This summer, Erie Niagara AHEC, in collaboration with Jericho Road Community Health Center, held the 3rd annual Empowering and Mentoring in Medicine Summer Internship Program. Over this six-week program, 14 high school students engaged in hands-on activities, trainings, and university admissions tours at Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Jericho Road Community Health Center, D’Youville University, and Canisius University.
Each week, our interns focused on different topics appearing in healthcare, ranging from mental health and addiction to new surgery techniques. An overarching goal of this program was to provide high school students with the opportunity and exposure to many sides of the healthcare field. To carry out this, students were paired with a mentor from Jacobs School of Medicine to guide them and answer any questions they had about the medical field. The interns took part in clinical rotations at various hospitals and clinics in Western New York, shadowing providers at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, ECMC, Kenmore Mercy Hospital, and Jericho Road Community Health Center Clinics.
They received supplementary trainings and took part in a variety of workshops to enhance their learning experiences, including visits to the Gross Anatomy lab, practicing suturing techniques, simulating cricothyrotomy procedures, drawing blood and giving knee injections, taking vitals, and more. In simulation labs, they practiced recognizing signs of distress, performed CPR, used occupational and physical therapy techniques, and visualized body systems and their functions.
During their visits to D’Youville University and Canisius University, our interns toured campuses, spoke with admissions staff, and chatted with students in healthcare programs to learn what a day in their life could look like. Many of them began this program completely sure that they would work in a certain field, and after being exposed to other careers, are considering other careers in healthcare!
The internship ended on August 16, culminating in a student graduation ceremony. Each intern presented their interests, experiences, goals, and new skills in this showcase to over 80 family members, mentors and friends. As part of the ceremony, students were coated by their guardian or mentor to show their unwavering support of their student’s aspirations.
We would like to thank our funders and community partners for their gracious support throughout the program! Jericho Road Community Health Center, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The Chapel, West Herr Auto Group, NYS Office of Mental Health WNY Field Office, Gerard Place, Canisius University, D’Youville University, University at Buffalo School of Social Work, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Every Body Plus, Crisis Services, Renovated Soul Marriage and Family Therapy.
To Amir, Aniyah, Ava, Cristian, Fardowsa, Janiah, Karli, Kimorah, Lashanna, Lindsay, Maliha, Rehma, Sahar, and Sifat: We are so proud of you all and are excited to see what you do with your bright futures!
Here is what some of our interns had to say about the EMIM program!
“I liked the hands on learning the most. Doing the ultrasounds, seeing the anatomy lab and the simulation lab was so cool and interesting.” - Kimorah M.
“As the oldest child, this program provided me with mentorship and unique hands-on experiences that helped me to make potential career choices in the medical field. Without it, I would not have known so much about the different healthcare fields or even about college!” - Sifat J.
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