OHIO medical students lead online program for high schoolers interested in healthcare careers

Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine at Dublin hosted its annual Medical Academy virtually this year, giving more than 60 Ohio high school students an opportunity to explore healthcare careers through interactive activities via Instagram and Zoom.

Second-year medical students selected as 2020 Medical Academy scholars developed and delivered the eight-week program: Carli Sebest of Youngstown; Samuel Obringer of Chagrin Falls; and Marissa Wierzbicki of Powell. They redesigned the normally hands-on summer experience into an online program when it became clear that in-person experiences were not feasible this year because of COVID-19.

“The other scholars and I wanted to be a part of this program because we are passionate about mentoring students of younger generations interested in healthcare and did not want to miss out on this opportunity,” Sebest said. “We did not want to take away one more thing that these high school students were looking forward to.”

Part of the program included virtual mentoring, where the high school students were able to engage and interact with healthcare professionals, as well as their peers.

“We know the value a mentor provides to students in helping them figure out the educational steps needed to get to a certain career, tips for big exams, advice and encouragement,” Sebest added. “That relationship is the reason we decided to create the virtual mentoring program via Instagram. We were not sure if it was even possible to develop a meaningful mentorship through a computer screen, but we were willing to try and so far the feedback has been positive, with some students considering pursuing careers or degrees that they previously knew little about, which I consider a success.”

Each Friday, the students also met with their group leaders to discuss the week’s content and ask questions.

“I loved taking part in the Zoom meetings on Fridays,” Pandora-Gilboa High School senior and Medical Academy participant Lexie Neuenschwander said. “I felt that this helped wrap up everything we learned throughout the week, and it allowed me to hear and learn from others in my group. I applaud my group leaders as well; the scholars made the most of an unforeseen situation and truly did a great job of adapting the program to fit the given circumstance. I’ve obtained mentors and role models in the medical field from this program and have learned how every single job has a purpose and fits together to give patients the best possible care.”

Eight healthcare professionals shared live Q&A sessions, videos and slides through the program’s Instagram account. Access to the Instagram account was limited to program participants during the session, however the site is now open for others to see video interviews and stories.

“This program has not only helped me better understand the position I’m interested in, but also the path it takes to get there,” Hilliard Darby High School junior and Medical Academy participant Vidya Rajagopal said. “I’ve learned about the steps taken in college and the training phase that lead to being a professional in several fields of medicine. Medical professionals also shared what their typical workdays are like and what types of professionals they work with.”

Through the high school outreach program, the Heritage College and OHIO demonstrate how their connections in central Ohio help provide prospective students, particularly those interested in health professions, with mentorship and knowledge long before entering college.

“Never lacking for professional student volunteers, each year the Academy has drawn upon the creativity and enthusiasm of Ohio University medical and physician assistant students committed to inspiring the next generation of healthcare providers,” Timothy J. Cain, Ph.D., founding co-director of the Medical Academy and associate professor of biomedical sciences, said. “Without fail, our students draw as much positive energy as they give to mentoring the high schoolers.”

Academy scholars Sebest, Obringer and Wierzbicki are also conducting research based on this years’ experience. They have designed a study to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual mentoring and the “connectedness” high school participants experienced by interacting with others digitally. 

Since its creation in 2015, the Medical Academy, offered at no cost to the selected participants, provides students with engaging learning opportunities highlighting the ways science, math, technology, and the arts are realized in modern medicine and healthcare. Central Ohio area high school students who have previously attend the Medical Academy have had the opportunity to work alongside faculty, medical students, and healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines.

OhioHealth is the signature program partner for the Medical Academy.