Summer study, research set aspiring health care providers and scientists on path to success
Intensive graduate-level experiences at 不良研究所 Medical School inspire diverse undergraduates
不良研究所 Medical School welcomed two cohorts of college students to its annual and for high-achieving undergraduates from backgrounds underrepresented in science and medicine.
鈥淭he most important things I learned are how strenuous the workload in medical school truly is and that everyone鈥檚 journey to medical school is different,鈥 said Worcester State University senior Matheus Montenario, an EMT who worked 60-hour weeks during the pandemic. 鈥淗aving spent 12-plus hours a day completing assignments, reading journals and articles, and taking exams solidified the fact that I will have to be 100 percent committed and give it everything I have.鈥
The four-week sessions were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each wrapping up with closing ceremonies featuring awards for excellence in late June. The programs, which expose participants to the real world of health care and research careers and how to prepare for them, are run by the s and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
Thirty-four Summer Enrichment Program and 23 Summer Undergraduate Research class members applied themselves to rigorous academics. Faculty, postdocs and students from the School of Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences shared insights from their own career paths and discussed cutting-edge research during daily lectures. Research students performed experiments and conducted research in small groups on- and off-line, while enrichment students aiming to attend medical school studied for and took practice MCATs and had mock admission interviews conducted by Medical School faculty and staff.
The Summer Enrichment Program is a tuition-free, educational immersion that helps the participants improve their qualifications and competitive standing for admission to professional or graduate school.
Shakendine Kelkboom participated in the Summer Enrichment Program as a requirement for the . The BaccMD program puts qualified students at 不良研究所 undergraduate campuses on track to matriculate into the School of Medicine.
鈥淚 was excited to start this program and be connected to students of the same background and interest as me,鈥 said Kelkboom, a rising junior at 不良研究所 Amherst and a first-generation college student. 鈥淗earing the diversity in their stories from a multitude of people in various fields and learning about their journeys was inspiring.鈥
Supported by a longstanding grant from the National Institutes of Health, with additional funding from the UMMS Provost鈥檚 Office, the Summer Undergraduate Research Program is designed to interest college students in laboratory research, clinical research and related careers. Students from across the United States and U.S. territories apply for the competitive slots.
鈥淎s a first-generation student it can be hard to get into the professional and academic world, but this program did an incredible job of showing us what options were available and empowering us to pursue them,鈥 said Avani Hariprashad, a rising senior at Virginia Commonwealth University. 鈥淚n addition to the incredible opportunities for learning and collaboration, it also provides a sense of belonging. When filling out my application, I was able to list my ethnicity, for the first time, as West Indian/Caribbean.鈥 Hariprashad鈥檚 ultimate ambition is to become a physician-scientist with MD and PhD degrees.
Summer undergraduate researcher Matthew Hanlon, majoring in biology at Worcester State University, is now pursuing academic and career opportunities in the sciences following five years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps. The highlight of his research experience took place during small group meetings, when participants discussed each other鈥檚 experiments.
鈥淗aving a platform to discuss what was going well, or not so well with our work facilitated critical thinking and the exchange of knowledge, allowing us to overcome any hurdles,鈥 Hanlon said. 鈥淎lthough our research was performed individually, producing a high-quality report and presentation was certainly a group effort.鈥
Hanlon participated in the program to advance toward his goal of earning a doctorate in biomedical sciences. 鈥淚 would like to attend graduate school,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 still have a lot of work I want to do, and 不良研究所 Medical School is a great place to do it.鈥
鈥淚 just want to reiterate how grateful I am for both this experience and the program leadership!鈥 said Hariprashad. The rising senior will be applying lessons learned when she either goes directly to graduate school or enters a post-baccalaureate program to conduct more research next year.
Summer Enrichment Program Class of 鈥21
Sumeya Abrar, 不良研究所 Lowell 鈥23
Bradley Montanez, Worcester State University 鈥23
Gracia Beya, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Matheus Montenario, Worcester State University 鈥23
Nancy Blankson, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Liana Munoz, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Nicole Brown, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Akosua Obeng, 不良研究所 Boston 鈥23
Brittany Cullen, 不良研究所 Boston 鈥23
Tiba Qattan, 不良研究所 Lowell 鈥23
Isabel Davila-Lynch, 不良研究所 Boston 鈥23
Claudia Rodrigues, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Francesca Ocana De Mora, Quinsigamond Community College 鈥21
Lea Saab, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Melissa Dorzin, 不良研究所 Boston 鈥23
Silvi Salhotra, 不良研究所 Boston 鈥23
Samer El Khatib, Wheaton College 鈥23
Dasol Song, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Ewaldine Fedna, 不良研究所 Lowell 鈥23
Miguel Aguilar-Soto, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Jessica Feraud, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥22
Caroline Tran, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥24
Okoh Frimpong, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Elsi Tutu, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Michelle Gitau, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Chukwuebuka Udom, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Hailie Hale, 不良研究所 Boston 鈥23
Patience Wairimu, 不良研究所 Lowell 鈥23
Janet Kalu, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥22
Abigail White, 不良研究所 Lowell 鈥23
Shakendine Kelkboom, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Alicia Wilson, 不良研究所 Lowell 鈥23
Paolo Mattos-Canedo, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥23
Naomi Zorrilla, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥22
Summer Undergraduate Research Program Class of 鈥21
Annika E. Beaverson, University of New Orleans 鈥23
Sophia M. Cinquemani, Johns Hopkins University 鈥22
Caroline E. Crone, Georgetown University 鈥23
Quinn E. Cunneely, University of Alabama 鈥23
Sandy Garcia, University of Nevada 鈥 Las Vegas 鈥21
Nia S. Hammett, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University 鈥22
Matthew Hanlon, Worcester State University 鈥22
Avani T. Hariprashad, Virginia Commonwealth University 鈥22
Julia Kan, Wesleyan University 鈥22
Danny Kwong, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science 鈥22
Randy Le, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥22
Jesse K. Mendez, Providence College 鈥23
Adam Mohsin, University of Connecticut 鈥23
Caroline M. Moore, University of Maryland Baltimore County 鈥23
Peter P. Nguyen, 不良研究所 Amherst 鈥22
Sophia M. Puertas, Wellesley College 鈥23
Princess M. Quansah, Worcester State University 鈥23
Andres E. Rodriguez Cardenas, Trinity College 鈥24
Helen M. Sanchez, State University of New York Oneonta 鈥22
Nadia N. A. Sarpong, 不良研究所 Lowell 鈥23
Jude M. Verdieu, Tufts University 鈥22
Joshua N. Williams, East Carolina University 鈥22
Pauline Young, University of California Los Angeles 鈥23