Flyers Participate in Highland Clinic's M.D.U. Program

This school year marked the return of Highland Clinic’s “Medical Doctors University” (M.D.U.) Program, after a pause due to the pandemic in 2020. M.D.U. offers high school students the opportunity to shadow doctors and explore careers in medicine firsthand.

Loyola College Prep had five students participate in the M.D.U. program: Ava Bauer, Hayden Debroeck, Carter Doyal, Angel Pham, Ava Smith. These students spent a full day with physicians, administrators, and staff at Highland Clinic learning the ins and outs of surgery, clinic, and life in the medical field.
 
These students had the unique chance to follow Dr. Jim Barnes, Dr. George Byram III, Dr. Anand Bhat, and Emily Tull, NP, as they observed surgeries, underwent allergy testing, explored diagnostic procedures, and asked insightful questions about careers in healthcare.
 
In addition to shadowing in the OR, students toured the facility to see firsthand how a multi-specialty healthcare system operates. They also had the chance to shadow in the clinic, where they observed how providers interacted with patients during routine visits, giving them a well-rounded view of both surgical and clinical care.
 
“We are so grateful for Highland Clinic to host this opportunity for high school students and especially the students who applied from Loyola,” Anna Beth Clark, Director of College Placement, said. “Not only did they have a chance to see what a typical day looks like in the medical field, but they also had the unique experience to talk one on one with doctors about what they can do now to prepare for college and medical school.”
 
After shadowing, students joined the physicians for a lunch Q&A session, where they received advice on how to set themselves up for success. Some advice that the physicians gave the group included how to enhance their verbal score on the MCAT by reading more, learning the balance between GPA and MCAT scores and how both are necessary for medical school, selecting the right school, and how to approach choosing a specialty.
 
“Our hope is to inspire the next generation, we truly believe that we want to give our young people the opportunity to experience healthcare in hopes that they will choose to become a healthcare provider in some capacity,” said Debbie Smith, CEO of Highland Clinic. “We see this program as an incredible way for students to explore the world of medicine firsthand, and we’re excited to be able to offer it once again!”