It only took one day last summer for Heidi Elnathan (DO '27), then a Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Biomedical Sciences student, to know she wanted to expand her volunteerism in the weeklong enrichment program for high schoolers called Opportunities Academy.
“I just spoke with the students for about 30 seconds, and I personally was so encouraged by them,” Elnathan said. “That's how infectious their excitement, their passion and their drive is.”
In late June, PCOM hosted its annual Opportunities Academy, which brings together nearly 50 students from local high schools. Through the program, mentors such as Elnathan introduce students to opportunities in health care and provide insight into the journey to college readiness. Program participants identify as African American, Latino or other groups that are traditionally underrepresented in medicine.
“I didn't have that opportunity when I was in high school, so I was really confused about how to get into college and get into medical school, but I think Opportunities Academy allows students to have that confidence and to have that direction of what next steps they could take,” Elnathan said recently as she sat in an exam chair in PCOM's Dr. Michael and Wendy Saltzburg Clinical Learning & Assessment Center.
Using what they learned throughout the week, Opportunities Academy students diagnosed and treated mock patients, including Elnathan, by finding clues about their patient's medical history.
Other activities included visiting PCOM's anatomy lab, participating in a scavenger hunt, observing a demonstration by Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine faculty and fellows, and learning how to take a medical history and perform a physical using materials provided by the Southeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center.
During their visit to PCOM's simulation center, students also learned how to effectively perform CPR, how to stop bleeding, and what sounds to listen for when patients are experiencing symptoms such as irregular heartbeats or strained breathing.
“This program has a positive impact on our entire PCOM community. We are energized by the high school students' passion for learning more about osteopathic medicine and the many careers in healthcare,” said Alicia Hahn, director of Program Initiatives for PCOM's Office of Diversity and Community Relations and lead organizer of Opportunities Academy, which is supported by 3M Foundation and Christopher Ludwick Foundation, at PCOM's Philadelphia location. “The opportunity to don a white coat and diagnose a mock patient in the same exam rooms our students use is the start to that journey.”
Reagan Fleming, a rising senior at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown, has attended Opportunities Academy for the past two years. She said each year, “we learn something new and amazing that just makes me want to continue doing healthcare, like forensics or pulmonary or GI systems. That makes me want to learn more and broaden my vision of what healthcare field I want to go into.”
Fleming is considering becoming an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist.
“If I knew anyone that's interested in healthcare but not sure where to look or what resources there are, I would definitely say the Opportunities Academy since it touches different healthcare fields,” she said. “You can get a look into each one.”
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
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