimulate interest in health care careers. More than ninety percent of the students enrolled in the STEAM program identify as Hispanic/Latinx.
Ad Law-Med
Advancing Underrepresented Youth in Law and Medicine
NSU MD and NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law have jointly designed the Advancing Underrepresented Youth in Law and Medicine (Ad Law-Med) program. Ad Law-Med is an experiential pathway program designed to enhance academic performance, social support, professional development, and effective career planning for minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged Broward County Public High School students. The program aims to promote interest in careers at the intersection of law and medicine by encouraging an understanding of health disparities and how the social, legal, and medical barriers to health care can be addressed through interdisciplinary collaboration. Ad Law-Med also engages NSU law and medical students as mentors for the high schoolers. The program will serve 60 students between October 2024 and July 2025.
Summer Research Internship
Triangle Community Foundation (TCF) Summer Research Internship Program
In the summer of 2024, NSU MD launched the TCF Summer Research Internship Program for high school students. The overall goal of the internship program was to support students in successfully matriculating into medical schools and research careers. The program engaged four students in grades 10-12 from Stranahan High School for six weeks. Interns rotated through labs of research faculty focusing on immunotherapy and cancer. The students also participated in various field trips, personal skills development activities and professional development sessions focused on financial literacy, professional communication, academic success, and wellness. Supported by a generous $20,000 grant from the Triangle Community Foundation, the program will continue to expand and engage high school students across multiple Broward County Schools.
The NSU MD student-led mentoring and teaching program METAS has reached more than 100 high school students to date through workshops, discussions, and active-learning activities.
Contact:
Arkene Levy Johnston, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Community Engagement, Equity, and Belonging
Professor of Medical Education
(954) 262-4158
alevy1@nova.edu