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Program draws minority students to health professions by Cindy Abole Public Relations For three consecutive summers, a handful of bright and eager college students have converged upon the College of Charleston and MUSC campuses in an effort to learn and discover their potential as future physicians, dentists, pharmacists or other health practitioners.   The students are part of a health professions initiative aimed at supporting minority students attending South Carolina’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) who are interested in medical professions. MUSC's Summer Institute is hosted by the Office of Diversity and Minority Affairs.   The program is a partnership between MUSC  and the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) that hosts classes designed to improve study,  computer and oral skills, research and professional writing and other valuable training.   “This program has certainly allowed us to establish a more positive relationship with statewide HBCUs than we've had in the past,” said Diversity Director Thaddeus J. Bell, M.D. "We've learned that by the end of their freshman year, most HBCU students are prepared and focused enough to take science courses and learn other skills as part of this institute. Of course, we'd like to recruit more qualified African American males into the program, but most importantly, I hope to see many of our graduates return to MUSC as students."   Each spring, participating HBCU institutions refer qualified students to  Bell and his staff. Bell, Skaggs, College of Medicine's Wanda Taylor and CAE director Tom Waldrep travel to each of the various schools to meet and talk to candidates. Those selected to participate are committed to attend the program for three consecutive summers. They receive free tuition, textbooks, room and board and a stipend for participating in the program.   Key to the summer program is student experiences and academics. All 31 participants lived in dormitories at the College of Charleston and commuted to campus daily. First-and-second year students followed a specific curriculum attending biology, physics, physiology, chemistry classes and labs at the College of Charleston. Their afternoons were spent participating in CAE classes. Third-year students completed their clinical experiences through rotations and studied for standardized tests later in the day. All course credits are transferrable and recognized within their respective institutions.   "The program was designed to provide supportive clinical experiences and an academic base for students considering professional careers within the healthcare professions," said Waldrep, who is also the curriculum committee chair for the statewide HBCU program. "We hope this experience can inspire other minorities to seek careers in other health-related professions including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy and research."   The program was the brainchild of Bell about five years ago and supported by then-MUSC Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., whose support created a partnership between diversity and CAE. In an effort to collaborate with statewide minority colleges and universities, the group created the HBCU Institute and recruited their first class to attend sessions in summer 1999.   As part of this summer’s close on July 26, third-year students JeJuan Gamble, Melodie Harrison, Shauna Mitchell, Andrea Pyron and Tequila Taylor, were honored in a special ceremony along with their peers. Waldrep and Bell presented them with a certificate of completion.   Claflin University senior Shauna Mitchell played an active role as both student and leader. She served as this summer’s resident advisor and is this program’s lone participant  pursuing her interest in dental medicine.    “The program allowed me to see what dental school is like and observe dentistry in both a hospital and private practice settings,” said Mitchell, of Goose Creek. “My clinical experience working with Dr. Gwendolyn Brown and other College of Dental Medicine faculty has been invaluable. I would definitely recommend this program to other Claflin students.”   For third-year students, CAE’s review and preparation programs for standardized tests like the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and Graduate Record  Examinations (GRE) provided students with the necessary study techniques and test-taking skills.    Drawing from her studies and experiences, Mitchell plans to take the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) on Sept. 7.   “All of the courses and experiences these past three summers have served to enhance myself and my knowledge of dentistry,” Mitchell said. “These experiences challenge me to work even harder in my goals to become a dental student and then a dentist.” Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.