Not all students take a straight path to medical school.
Michael Howell, a rising second year medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine (OSUCOM), was seven years out of undergraduate school when he decided that medical school was the right path for him.
Howell was always passionate about teaching. When he started teaching the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) preparation course, he saw the merit and satisfaction of becoming a physician at a teaching hospital like Ohio State. “I wish that there was a program like MD Camp when I was in high school to allow me to experience medicine,” said Howell.
Howell is not the only student who wishes he had an experience like MD Camp at the OSUCOM to show him the enticing appeal of medical professions.
In anticipation of making exciting plans for this summer, 100 students from all across the United States applied to the OSUCOM’s MD Camp, an intensive three-week program that exposes participants to the rigors of medical school. The students were evaluated on their application and interview, resulting in 30 acceptances. MD Camp is open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors and rising college freshman.
Kym Forsyth, the camp’s director, explained that MD camp gives students who are considered traditionally underrepresented in medicine, which can include women and individuals from socio-economic and/or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, a chance to become acquainted with the medical school experience. The Ohio State University Area Health Education Center sponsors MD Camp.
“The benefit is huge because of the experience for a population that’s at risk for not going to college. It shows them that they can succeed in a challenging situation,” said Howell, MD Camp’s curriculum coordinator.
One determined student even traveled across the country from her hometown of Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
“Two years ago, my grandpa was diagnosed with melanoma and passed away, which sparked my interest in medicine. Where I live [in Texas], there aren’t a lot of options or resources for healthcare or health literacy, especially for cancer,” said Aleah Quiroz, a rising senior at IDEA Public Schools. “I want to be a doctor in an area like where I’m from that doesn’t have a lot of treatment options so that I can make a difference.”
Quiroz found out about Ohio State’s camp from her high school counselor, an Ohio State alumnus. IDEA’s mission is to send every single student to college, post-high school graduation. The high school created the Collegiate Summer Award Programs (CSAP) for students to withdraw from their comfort zones and experience college life for a period of time, providing scholarships, if needed.
“I want to be an OBGYN,” Quiroz said. “[At camp] we got to participate in an ethics scenario about gynecology and see other sides of treating as an OBGYN, which was cool.”
Quiroz and the rest of her MD Camp peers began camp on June 13th with orientation and a white coat ceremony.
Students received their personal white coat, and, one by one, each experienced the special symbolism of the white coat, representing the virtues of altruism, responsibility, duty, honor, respect and compassion. To these ambitious students, the white coat will serve as a reminder that they have a goal to reach—especially during their rigorous academic courses.
The journey to medical school is, indeed, long; however, having a white coat placed upon your shoulders is worth the challenge.
“Being a physician is a dream come true,” said Quinn Capers IV, MD, FACC, FSCAI, associate dean of admissions at the OSUCOM and assistant professor of clinical medicine and director of peripheral vascular interventions at the OSUWMC. “I enjoy it so much that it just doesn’t feel like work,” he said.
During the camp, the students participated in special experiences to show them what first-year medical students learn. These experiences included casting and splinting, intubation, pharmacy, MedFlight, wilderness medicine, ultrasounds, code blue simulation and more. Every day was a new challenge.
Applications for next summer’s MD Camp will open in January 2017. Please visit go.osu.edu/mdcamp for more information.