Sixth STEM Award for TouroCOM Harlem
Harlem MedAchieve Program That Paves the Way for High School Students in Medicine Named in 2024 Inspiring Program in STEM by Insight Into Diversity Magazine
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) has received the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.
The recognition marks the sixth time TouroCOM has received the magazine’s STEM award, which recognizes colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
TouroCOM is recognized for its after-school program MedAchieve, founded in 2011, which serves New York City high school students interested in careers in medicine or other health sciences and to date has provided mentorship to hundreds of students at dozens of high schools, many of whom live in medically underserved communities and are underrepresented minorities.
In 2023-24, MedAchieve enrolled 98 high school students from 28 schools.
Graduates Matriculate into Medical School
"We are deeply appreciative of this award and gratified that MedAchieve is being recognized as a positive and impactful program in STEM,” said Dean of Students Dr. Nadege Dady. “MedAchieve is the type of program that continues to give back to its participants well beyond the time they conclude their experience at TouroCOM. Alumni can use the experience to propel them forward in their desired direction.”
MedAchieve alumni applying to medical school at TouroCOM may be granted interviews to enter any of TouroCOM’s three campuses as well as other Touro graduate level programs in pharmacy, dentistry, physician assistant, pathology assistant, interdisciplinary sciences or clinical mental health counseling.
This coming year, four MedAchieve alumni will be pursuing their medical education in upstate New York at TouroCOM Middletown.
MedAchieve’s program is divided into two years - MedStart and MedExcel - both of which provide mentoring one-on-one with DO students at weekly lectures and labs. Last year students learned osteopathic manipulative medicine, CPR and basic life support. At a career fair they were exposed to clinical applications of medical specialties, like neurology and Ob/gyn.
TouroCOM will be featured, along with 82 other recipients, in the September 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine. Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by Insight Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.
