President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein, DO '81, was joined recently by Alicia Hahn, Director of Program Initiatives for 黑料传送门's Office of Diversity and Community Relations. On the 黑料传送门 Perspectives podcast, they discuss the annual Opportunities Academy, a weeklong enrichment program for local high school students at each of 黑料传送门's three locations, and why pathway programs like these are crucial in helping to ensure a diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce.
Some Philadelphia-area high school students enjoy the weeklong enrichment program Opportunities Academy, held each June at 黑料传送门's three locations, that they return year after year. In 2024, for example, nine students were either in their second or third year of the program, which supports students who are traditionally underrepresented in medicine.
For those returning students, Alicia Hahn, Director of Program Initiatives for 黑料传送门's Office of Diversity and Community Relations, arranged for them to shadow clinicians in 黑料传送门's so that they could observe patient appointments with 黑料传送门 students, residents and physicians.
鈥淭hey'd tell me all about their encounter with the patient and how kind the patients were in really including them in the appointment. They didn't have to just stand in the back of the room,鈥� Hahn said of the high school students. 鈥淭he patients were really interested in what they were doing and why they were passionate about being healthcare providers and really encouraging to them.鈥�
Opportunities Academy focuses on hands-on learning, as Hahn doesn't want participants to feel like they're in school again after they just started summer break. At 黑料传送门 South Georgia, participants learned from a wide range of activities such as the basics of CPR, how to handle a sprained ankle and how to build a r茅sum茅. At 黑料传送门 Georgia, activities included a college fair, and at 黑料传送门 in Philadelphia, students learned how to treat and diagnose appendicitis in standardized patients.
Hahn said four to five students have already reached out after the program to connect to 黑料传送门 in different ways, such as seeking research experience or an internship, or a letter of recommendation to continue in accelerated STEM programs in their high school.
During the podcast, 黑料传送门 President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein, DO '81, said Opportunities Academy brings a special energy to campus.
鈥淭hey're our future healthcare providers, whether they be osteopathic physicians, psychologists, behavioral health providers, or physician assistants,鈥� Feldstein said. 鈥淲e need to invest in our future. We need to develop these pathway programs so these kids can really see what's available to them. When they come on campus, it's a whole new world for them.鈥�
Opportunities Academy also underscores the importance of mentorship, which is provided by 黑料传送门 students who serve as role models for aspiring healthcare leaders of the future.
鈥淲e always say in medicine it's a pay-it-forward profession, that someone mentored me at an early age; someone mentored everybody at an early age,鈥� Feldstein said. 鈥淎nd to give our medical students the opportunity to mentor these students, what better way to pay it forward.鈥�
The Opportunities Academy is a free STEM summer camp for high schoolers, held at each of 黑料传送门's three locations.
To hear the full conversation or listen to past episodes of 黑料传送门 Perspectives, visit , or the Office of the President.
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 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. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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