Overview

Over the last 29 summers, the Horizons in Medicine program at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine has offered local high school students, mostly from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds, the opportunity to see first hand the science and delivery of health care that forms the foundation of a career in medicine.

In this unique program students can begin to prepare for careers in science and health care, get a summer job that pays, and earn a college scholarship. Students who will have completed their junior year of high school and taken chemistry by the time the program begins are encouraged to apply.

Horizons in Medicine is designed to give Dayton-area students a sense of the career possibilities in health care and to show them the kind of serious preparation needed to enter such careers. Students spend mornings in classrooms and laboratories at Wright State, where they are introduced to subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry and physiology. They spend afternoons working in hospitals, doctors offices and community clinics affiliated with Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.

During the six-week program, students will work 100 hours at minimum wage in their work assignments. Every morning students will participate in lectures; lab experiences or other academic activities structured to introduce them to various areas related to the study of medicine and other health professions. Attendance is required from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Since 1979, more than 570 Dayton-area high school students have completed Horizons in Medicine; with more than 90 percent entering college and approximately 80 percent graduating from college. Many Horizons alumni are now M.D.'s, and several former Horizon participants are currently enrolled in medical school at Wright State's Boonshoft School of Medicine.

Curriculum

Medical Terminology

This individualized course is designed to acquaint the students with the general terminology needed to allow the students to function in a clinical environment. It is taught on an advanced high school/introductory college level.

Special Activities

Friday mornings are designed to involve students in a variety of health-related activities, including tours of medical facilities, presentations by area health care professionals, and training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Faculty Topics

Faculty Topics are courses structured to introduce the students to various areas related to the study of medicine and other health professions. The courses are taught by professors from the Wright State's Boonshoft School of Medicine and College of Science and Engineering professors.

The areas of study are as follows:
Biochemistry
Gross Anatomy
Histology
Physiology
Pharmacology & Toxicology

Clinical Experiences

Students will work in area hospitals, nursing homes or other health-related facilities in the afternoons for five weeks, for a total of 100 paid hours (at minimum wage).

They are under departmental supervision and will be evaluated in the following areas:

Quality of work
Quantity of work
Reliability
Attitude
Judgment
Dependability
Cooperation
Initiative
Progress

Research Paper or Project

The students are divided into groups of two to four students for this project. Each group is under the direction and guidance of a Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine medical student.

The purpose is to encourage individual thought and teamwork in areas related to medicine. Students have the choice of writing a group research paper and presenting the findings to the rest of the class or to develop their own medically related projects.

Watch this PowerPoint Presentation to learn more (PPT file)