It was a night of reunion, reflection, and reminiscing. USF Health and Morsani College of Medicine leaders, faculty, staff, and students gathered at the USF Gibbons Alumni Center to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Pre-Health Scholars Program sponsored by the Office of Student Diversity and Enrichment.
Since the first class of students, OSDE staff and faculty have been guiding students through the difficult path of applying for and being accepted into various health colleges. The hands-on, student-first approach of everyone involved with PSP is why more than 40% of PSP participants have been accepted to various advanced health care programs across the country including MD, DO, MPH, DDS, PA, and PhD programs.
Shirley Smith, MA
Shirley Smith, who’s been the director of OSDE since 2010, emceed the event. She began her remarks by thanking all the MCOM leaders, staff, faculty, and medical student volunteers who make the program successful, emphasizing her colleagues Kevin Casey and Lyette Pate.
“We’re just very thankful for having you here tonight and looking forward to the next 10 years,” she said.
Charles Lockwood, MD, MHCM, senior vice president of USF Health and dean of MCOM, joined the festivities and offered his congratulations, emphasizing the importance of pathway programs like PSP.
“We have a disproportionate share of students who were the first in their family to attend college, are from rural towns, and from those whose family income is at the bottom quartile,” Dr. Lockwood said. “We know that creating a pathway for such students helps show them what’s possible. You can help all our USF students envision a whole new future by helping them explore health care careers. It’s really a win-win situation. It’s good for them, it’s good for our education programs, and, most importantly, it’s good for our patients.”
Anna Wenders, MPH
Anna Wenders, MPH, director of the Federal USF Area Health Education Center also attended the event. She gave an in-depth history of how the program started and concluded her remarks with “The PSP program was developed to help find the students who have the talent but need some extra direction and some of the resources that PSP provides.”
As she described the role of AHEC, she began talking about Christina Holmes, a first-generation college graduate from Dade City, Fla. She served in every role within her local AHEC and, eventually, as president of the AHEC National Board of Directors in 2019. Christina was known for her “cheerful personality” and passion for the AHEC mission.
Holmes died in February 2022 from complications with COVID-19 while simultaneously fighting breast cancer. Her memory lives on in the newly formed Christina Holmes Community Champion Scholarship. It provides funds to offset tuition costs for PSP students who matriculate into one of the USF Health colleges or schools. Her husband Bryan attended the event in her honor.
Before closing the ceremonies, Shirley Smith announced the start of two new programs:
Meet a Resident – An opportunity for PSP students to talk to USF Health resident physicians in Tampa and Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Penn.
Internal Medicine Mentoring Program – A collaboration with Kellee Oller, MD, FACP, a member of the first cohort of PSP participants and current residency program director for the USF Health Department of Internal Medicine. Students can gain first-hand knowledge about the specialty in a round-robin style mentoring program with internal medicine residents.
After an evening of celebration, all who attended left with feelings of pride, and hope for the future of a program that continues to help build the workforce of health care professionals and increase diversity within health care, both of which contribute directly to positive patient outcomes.
More about the Pre-health Scholars Program
The Pre-health Scholars Program was established in 2003 by Ted Williams, PhD, then associate dean of the then named Office of Diversity Initiatives and Minority Affairs for MCOM, and Suzanne Jackson, MPH, former director of the Office of Student Diversity and Enrichment. It was established as an extension of the Pre-matriculation Program, a familiarization program for students already accepted to the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. The current PSP program was established to expose pre-health undergraduate students to careers in health care and possible pathways to those careers.
PSP is a multi-year academic enrichment, mentoring, and career exploration program for pre-health students. In addition to OSDE, the program is also sponsored by the Area Health Education Center Program, which connects students to careers, professionals to communities and communities to better health.
Up to 20 students participate in a six-week summer immersion to help enhance scientific inquiry and communication skills utilizing small group, problem-based learning, explore time management and test-taking strategies.
Summer sessions include clinical, academic, and hands-on opportunities to learn about health care careers. Students participate in variety of information sessions and practical application exercises with student volunteers from across the USF Health colleges and schools.
Accepted and matriculated PSP students who fulfill their on-going obligations while in the initial summer program are eligible to receive a $1,500 educational grant. Additional grants or stipends are available to support research positions and offset the costs of test preparation materials.
More information about PSP: https://health.usf.edu/medicine/mdprogram/diversity/psp
Quotes about PSP:
“We face critical shortages of doctors, nurses and other health care workers. We need to ensure that our health care work force more closely mirrors our society since we know that our patients have better outcomes when our work force is more diverse. That’s why this program, which is finding future health care workers who are from rural and other medically underserved areas; or who are the first generation in their family to go to college; or who are from racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine, is so important. Our patients benefit when our health care workers understand how people live their lives. Given the number of USF undergraduates we admit to MCOM each year, you are contributing to that success.” – Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.
“Shirley Smith and her team are often the unseen and unsung heroes and I think you realize that’s the work you sign up for. But it’s so critical. You’re helping to create the health care professionals of the future. Congratulations on the 20th anniversary. Things like this don’t happen by accident. There are a lot of people who make this happen behind the scenes and we appreciate you for that.” Bryan Bognar, MD, MPH, FACP, vice dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and chair of the MCOM Department of Medical Education.
“The program is still championing the need for and importance of diversity in medicine. It is still moving forward and a lot of that has to do with Mrs. Smith and her expertise that she brings to the table. One would be very naïve to think it’s arrived and accomplished its goals. The moment we reside on that potential reality is the moment we sign the document on mediocrity. There’s always more to do. From what I can see of PSP, the energy is there, the expertise is there, and I can only see it moving forward so long as the administration remains committed.” Ted Williams PhD, MCOM Professor Emeritus and former associate dean of the former Office of Diversity Initiatives and Minority Affairs.
“I can’t express my gratitude for keeping the PSP program alive and for constantly offering your help, your congratulations whenever you see us succeed, and for allowing us to get our feet through the door for the endless possibilities of what pre-health is. Without you, I truly don’t know where I would be.” Alexandra Gabro, DO, 2017 PSP participant.
“Shirley Smith and her team have been amazing. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. They’ve been helpful in transforming my trajectory into becoming a physician more than other people would have expected. That small team is tremendous for medical students and students trying to get on the path, especially students of color. OSDE never looks the other way.” Harold Paul, MD, MPH, 2008 PSP participant and MCOM assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine.
“It doesn’t feel like it was 20 years ago. It’s crazy how things have come full-circle. Entering the program not knowing how to get into medical school. Now, on the reverse side, a program director and my residents are participating in this program as mentors to students who are where I was in 2003.” Kellee Oller, MD, FACP, 2003 PSP participant and residency program director for the USF Health Department of Internal Medicine.
