The Sophie Davis Health Professions Mentorship Program (HPMP) at the CUNY School of Medicine is a two-year program that provides high school students with a place to explore careers in the medical field. This past summer, several Harrisites participated in HPMP, where they had the opportunity to work with medical professionals. The Classic interviewed a few of these participants about their experiences in the program.
Whether they aspire to become doctors, nurses, physician assistants, occupational therapists, public health experts, or researchers, the program provides valuable experience and expert knowledge on necessary subjects. Junior Azeezat Yusuf, a first-year HPMP student, said, “The Sophie Davis program has affected my career goals by reaffirming the fact that I want to go into medicine. It opened my eyes to all of the jobs in the medical field and made me want to explore the possibilities.”
The application process for HPMP consists of an application form, two essays, a transcript, and an optional resume to be submitted by April 1 of the applicants’ sophomore year.
“Throughout the program, each day consisted of many activities, such as a visit from a psychiatrist and the Associate Dean of Research at the Sophie Davis Biomedical Program. I enjoyed the program because I was able to dive deeper into the medical field through conducting a capstone project and learning from medical professionals,” said junior Toluwanimi Oyeleye, a Managing Editor of The Classic and a first-year HPMP student.
Faiza Tasnim, a News Editor of The Classic, who completed the program said, “I got a lot of hands-on experience especially with visiting the anatomy lab and going on interactive field trips to the museum and such. I also got the opportunity to participate in two research projects over the two summers I’ve been a part of HPMP.”
Participants were able to build connections with mentors in the medical field, who provided guidance and advice on various subjects. Azeezat said, “I learned that there are so many possibilities for jobs in the medical field… the mentors that were there were extremely helpful about the college application process and what we should do.”
With the new application deadline for the program set for April 2024, current students highly recommend that sophomores should definitely consider applying to the Sophie Davis HPMP. Toluwanimi said, “I encourage any rising juniors interested in the healthcare field to apply for the program next year because it’s definitely an opportunity that you shouldn’t miss, and it will open doors to your future in gaining access to other medical programs.”
HPMP is a two-year commitment beginning in the summer of the applicants’ junior year that encompasses two four-week summer sessions and year-round monthly Saturday sessions. During the program, students engage in community-based projects designed to identify challenges and devise solutions to healthcare issues prevalent in New York City. The curriculum provides students with insights into how healthcare professionals address these issues to enhance the well-being of communities.
