Pre-Med Pathways into Medicine
At TouroCOM we're committed to increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine. And we're serious about our commitments. We want graduates who will give back to their communities. And that starts when you're a student.
That's why we're involved in a number of community programs to help those who are interested in medical careers. Because there are steps you can take in elementary, high school and college to help you reach your goal and get to medical school. And because for our current students, being a part of the community starts now.
We start in kindergarten, visiting local schools as part of the Project Aspire and Cubs for Scrubs programs.
For High School students there's Med-Achieve, National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, and MIM.
And we offer the summer anatomy course for college students.
K-8 Pathways
In an effort to inspire children in Harlem to eventually seek careers in health sciences including medical schools in their own community such as TouroCOM, Project Aspire and Cubs for Scrubs are two programs geared towards younger ages at the K-8th grade level and provided in collaboration with local grammar schools.
Project Aspire which is an initiative of the Children’s Health Education Foundation at Touro, focuses on public health by bringing real-life, interactive health education lessons and demonstrations into classrooms to encourage students to lead healthy lifestyles and inspire them to explore careers as doctors and other healthcare professionals.
Cubs for Scrubs, another initiative of the Children Health Education Foundation of Touro operates to increase youth awareness about healthy life choices and the importance of medical practitioners in today’s world.
Pre-Med Pathways for High School Students
Med-Achieve Scholars
Med-Achieve is an after-school medical science enrichment program created by TouroCOM and serving high school students in the Harlem and Middletown communities who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine.
The goals of Project Med-Achieve are to:
- encourage high school students from the community to become physicians and health care providers
- encourage future healthcare providers to work in the Harlem and Middletown communities or another primary healthcare shortage area within the United States
- foster curiosity in medical science and encourage students to pursue science majors in college
- strengthen scientific principles and practices that complement the education provided by each student’s high school science curriculum
- provide a basic hands-on laboratory experience with an introduction to laboratory safety practices and protocol
- introduce students to Osteopathic Medicine
- promote healthy living and provide students with an understanding of pertinent topics in healthcare which are prevalent in their community.
Throughout each program year, students receive medically focused lectures and interactive laboratory sessions. Each of our students is partnered with a medical student currently enrolled at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine who works alongside you throughout the program and helps guide you in your current and future academic and career goals.
We aim to give you an applied understanding of basic sciences in the field of medicine. This is taught as a two-year program, which mirrors the curriculum of medical school. Our first-year program, called MedStart, focuses on the foundations of medicine - human anatomy, physiology and genetics. Our second-year program, called MedExcel, focuses on how the body responds to stress, injury and disease.
The curriculum of the Med-Achieve program consists of a module-based delivery method that includes the following: Osteopathic Medicine, Cellular Biology, Anatomy, The Heart, Lungs, Diabetes and Obesity, Nutrition, Substance Abuse, Sexually Transmitted Infection, Immunology, Acid-Base Chemistry, Vital Signs, Laboratory Medicine, Imaging and Radiology, Genetics, Neuroanatomy, Cancer, Study Skills/Time Management, Scientific Research, College Majors/Medical School/Careers in Medicine.
For more information, please see below:
Middletown Campus:
medachievemiddletown@gmail.com
https://medachievemiddletown.com
National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine
TouroCOM is a program partner of the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine.
Founded in 1992, the National Youth Leadership Forum’s goal is to prepare extraordinary young people for their academic future and professional careers. The mission of NYLF is to bring various professions to life, empowering outstanding young people with confidence to prepare for and transition into well-informed career choices. The Envision Career Forum programs are for high-achieving high school students who wish to make the most of college and career opportunities.
Learn more about National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine and apply on their website.
Mentoring In Medicine
TouroCOM is a proud partner of Mentoring in Medicine.
Mentoring In Medicine (MIM) is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to create a seamless system of mentorship, academic enrichment, leadership development and civic engagement for underrepresented minority youth. MIM was created by minority physicians passionate about addressing healthcare disparities and igniting an interest in health and science in our youth. Mentoring in Medicine helps students create a strategic plan for graduation from health professional and advanced science training.
Please visit their website at www.medicalmentor.org for more information and to apply.
Pre-Med Summer Courses for College Students
A limited number of courses that may serve as introductory or preparatory courses for medical school may be offered during the summer. Some slots are available to medical students from outside the College. Contact the course director with questions about summer courses.
