Launched through a partnership between UofL’s College of 成人直播 and Human Development and School of Medicine, the MSHPE degree听is designed for health care professionals who teach or plan to teach in their respective discipline鈥攎edicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy or other health fields.

“The goal of the MSHPE program is to magnify the impact of the health professions educator. Not only do health professions educators improve the outcomes of their patients, but they significantly improve the educational outcomes of their practitioner learners and impact the patients that those learners ultimately care for in the future,鈥� said Staci Saner, program director and assistant professor of medicine.听

Additionally, many accrediting bodies are moving toward requesting background knowledge in teaching and learning for health professions educators. This degree will provide this necessary credential.

By Chris Dye, 听

鈥淭his was really cool to do. We made impressions of our fingers like they do when they put braces on and mold your teeth,鈥� explained Whitney McKee, a college sophomore from Birmingham, Alabama.听

McKee is one of 59 undergraduates from around the United States who are spending six weeks at UofL this summer to boost their academic skills, network with health professions students and faculty, and learn about health care career options. The students, from as far away as California, New York and Puerto Rico, all are interested in pursuing health professional careers after college such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing or other advanced degrees.

Although she is a pre-med student, McKee is still refining her career plans. In SHPEP, she is learning about areas of health care she had not considered before.

鈥淚鈥檓 open to anything because I don鈥檛 know what specialty I want to do,鈥� McKee said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking into dentistry and pharmacy and nursing. It鈥檚 given me more information about public health, because we don鈥檛 have that kind of program at my school.鈥�

This is the 13th year for the program at UofL, one of 13 campuses across the United States hosting students in SHPEP in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and with direction from the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Dental 成人直播 Association. The goal of SHPEP is to strengthen academic proficiency and career development skills of students underrepresented in the health professions. Many of the students identify as African American/Black, American Indian and Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino, or come from communities of socioeconomic and educational disadvantage.

鈥淭his program really allows the participants to get a bird鈥檚 eye view of what professional school will be like,鈥� said Sharon Gordon, MS, coordinator of the SHPEP program at UofL. 鈥淭he students are given the opportunity to study a few of the basic science concepts they will need to master in professional school and are taught by professors at the UofL Health Sciences Center. They also interact with other health-care professionals as well as current students during their time here.鈥�

The students stay in dorms on Belknap Campus and are introduced to the UofL schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry and public health, as well as the Sullivan University College of Pharmacy. Along the way, they learn about programs offered at UofL. McKee was surprised to learn UofL offers a Distinction in Global Health Track to students in the School of Medicine.

鈥淵ou get the opportunity to learn about global health. I never knew that was an option and I鈥檇 really like to do that. I鈥檒l definitely be applying [to UofL] but I am an out of state student, so we will see,鈥� McKee said.

Meeting health professionals, potential mentors and like-minded peers is an important benefit for sophomore Alexandria Danielle Lee of the University of South Alabama. She plans to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

鈥淵esterday, I got to meet an anesthesiologist. Since I鈥檓 interested in anesthesia, that was very helpful for me. She said I can come shadow her,鈥� Lee said.

In addition to engaging in rotations in health-care settings and simulations like the one in the School of Dentistry, the students receive academic enrichment in basic sciences, as well as development of study skills, communication, financial literacy, interprofessional education, health equity and health policy.

鈥淚n the program, participants learn what they need to do to be prepared for the rigors of professional school,鈥� Gordon said. 鈥淭ypically, the semester after they leave the program is one of their best based on the academic enrichment they receive through SHPEP.鈥�

Jarvez Ellis, a freshman student from Chowan University in North Carolina, said participation in SHPEP has given him tools to achieve his goal of becoming a physician.

鈥淭his program has allowed me to become more focused, clear and confident in my goals and what will be required to get into medical school,鈥� Ellis said.

Lee believes her participation in the program will pay off when she applies to advanced health programs.

鈥淣ot everybody wants to spend six weeks of their summer here at a program taking classes,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淭his program really helps you stand out from other applicants.鈥�

鈥淚 was from a very rural county. I was not prepared when I got to college to become a successful applicant for medical school,鈥� Castaneda said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know a lot about when to shadow, when to volunteer or when to apply to medical school.鈥�

High school and undergraduate students interested in health professions visited the UofL Health Sciences Center campus Feb. 10 to learn about career and educational opportunities, tour the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health & Information Sciences, and meet with advisers and potential mentors. Representatives from the four HSC schools were on hand to discuss with students the skills needed to navigate the road to higher education in the health sciences.

Hannah Granholm, a high school sophomore from Louisville, attended the symposium to learn more about becoming a nurse practitioner. 鈥淚 learned that a nurse practitioner does more than just give people shots and medicine. They do a lot more, and it takes a lot of work to do it,鈥� Granholm said.

Glenda Granholm, Hannah鈥檚 mother, encouraged Hannah to attend. 鈥淚 thought she could get exposure to different fields and could talk to people who know the field. That way she鈥檒l be more comfortable asking questions.鈥�

Vivian Doyle, a second-year UofL medical student, took a group of the students on a tour of the School of Medicine. She said a mentor provides essential support for students aspiring to careers in medicine, dentistry or graduate studies.

鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely important to find mentors 鈥� a physician, a medical student or an upper classman. That way, if you do get nervous or you have your doubts, you can go to your mentor and ask advice,鈥� Doyle said.

Barbara Ekeh, another second-year medical student, said the event also provided an opportunity to learn about the lesser-known careers in health care, such as public health, graduate studies or dentistry.

鈥淭here are so many avenues in medicine and some are more visible than others. One student was asking, 鈥榃hat is public health?鈥� I didn鈥檛 know what that was until I was in college. Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming.鈥� Ekeh said. 鈥淭his is an avenue where they can meet other students to try and figure out what they are interested in doing.鈥�

The event also allowed the students to connect with advisers and faculty members who could help them along in the process. Ashley O鈥橬eil, a program coordinator in the UofL HSC Office of Diversity and Inclusion, helps students determine the best fit and guides them through the application process.

鈥淭here are people like me who will help you figure out your path and what it is going to take for you to succeed. I鈥檓 here to help in your journey with shadowing, clinical work, understanding the MCAT and its whole process, and the application itself,鈥� O鈥橬eil said.

Alona Pack, MSN, MA, RN, assistant professor in the UofL School of Nursing, said student organizations also can be important resources for the students.

鈥淲e have support systems for minority students here, particularly the Black Student Nurses Association. They provide mentorship and academic support to the students. They also do community outreach and develop leadership skills. It鈥檚 a good network for the students.鈥�

The Student National Medical Association, Student National Dental Association, Health and Social Justice Scholars, Black Student Nurses Association, and the UofL Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted the program, attended by 85 high school and undergraduate college students. The event was funded by the UofL Student Government Association Club Programming Committee and the UofL Commission of Diversity and Racial Equality.

Castaneda said events such as the symposium can help students connect with other programs and student organizations, which he found helpful. Castaneda attended the Professional 成人直播 Preparation Program prior to college, and joined the Multicultural Association of Pre-Medical Students once he arrived on campus.

鈥淧EPP particularly got me up to speed and it made me feel a lot more comfortable when I got to college. I just kept doing the programs. They give you more exposure to the field. They let you meet great people and they help you along the process.鈥�

See the photo gallery from the event . For more information on mentoring programs, visit the .