Stony Brook University has seen a successful initiative in its "Pathways to Healthcare" program, which bridges the gap between its East and West Campuses. The program has grown significantly since its inception, becoming a crucial link between clinical medicine and undergraduate education.
Marianna Savoca, associate vice president for career readiness and experiential education at the Career Center, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: "This program is so important because it represents the best collaboration between clinical medicine and undergraduate education."
The program was launched through a partnership involving Robert Nocito, MD, administrative chief resident of the Renaissance School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine; David Cohen, MD, associate dean of Student Affairs and associate professor of emergency medicine; and the Career Center on West Campus. It targets first-generation and underrepresented students interested in healthcare careers by providing them with direct access to healthcare professionals, clinical training, shadowing experiences, mentorship, and application guidance.
Initially designed for about 35 students per year, demand for the program has surged from around 100 applicants in its first year to over 450. Urszula Zalewski, director of experiential education and student employment at the Career Center, noted: "Now it's up to more than 450 for 35 slots and the students in the program are the ones who are doing the most promotion."
Cohen expressed his satisfaction with the initiative: "It’s so rewarding to see young kids... They’re kids who haven’t had any help to get to where they are... so to be able to help them over the process is really rewarding."
The program has expanded recently to include panels such as a Women in Healthcare Panel and has been integrated into Stony Brook’s Renaissance School of Medicine. This expansion allows participants to receive mentorship from medical students.
Giulianna Vullo, experiential learning coordinator at the Career Center remarked on student engagement: "Students have been asking for some of their connections to come to West campus for events and take part in networking."
Both Savoca and Cohen underscored how real-life exposure influences students' career choices. Cohen stated: "Sometimes they come in really sure about what they want to do... we change some minds." Savoca added that their goal is helping students understand healthcare opportunities: "We all want them to make decisions about their career direction with knowledge and experience."
— Emily Cappiello