Physicians teach students and adults about medical professions in a wildly popular program.
There are few opportunities for high school students and community members to learn about career pathways to medicine. That’s one reason Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton launched the Mini Medical School program 18 years ago. Today, the class series—which is offered twice a year—is popular among high school students (kids from 14 area high schools attend), as well as adults. This spring, 96 attendees participated in the program and 50 people were on the waiting list.
“Our goal is to get participants excited about medicine,” says F. Javier Villota, MD, CIME, Medical Director of Occupational and Corporate Health, Travel Medicine and the Mini Medical School program.
A variety of classes
In the fall, an eight-week Mini Medical School teaches attendees about the body through lectures. Each week, a physician discusses a different part of the body, such as the heart, gallbladder, liver, pancreas and digestive system. Lecturers explain how they diagnose various conditions and how their careers started. In the spring, the hospital chooses one health topic to focus on during a four week session. Last year, it was the opioid epidemic; this year, the focus was on global medicine. Dr. Villota spoke about his experiences as a physician in Mexico and Guatemala, and other physicians, including Ernani Sadural, MD, Director of Global Health for RWJBarnabas Health, discussed their experiences practicing medicine in countries such as Haiti, Grenada, the Dominican Republic, Nepal, India, China, Pakistan, Lebanon, Fiji and the Philippines.
At the end of each session, which is held at the Center for Health & Wellness at RWJ Fitness & Wellness, participants receive a certificate of completion, a health guide and a graduation ceremony. “This program can be life-changing for adults and high school students alike,” says Billie O’Donnell, BSN, RN, CDE, a community nurse educator who coordinates the program. “One adult participant who already had a family decided to go to medical school and became a gastroenterologist. There are lots of seeds being planted.”
Meeting the community’s needs
Every three months, the Medical Advisory Panel (MAP), composed of health care professionals in a variety of specialties, meets to review the community education programs at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton. They discuss the needs of the community and how the hospital’s educational offerings can best serve its neighbors.
For instance, diabetes is a major public health concern, so MAP members decided to increase the offerings that focus on diabetes. “I’m proud of MAP because we get ideas for classes from the members,” says F. Javier Villota, MD, the MAP chair. “Physicians suggest programs based on their observations while caring for patients.”
To register for a program or event, call 609.584.5900. Mini Medical School is free for students. For adults, the fee is $40 for the spring session and $100 for the fall session.