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Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research

Chaminade Boosts Grad School, Career Options for Underrepresented Students Through Leadership Alliance

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Dr. Medeva Ghee speaking with studentsTo expand graduate school and career opportunities, as well as encourage diversity for students from underrepresented and underserved populations, Chaminade’s Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research hosted a March 28-29 campus visit by Dr. Medeva Ghee, executive director of the Leadership Alliance.

Established in 1992, this national consortium develops underrepresented students into outstanding leaders and role models in academia, business and the public sector. Chaminade is one of 36 institutions forming the alliance, along with other universities such as Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Yale.

Dr. Medeva Ghee with studentsDuring Dr. Ghee’s visit she met with students, faculty and staff at a poster reception and roundtable luncheon. Her keynote address, “Exploring the Unexplored,” encouraged students to pursue doctoral degrees.

Dr. Ghee is a faculty member with Brown University’s Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences. She also provided technical assistance and strategic advice for the Clinton Foundation initiative on preventing and treating HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Among the Leadership Alliance opportunities for undergraduates is the Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP). These fully paid internships provide training and mentoring in research principles so undergraduates can competitively apply for Ph.D. and MD-Ph.D. programs.

Internships are available in life and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities at over 20 institutions nationwide.

Dior-Ashton TeodosioAmong the Chaminade students who completed an SR-EIP internship is Dior-Ashton Teodosio. After graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she plans to pursue a doctorate in Clinical Psychology so she can treat children with learning disabilities.

Teodosio’s internship, conducted through the American Psychological Association, took place at Washington University in St. Louis.

“I worked on two different studies this past summer,” Teodosio says. “One focused on false hearing and analyzing previous data from another false hearing study. And the second one focused on second language vocabulary and speech perception.”

Teodosio urges other Chaminade students to consider an SR-EIP internship.

“If I had to give any advice to future students applying for any type of summer program, I would say to do it and go in with an open mind,” she says. “This is an opportunity that most don’t have, so you should definitely try it out!”

The Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research provides services to students interested in pursuing medical careers. These services include: academic preparation and advising, professional seminars and guest speakers, and undergraduate research programs. Chaminade students also have the opportunity for early admission to graduate programs through articulation agreements arranged with numerous medical schools.

Dreams of Going to Medical School Shape Up

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Chaminade University students with dreams of someday attending medical school went to Arizona this spring. Sponsored by the Office of Health Professions and Undergraduate Research, about a dozen students explored the campuses of Grand Canyon University (Phoenix), Midwestern University (Glendale), A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) and A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). In addition, students attended a graduate fair at Grand Canyon University.

Chaminade students at A.T. Still University“This trip was both life-changing and a huge eye-opener for me,” said Chaminade first-year student Hi’ilei Ishii-Chaves. “During the course of this trip, I felt that I really stepped out of my comfort zone.  I built new relationships, tried new foods and participated in events I would never do.” Ishii-Chaves is seriously considering ATSU but needs to do further research on whether becoming a medical doctor or an osteopathic doctor is the better fit for her.

Chaminade student Rea Mae Garcia enjoyed the problem-based learning style that she experienced at ATSU in which students were presented with a patient with real complaints.  Patient vitals and lab work results were shared, and students had to figure out causes for the complaints. She was also fascinated by the anatomy laboratory.  “I got to hold the kidney, the brain and the brain stem,” she said.  The ATSU visit finalized her decision.  “When I went back to the hotel that night, I wrote out interview questions and tried to answer them…I love it there, and I hope to go there for medical school,” Garcia emphasized adamantly.

Accompanied on the trip by Mrs. Patricia Lee-Robinson (associate provost and director of the Office Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research) and Dr. Amber Caracol Noguchi (Health Professions advisor), the students connected with Chaminade alumni for dinner.  The Chaminade alumni, who were also current medical students, shared their wisdom on the challenges faced and the strategies used to overcome them.

Chaminade students at Midwestern UniversityChaminade student Angela Williams was reassured by Chaminade alumna Jacquelynn Pratt ’06 who explained that life as a medical student was not easy and gave Williams some survival tips.  “I learned that her (Jackie’s) biggest struggles were with weather adjustment and homesickness,” reflected Williams. “I am afraid that I will face the same problems.  However, studying and socializing in the new school will hopefully keep me busy.”

Chaminade University has formal articulation agreements with ATSU-ASHS and ATSU-SOMA, which are both in Mesa, Arizona. Articulation agreements permit early admission for qualified Chaminade applicants to health profession programs. ATSU-ASHS agreements have opened doors for Chaminade students seeking the degrees of Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.), Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.), and a Master of Occupational Therapy (M.S.).  ATSU-SOMA offers a pathway to a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.

“This trip helped me focus on my goals and career,” wrote Williams. “I am so glad that Chaminade University has articulation agreements with many schools around the nation including ATSU-SOMA.  I appreciate this given opportunity and would like to express my heartfelt gratitude by saying thank you.”

The Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research (OHPAUR) assists students interested in healthcare careers, regardless of their major. Services include: advising, test preparation, summer programs, guest speaker presentations, professional seminars, community service activities and internship/shadowing opportunities. OHPAUR also maintains articulation agreements with four ATSU campuses, as well as Boston University School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Pacific University, Samuel Merritt University, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, University of Dayton and Western University School of Health Sciences.

ATSU Offers Chaminade Students Guidance for Med School Applications

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Lori Haxton, Dr. Jeffrey Morgan, and Dr. Dave Koenecke speaking with Chaminade students
Lori Haxton, Dr. Jeffrey Morgan, and Dr. Dave Koenecke conduct a professional development workshop

To help students achieve their academic and career goals, Chaminade University’s Office of Health Professions Advising and Undergraduate Research coordinated professional development workshops conducted by officials from A.T. Still University (ATSU).

Under formal articulation agreements, Chaminade students gain early admission to health profession programs at ATSU campuses in Arizona and Missouri with degrees in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, audiology, physical therapy and occupational therapy.

The Jan. 31 workshops focused on what the ATSU admissions committee looks for in applicants and how to communicate effectively during the interview process. ATSU administrators also led an informational session on Feb. 1 to give students an overview of educational opportunities.

For Adam Perez, a Biochemistry major graduating in Spring 2019, the biggest takeaway from the admissions workshop was that ATSU looks at all aspects of applicants. This means it’s important “to truly understand who you are” when applying for medical school.

Melissa Ponce, a Biochemistry major graduating in Spring 2018, credits the interviewing skills workshop with helping her “see my unconscious quirks.”

Dr. Dave Koenecke conducting a mock interview with a Chaminade student
Dr. Dave Koenecke (ATSU, Assistant VP of Admissions) conducting a mock interview

“I realized through this workshop that all the questions the interviewer asked were all questions that I had the answers to,” Ponce says. “It’s all a matter of being genuine and  honest with not just the interviewer but myself as well.”

Before departing Oahu, ATSU Vice President for Admissions Dr. Dave Koenecke toured the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, which partners with Chaminade to provide affordable medical care to underprivileged residents, including many Native Hawaiians.

Through an articulation agreement, 2012 Chaminade graduate Ashley Baldauf enrolled in the osteopathic medicine program at ATSU’s Arizona campus in 2013 and is spending three years studying and working at the Waianae center.

Office of Health Associate Provost Patricia M. Lee-Robinson reports that eight Chaminade graduates are currently enrolled in ATSU programs.

Chaminade also has articulation agreements with Boston University School of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Pacific University, Samuel Merritt University, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, University of Dayton and Western University School of Health Sciences.