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Nine Native American undergraduate students from across the U.S. spent their summer researching medicine in BWH and other Harvard-affiliated labs with faculty mentors from BWH, HMS, DFCI and Children’s Hospital. The students presented their research findings at the Four Directions Summer Research Program closing symposium Aug. 9.
“It is so impressive to see what these students are able to do over just one summer,” said BWH’s Thomas Sequist, MD, MPH, who has been director of the program since he was a student at HMS.
The program, funded by the Sun Hill Foundation of Stamford, Conn., and Mohegan Sun of Uncasville, Conn., with major support from the federal Office of Minority Health, is designed to give Native American students skills, experience and knowledge in medicine and science and encourage their career aspirations towards the health professions. With the establishment of the Center for Faculty Development and Diversity last year, the program is now co-sponsored by BWH and HMS. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 130 students have participated, 60 percent of whom are pursuing a career in the medical field.
BWH celebrated another successful summer with 183 student interns during the Youth Summer Program closing symposium. Six students were awarded health care scholarships as they enter college to study fields in medicine and science.
BWH collaborates with the Boston Private Industry Council for the program, through which students are selected to work in various departments in the hospital, such as administration, transport and labs.
“Thank you for enriching our environment with your skills this summer,” BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, said to the students at the closing symposium.