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From Classroom to Clinic

By Office of the President | Nov 18, 2024

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The partnership between the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health’s (AAIUH) Health Science Academy (HSA) and Downstate’s School of Health Professions (SOHP) is empowering a new generation of healthcare leaders from underrepresented communities. Through hands-on education, mentorship, and community outreach, this collaboration reshapes how diverse youth see themselves as healthcare professionals, fueling equity and inclusion in the workforce.

In celebration of National Physician Assistant (PA) Week (October 6-12, 2024), SOHP PA students Hector Gonzalez, Carolina Guarrella, Giovanna Punzone, and Nour Elshabassy teamed up with HSA to host a dynamic “PA Career Exploration and Practice Workshop” on October 11. This event gave over 30 high school students, including four HSA alumni (now college students), a firsthand look at the PA profession.

SOHP PA faculty Edward Perchik, MBA, PA-C, and Candida St. Hillaire, MS, PA-C, led the workshop, sharing insights into the essential role of PAs in healthcare. They encouraged students to explore SOHP’s PA program further through upcoming admissions sessions. The event was a hit, leaving students excited about the flexibility, teamwork, and variety a PA career offers.

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This collaboration between SOHP and HSA is inspirational and aspirational. Seen through personal stories and mentoring, PA students connect with attendees, giving them a glimpse into a healthcare landscape that includes and values their voices. HSA and SOHP are each dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare.

photo of studentsHSA’s impact is far-reaching, serving nearly 300 middle and high school students annually in an afterschool pipeline program focused on grades 6-12. With a network of college-bound alums, many of whom are Black or Latino/Hispanic, HSA has become a pillar of support for students aiming for higher education. This year, HSA celebrates its 30th anniversary with a landmark achievement: it has become the first-ever STEM pre-college program to earn accreditation from the Middle States Association as part of the National Science Foundation’s STEM Pathways for Underrepresented Students to Higher Education (PUSH) Network.

Congratulations to SOHP dean Allen Lewis, Ph.D., CRC, and AAIUH CEO Marilyn A. Fraser, M.D., for breaking barriers, inspiring future healthcare leaders, and contributing to a more diverse and equitable healthcare workforce that reflects Downstate’s community.