OHIO Medical Academy celebrates 10 year anniversary

The OHIO Medical Academy, a health career exploration program hosted by the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine on its Dublin campus, celebrated its 10th anniversary with a successful summer camp experience held this past July. 

Over the past decade, professional students from the Heritage College, the Physician Assistant Practice program in the College of Health Sciences and Professions and health care professionals from OhioHealth have introduced high school students to the professionals, pathways and practices of modern health care. During its annual four-day experience, volunteers immerse high school students in human anatomy and physiology, teach hands-on clinical skills and techniques and explore the dynamics of patient–provider interactions.

Since the program began, a total of 500 students from over 100 Ohio high schools have participated. The growth and success of the immersive camp stems from engaged community partners choosing to invest in workforce readiness, OHIO professional students investing time and energy to stir passion in others and the Heritage College’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of Ohioans.

Investing in next generation talent

From its inception, the Medical Academy was designed to meet the growing need for qualified medical professionals to fill many different health care roles and to establish a pipeline of future health professionals in central Ohio and the region. A signature sponsor for nearly a decade, OhioHealth has been an integral partner of the Medical Academy providing financial support, donating medical supplies and championing engagement among their associates who volunteer their time and expertise each summer.

“OhioHealth has long recognized the need to anticipate, invest and respond to the demands for a ready workforce. The Medical Academy and our high school participants are direct beneficiaries of this proactive commitment to developing future talent,” said Lisa Kaufman, who spearheads partner engagement and grant making to underwrite programming expenses for the Academy. “Students who participate in the Medical Academy learn about a wide range of in-demand health professionals and do so at no cost thanks to the generous philanthropy of OhioHealth and other notable community partners --LabCorp, American Electric Power Foundation and Elsevier.”

Connecting engaged learners

By design and practice, the Medical Academy helps broaden a deeper understanding of all that health care has to offer a young person considering their career path forward. The Academy seeks to inspire young minds through innovative, immersive and clinically relevant experiences guided by faculty, professionals and students of medicine and other health professions. Over the past ten years, the Academy has found ways to connect professionals and learners across the educational continuum in a way that has proven to be mutually beneficial.

Each year, students from the Dublin medical and physician assistant classes are recruited to organize, plan and run the summer experience. The opportunity to connect with the community they will someday serve, strengthen their own content mastery and develop and hone their leadership skills has been lauded by the professional students who have volunteered over the Academy’s 10-year history.

“Every time I have had the opportunity to engage in a [Medical Academy] activity, I am reinvigorated to be a better member of society, striving to get better, stay focused on my pursuit of medicine and give back to the community," second-year osteopathic medical student Navkiran Bedi, who volunteered as a team leader this past summer, said. "It is always so eye-opening and reflective when I can both share my story and knowledge and learn from so many others—all these stories and experiences are, without a doubt, preparing me to be a more prepared, engaged and compassionate provider.”

“Participating in interprofessional opportunities since beginning PA school has given me a unique perspective, newfound respect and understanding of other health care professions," OHIO Physician Assistant Practice student Megan Schoenlein noted. "Although I had a vague idea of the role each member of the health care team plays, my understanding was limited until I began interacting firsthand with other professional students. I believe these opportunities are essential for my future profession as we are developing relationships before entering the workforce…[that will] allow us to work more effectively as a team to benefit our future patients.”

Bedi echoed this sentiment saying that , "It was inspiring to see my medical student and PA student peers excel in teaching, while also recognizing how much more we have to learn. Being able to inspire the next generation of health care students, while drawing inspiration from their enthusiasm, was incredibly rewarding.”

Enriching our pipeline

The 10 years of Medical Academy programming has enriched the Heritage College’s own pipeline. The program has received enthusiastic reviews since its inception, with many past participants stating that the experience helped affirm and strengthen their intention to enter health care professions.

Among its notable achievements, five first-year students in the college’s Class of 2028 are former Medical Academy participants.  They join three peer students who matriculated to the Heritage College in the two years prior. In addition, six former Academy graduates participated in the undergraduate Early Assurance Pathway to the college. Many of these students shared that they first learned about osteopathic medicine during the Medical Academy, kindling an interest that led them back to the Heritage College.

“As the Medical Academy has evolved over the past 10 years — engaging greater numbers of students in increasingly innovative ways — the smiles of enthusiasm on the faces of the high school and OHIO professional students tell the story best,” said Timothy Cain, associate professor at the Heritage College and founding co-director of the Medical Academy. “Observing participants in action consistently validates our goals for the Medical Academy.  While long focused on introducing young people to the practical opportunities ahead for them, it is the connections and energy that occurs among all learners that we see the greatest impact of the Medical Academy.”