Twelve UNCP Grads Accepted to Health Professional Programs

Three UNC Pembroke graduates have been accepted this spring into medical schools. In recent years, the university has had 59 graduates accepted to medical school.

In addition, three UNCP graduates have been accepted to dental school, three into physician assistant programs and one student each into physical therapy, occupational therapy and public health programs.

"We all have reason to be proud of this achievement," said Chancellor Allen C. Meadors. "Having this many students accepted into health professional programs speaks highly of the quality of preparation we give our students and the quality of students that we attract to the university."

All 12 students were members of UNCP's Health Careers Club, which is sponsored by the North Carolina Health Careers Access Program (HCAP). The Health Careers Club is open to students pursuing careers in nursing, medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, dentistry and any other health-related occupation.

"Since I have been involved with the Health Careers Access Program, this is the best number of acceptances to health professional programs," said Sylvia Johnson, director of HCAP at UNCP.

The UNCP chapter of the North Carolina Health Careers Access Program was organized to increase the representation of minorities and disadvantaged population groups in the state's health professions. The office offers counseling services on health career opportunities, educational field trips, workshops and seminars.

Jadene Lowry of Pembroke has been accepted to the UNC-Chapel Hill Medical School and the East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine.

Sarah R. Locklear of Pembroke and Benjamin Gersh of Fayetteville were accepted to East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine.

Matthew Davis of Elizabethtown, Barry Graham of Pembroke and Angela Meredith of Fayetteville were all accepted to East Carolina's physician assistant program.

Jessica Collins of Pembroke and Starlet Chavis of Red Springs were accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Dentistry. Chrystal Rooks of Whiteville was accepted to Virginia Commonwealth University's dental program.

Gina Chavis was accepted to Winston Salem State University's occupational therapy program, and Jada Locklear to UNC Chapel Hill's School of Public Health. Both are from Pembroke. Amanda Hammonds of Shannon was admitted to ECU's physical therapy program.

HCAP INTERNSHIPS

Nine UNCP pre-health students were placed throughout Robeson and Scotland counties to "test drive" health careers through the Clinical Health Summer Program (CHSP), sponsored by the North Carolina Health Careers Access Program (NC-HCAP).

The students are rotating at Pembroke Family Practice, West Primary Urgent Care, Pembroke Pediatric, Robeson Health Care Corporation, located in Pembroke; Maxton Medical Center, Lumberton Health Center, Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton; Robeson Family Practice of Red Springs and Scotland Urgent Care of Laurinburg.

Students participating are: Jason Lee Adkins of Laurinburg, Felicia A. Altman of Rowland, Lyn A. Fanlo of Lumberton, Cherece Nicole Grier of Pembroke, Lenita Hammonds of Red Springs, Christopher Corbin Locklear of Pembroke, Jason Eric Lowery of Lumberton, Quincy Dewan Wade of Pembroke and Robert Kenneth Walker of Hope Mills

"The program provides a super opportunity for college students to look at a variety of careers in health care and related fields while earning a salary for seven weeks, said Sylvia Johnson, HCAP director for UNCP. "The students get practical experience, exposure to real-life situations, and the opportunity to make valuable contact with health care professionals by which mentor relationships could form."

The Clinical Health Summer Program is just one example of how the NC-Health Careers Access Program is helping to increase the number of racial/ethnic minority and/or individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are trained, educated, and employed in the health professions. For more information about the program contact: Sylvia T. Johnson, Director, NC-HCAP at UNC Pembroke, at 910.521.6493 or sylvia.johnson@uncp.edu.

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