LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Juniors from Central High School got a physical reminder of their dreams and ambitions on Tuesday.
Normally considered a rite of passage for medical students, 30 students received their own white coats to symbolize all of their hard work in Central's Pre-Medical Magnet Program a spokesperson for UofL Health said. Humana donated the coats.
The program lets students interested in medicine shadow doctors at UofL Hospital that are in a multitude of areas, including OB/GYN and emergency medicine.
Even though the program just launched in 2022, Dr. Edward Miller, an OB/GYN doctor with UofL Health and an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at the UofL School of Medicine, predicted nearly 75% of students who get their white coat will continue on to pursue a job in the medical field.
“For two years now, we have witnessed and will continue to witness the changes this program makes to our community,” Miller said. “We’ve already connected dozens of students to meet, work with and befriend doctors, nurses and so many more health care professionals, and eventually that number will turn to hundreds, then thousands. These students will no longer be able to say that they have never seen a doctor that looks like them.”
Seniors within the program will decide which field they're more interested in and work with experts in that field.
“This program is an extension of the commitment to transform the health of our community by engaging with the next generation of health care professionals,” CEO Tom Miller said. “We want to share our passion to care for people, hoping to inspire more students to consider nursing, medical school and other health careers at UofL Health.”
The program not only offers educational opportunities, but also college credit and scholarships the spokesperson said. Applicants are selected based on their achievement test scores, their grade point average, personal essays and teacher recommendations.
Students who want to apply can do so here.
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