EDUCATION - Western University of Health Sciences

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WesternU HonorsFirst-year PomonaHealth CareerLadder StudentsIImagine knowing you want to be a doctor, aveterinarian or a pharmacist at the age of 11or 12. Now imagine being offered an earlystart to that education.A group of Pomona Unified School Districtsixth-graders were recognized for completingthe first year of Pomona Health CareerLadder Sixth-Grade Academies. WesternUniversity of Health Sciences held its finalsession along with an awards presentationfor 11 students Saturday, April 25, 2009 oncampus in Pomona.Academy student Lucy Saldivar, who wantsto be a veterinarian, anxiously rummagedthrough the green bag she received withgoodies like a WesternU T-shirt and a reflexhammer. She looked to her grandmother andtold her she was really excited, and had beenwaiting for this very moment.“It’s a wonderful feeling. I’m really happybecause I get to see her go into a medicalfield,” said Lucy Lambaren, Saldivar’sgrandmother. “She’s always rushed and readyto go on the day of these classes. I see awonderful future for her.”PUSD and WesternU partnered withCalifornia State Polytechnic University,Pomona, in guiding students through theireducation and into careers as health careproviders.The first year of the program, which beganin the 2008-09 academic year, consisted ofsix monthly academies held on campus atWesternU, starting in October, said Dr.Elizabeth Rega, associate professor ofanatomy and director for PHCL. Studentsand their parents were introduced to careersin medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy,physician assistant, veterinary medicine,podiatry, optometry and dentistry.Pipeline to Health Careers (PHC), aninterprofessional club on campus, with44 Western University of Health Sciences
experiences in high school outreach, helpedcoordinate each Saturday academy with the help ofvolunteers. Brian Kellert, DO ’11, past clubpresident, Brenda Moore, DO ’11, past vicepresident, and other Pipeline to Health Careers clubmembers organized the student workshops aroundthat month’s theme.“It’s always worth the effort, and hugely rewardingto see parents excited about their kids’ experiencesand opportunities, and to see the kids learn usefulinformation while enjoying themselves,” Mooresaid. “Over the course of the year, I’ve seen kidswho were strangers in October become friends whoare excited to learn, excited to talk to their parentsand excited to teach their friends and brothers orsisters.”The students who graduated will enter next year’sAcademy, which will begin in September, and havegreater responsibilities as seventh-graders. They willbe known as biochemical scholars, will receivewhite coats, and will be asked to design a workshopand teach the incoming sixth-graders.“Kids are the reason I come,” said Ben Lee, DO ’12,newly elected president of PHC. “They areinterested in learning, and I’m more than interestedin teaching.”After the first session, students, parents andvolunteers took voluntary and anonymous surveyscompiled by the Office of Institutional Researchand Effectiveness at WesternU.Students unanimously felt they learned more abouthealth careers, 71.9 percent thought it was possibleto pursue a health career, and 90.6 percent thoughtthey would go into a health career.For parents, 95.5 percent felt their child would gointo a health career and 90.5 percent learned moreabout health careers. “I’ve got a lot of informationabout different opportunities that my kid has inhealth careers,” said one of the parents on thesurvey.In separate themed lectures during the six Saturdaysessions, parent involvement was critical andmandatory. The program introduced the family tovariety of health careers, the benefits of choosingsuch a career, how to plan the academic path, howto choose a career and financial aid possibilities.The first session in October, “Introduction toHealth Careers,” was attended by 39 students andparents. The following session in November,“Healthy Lifestyles,” 32 attended. In January, 47attended “Microorganisms.” In February, 40attended “Heart Health,” and in March, 14attended “Sports Medicine.”Students who continue with the program will, aspart of WesternU’s partnership with Cal PolyPomona, earn an undergraduate degree inhealth/sciences.“Eligible Cal Poly students will be assured of earlyacceptance to a spectrum of health professionalprograms at WesternU,” said Rega.Clinton Adams, DO, MPA, FACHE, dean of theCollege of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific,recognized each student during the final sessionwith a certificate and a reflex hammer for attendingat least two-thirds of the PCHL Saturday sessions.Three students with perfect attendance received astethoscope.“In 2025, one or all of these students may bewalking across the stage to receive their doctoratedegree, a degree that will position them in a role ofserving society, caring for us, holding our hand aswe contemplate the reality of death,” Adams said.“So I can think of no more important responsibilitythan to mentor those who will follow us.”— Jeff MaletWesternU View Spring/Summer 2009 45
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EDUCATION - Western University of Health Sciences

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