by Tara Beverly
The Center of Excellence for
Multicultural Medicine continues to make strides in meeting the
challenge to diversify Ohio University’s student body through
its grant funded programs. Through one such program, the Ohio
University Health Careers Access Network (OU-HCAN), a
recognition ceremony was held honoring students at Dunbar High
School (Dayton) who participated in it. The May 17 event was
held at Grandview Hospital and was co-sponsored by Kettering
College of Medical Arts. A reception followed the event. OU-HCAN
is part of the center’s Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP).
OU-HCAN is a three-year program
that targets disadvantaged minority students and encourages them
to pursue careers in health-care and medical fields. The
program’s broader goal is to encourage and prepare disadvantaged
minority students to go to college.
“All 17 seniors applied to OU,
and so far, three have chosen to attend OU,” says Elizabeth
Minor, HCOP director. “The Dunbar OU-HCAN directly supports
Ohio University President Roderick McDavis’ goal to increase
student diversity at OU through early outreach programming,” she
adds.
During the ceremony each of the
45 students in the program received different recognitions and
awards according to grade level. “The sophomores received Ohio
University T-shirts, the juniors received a set of scrubs and
the seniors were presented with lab coats donated by the
Kettering College of Medical Arts,” says Minor. “The students
were very excited.”
Harold C. Thompson III, D.O.,
assistant professor of emergency medicine, made opening remarks
at the event. Third-year medical student Carl Ratliff was
the keynote speaker. His speech focused on how through hard work
and the support of the center’s staff and programs, academic
achievement and success in medical school are attainable.
“This evening’s program is a
culmination of the students’ hard work. I think that the program
has been a success. This is only the third year that we have had
graduating seniors. The program is really bearing fruit as the
majority of the students are going off to college. Our goal is
to get disadvantaged students prepared to attend college to
pursue health careers and medicine,” says Thompson.
During the ceremony, several
students told how the program has helped them reach their goals.
The first Kathy Gebard Award was
presented to Dunbar senior Deonna Cole. This award was created
in honor of Kathy Gebard, a CORE administrator who was
extraordinarily committed to supporting the program and its
participants. Gebard was killed in a plane crash Oct. 19, 2004.
The award was presented to Deonna by Kathy’s husband, Timothy,
in an engraved leather binder. “Beginning this year, this award
will be presented to the student who has demonstrated unusual
perseverance during the course of the program,” says Minor.
“OU reaps benefits from this
program. At least four Dunbar high school students are attending
OU next year and three have chosen science majors in preparation
for medical school. Three of these students also applied for the
Urban Scholars Scholarship.”
“We want our students to realize
the opportunity for academic achievement and financial support
is available to them at Ohio University.”
- 30 -
News for
the week of May 23 – May 28
