Upstate Medical University will offer college students hands-on immersion learning this summer with its second annual Jump Into Healthcare summer program.

Run by the College of Health Professions, Jump Into Health Care (JIHC) exposes students to a wide range of health careers. Through an engaging and intensive curriculum, students build study skills and information-seeking strategies while gaining a foundational understanding of the diagnostic process and the range of treatment options.

This four-and-a-half-week summer enrichment program was designed for students with an interest in health care careers and an aptitude for science. The underlying goal is to diversify the health care workforce by introducing students from underrepresented minority backgrounds to the range of health careers that offer promising employment opportunities. The challenging, problem-based approach was selected over more conventional coursework to increase information-seeking skills and problem-solving in an interesting and engaging format.

Dean Katherine Beissner, PT, PhD, said the program introduces students to every element of a patient’s care as well as to the many careers within the health care field.

Upstate ran the program last summer for Syracuse city high school students and this year transitioned to college students.

The students work with one patient each week, getting small amounts of information about them each day. They have to figure out a diagnosis and treatment plan by interviewing their tutors (College of Medicine students) and researching in the library.

“We want them to use good strong evidence to guide their decision making,” Beissner said. “What are the potential conditions? How do you distinguish between them? What tests do they need to order? They do a lot of learning.”

Students will spend the morning sessions working on their patient cases and the afternoon sessions in enrichment activities, exposing them to things like respiratory therapy, radiology and physical therapy. They will also work on a writing progression with a writing faculty member and work with a representative from the Office of Admissions on how to conduct an interview and how to prepare an application to apply to higher education health care programs.

“It is great exposure,” Beissner said. “Students want hands-on learning. It is the opposite of sitting in a classroom listening to lectures.”

Beissner said she developed this program to raise awareness about the many fields in health care and to bring a boost to areas with high workforce needs.

“My mission is to increase people’s awareness of a broad range of health care professions. For example, most people don’t know about respiratory therapy or radiology technologists or lab sciences. Another major driver is the need to increase the diversity of the health care workforce and make it more reflective of the population we serve.”

The program runs June 12 through July 14 is open to 1^st and 2nd-year college students who live in Onondaga County, no matter what college they attend. Participants receive a $1,663 stipend. This year’s program is funded by Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Deadline to apply is March 15.

Apply here

 

Caption: High school students get set for their final class portrait for last year's Jump Into Healthcare program.