News & Events

BOCA NEWS - January 9, 1A

FAU helps high school students find health-science opportunities

By Dale M. King - CITY EDITOR

Florida Atlantic University has launched a pilot medical outreach program designed to increase opportunities in the health-science field for high school students.

The Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science Healthcare Outreach Program will offer sophomores in high school with a desire to enter the healthcare field the opportunity to develop and prepare themselves for future medical studies at the college level.

"Our goal is to encourage and support high school students in their desire to enter the healthcare profession by preparing them to compete successfully at the college and post-graduate levels," said Mark Goldstein, director of FAU's Disaster and Emergency Training Simulation Center and the healthcare outreach program.

"FAU has developed tailored curriculum to coincide with appropriate high school grades," he said. "The focus of the program, in addition to fostering interest, is to develop strong foundations in education, technology and cultural, social and human issues."

The inaugural pilot program recently matched 20 sophomores with a school mentor and student tutors as part of an intensive yearlong curriculum.

During the year, students will shadow healthcare professionals, work on special research projects that they present to their peers and family, attend bimonthly onsite sessions at FAU to enhance their skills and education, and take part in an array of field trips.

Students also will attend as weeklong on-campus summer session that will give them the experience of college life. During this time, they will present an individual health science project.

In order to be eligible for the free program, students must be recommended by high school teachers or administrators. A first in Florida, the program parallels successful models in states such as West Virginia, which recently saw 100 percent of the students that participated graduate high school and 97 percent go on to college.

The program is currently seeking funding for sustainability and expansion into multiple grade levels and for at-risk communities. For information, contact Giselle Reid at 561-297-1139 or e-mail greid10@fau.edu.