This summer, 77 students participated in the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), one of UNMC’s premier pipeline programs.
UNMC is one of 12 sites funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), said Sonja Tutsch, PhD, SHPEP program manager. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions and to prepare them for a successful application and matriculation into health profession schools.
“This was our first year offering a six-week, in-person experience since the start of the pandemic,” Dr. Tutsch said. “Although the program has been hosted at UNMC since 2006, this was a year of many firsts and new challenges. Our staff did a remarkable job adapting to the needs of the students. We experienced a staffing shortage, much like other industries, but our support staff was phenomenal in adapting and rising to these challenges — it was a true team effort.”
The summer was a success in more ways than one, said Liliana Bronner, director of medical pathway programs for the UNMC College of Medicine’s DEI Office.
“Of the 77 students who participated, 47 students opted to participate in the Long-term Enhanced Advising and Preparation (LEAP) for Medical School Program for the remainder of their undergraduate years,” Bronner said. “Over the school year, these college students will get advice from our medical students each quarter to help them be successful medical school applicants. While they were on campus, 39 students requested advising sessions from our admissions team, and helped steer them on the right track. We look forward to interacting virtually with this year’s SHPEP scholars as the school year progresses.”
The SHPEP team is eager to see where the students go from here, Dr. Tutsch said.
“Seeing how much the students embraced their time with us at UNMC, and hearing students share how their time in SHPEP helped them solidify their decision to pursue a career in the health professions, was incredibly rewarding,” she said. “We feel deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to work with these students.”
Below, some of the SHPEP scholars talk about their experiences.
Dahlia Ahmed, Xavier University:
“The Summer Health Profession Education Program is a great opportunity for any undergrad pre-health professional student. It has provided me the opportunity to ensure which professional route I am most interested in; reassuring me that being a life-long learner and physician is the route I am most confident in. Being in Nebraska is a big change for me, but this program contains great staff and faculty who work with us daily and are great role models.
“It has built character and given me the experience in the health care field via shadowing, gross anatomy labs and being taught/connected by, and with, substantial doctors. I am satisfied with the program so far and it has met my expectations.”
Andy Nguyen, University of Nebraska Lincoln:
“UNMC has always been my dream medical school. When the opportunity of SHPEP at UNMC came around, I was ecstatic. It was an opportunity to see what UNMC offers its medical students firsthand, so I could really see what medical school could be like for me. It was also a good chance to talk to those that go to UNMC and get their opinions on the medical school as well.
“After experiencing what I have so far through the program, I am still very interested in medical school. I’ve also learned quite a lot about ways I can be able to afford medical school — with the military or by applying for some scholarships that might be offered to me.”
Alexis McBride, University of Missouri-Columbia:
“I really love that there are so many people in this program from different backgrounds, but that we all are interested in health. I’ve made so many lifelong friends in this program, and I’m excited to see them learn and grow on their journey. I also appreciate the love and support we get from the leaders and health professionals that come and speak to us because they really want to see us sprout. The classes we take are so vital because it really sheds light on how important diversity and inclusion is in health and has made me more passionate about health and how deep it goes. Also, I love our health profession-focused Fridays, because we get to experience what it’s like to be medical students by being immersed in classes and working with cadavers.”
Julisa Alberta Sanchez, Nebraska Wesleyan University:
“I was super interested in medicine before, and now I’m even more interested. I hadn’t really thought of going into medicine until my freshman year of college. In high school, I wanted to become an ELL teacher, but I realized that teaching kids was not my passion. Medicine, on the other hand, combines two of my favorite things: breaking language barriers and learning how to cure people. I currently volunteer at a free clinic in Lincoln where I interpret for a great number of Hispanic patients, and I have found a great love and passion for doing this. My goal in the future is to become a doctor who makes an impact in the community, and SHPEP is putting me in the right path to achieve this goal.”
WTG Sonja and Liliana!