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UCI Health to host teenage girls interested in pursuing healthcare careers

Young women are invited to apply for the hands-on program by May 1

April 09, 2014

The H.H. Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center is offering its inaugural Summer Healthcare Experience career exploration and college preparation program. Young women ages 15 to 18 who are interested in healthcare careers are encouraged to apply by May 1. As many as 30 students will be selected to attend this educational program that is scheduled for Aug. 4-8, 2014. 

Throughout the week, participants will shadow UCI Health staff including doctors, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, administrators, and other healthcare professionals to observe various aspects of patient care and hospital operations.  Students will simulate surgery and endoscopies, learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and have the opportunity meet mentors and likeminded peers. 

While collaborating with a faculty member, each student will plan, research and present a digestive disease awareness project to their peers showcasing what they have learned. This practical experience provides students with a glimpse into a wide range of healthcare careers.

‘’The Summer Healthcare Experience program is a great opportunity for young women to connect with national leaders in healthcare as well as receive personalized counseling for college preparation,” says Dr. Nimisha Parekh , SHE program director. “We have a team of physicians and academic staff who will contribute to the week’s activities and empower participants to explore their interests in healthcare.”

In addition to the clinical aspect of the week, young women will receive guidance in preparing for college entrance exams and interviews. Course tutors will teach daily classes and provide individual counseling for boosting SAT and ACT scores and perfecting their personal statements for applications. UCI Health professionals will run mock interviews to help students ace their college interviews. Upon completion, students will receive a reference letter for college applications and a certificate of completion. 

Young women interested in participating in this program can apply online. Tuition is $1,359 and includes daily breakfast and lunch, a set of scrubs and a graduation reception for families. Students will receive a $100 discount if all application materials are received by May 1. Eight full scholarships are available based on merit and financial need.

For more information about the Summer Healthcare Experience, please call 714-456-6745. 

Nimisha Parekh, MD, MPH, is an associate clinical professor at UC Irvine School of Medicine. Parekh also serves as director of the UC Irvine School of Medicine's Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellowship Program at the H.H. Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center.

UCI Health comprises the clinical, medical education and research enterprises of the University of California, Irvine. Patients can access UCI Health at physician offices throughout Orange County and at its main campus, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, Calif., a 412-bed acute care hospital that provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation. U.S. News & World Report has listed it among America’s Best Hospitals for 13 consecutive years. UC Irvine Medical Center features Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program, Level I trauma center and Level II pediatric trauma center, and is the primary teaching hospital for UC Irvine School of Medicine. UCI Health serves a region of more than 3 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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