More than a dozen undergraduate students for Onondaga County are spending their summer on the Upstate Medical University campus learning about various health professions that one day may be their line of work.

Jump into Healthcare, sponsored by the College of Health Professions, 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.

Health Professions Dean Katherine Beissner, PT, PhD, said the program, with its hands-on learning opportunities, provides great exposure to a variety of health care careers that are all in need of future employees.

“Our mission is to increase people’s awareness of a broad range of health care professions,” said Beissner. “For example, most people don’t know about respiratory therapy or radiology technologists or lab sciences. This program highlights those roles as the students work their way through patient cases.”

At the start of each week, students will evaluate a case and decide what medical tests are needed for diagnosis. Once the test results are presented and diagnosis is confirmed, they will discuss treatment options. During each weeklong session, students will hear from medical experts and have opportunities to use some of the devices needed for each case.

For example, a case from last year’s program about a patient with pain who developed an addiction featured discussions with pain specialists about side effects of opioids. A session in the clinical laboratory using sophisticated microscopes helped with the diagnosis; Narcan training also was offered.

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.

Students from the Norton College of Medicine serve as tutors for the program, which runs through July 14.

Financial support for the program is provided by Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield.

 

Caption: The 2023 Jump into Healthcare participants.