Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers

Our school works to develop the next generation of health care professionals and we do this through our academic program and the Health Engagement Project. The Health Engagement Project provides career exploration opportunities for all students at EMK through guest speakers, site visits, community service, internships, and job shadows.

2009-2010 Health Engagement Project Report

Summary of Activities

9^th Grade Guest Speakers:

·         January 6, 2010 Nursing and Midwifery: Helen Dajer, Harvard Vanguard, Nurse Midwife

·         March 3, 2010 Medical School and Physicians: Busayo Obayan and Christina Smith, Boston University School of Medicine, Doctors Back to Schools

·         April 27, 2010 Nursing Laboratory: Christine Litzinger, M.Ed., Administrative Coordinator & USAGPAN Coordinator, Nurse Anesthesia Program and 6 nurse anesthesia students and Valeria A. Ramdin, MS, RNCS, ANP, Northeastern University

·         April 28, 2010 Public Health: Nancy Norman, M.D., MPH, Chief Medical Officer at the Boston Public Health Commission

·         May 5, 2010 Nursing: Michele Mendes, RN, Ph.D., Boston College School of Nursing

·         May 19, 2010 Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sales: Jason W. Lancaster, PharmD, BCPS, Assistant Clinical Professor, Northeastern University & Internal Medicine Pharmacist, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Anusha Raju and Theresa Phung, Northeastern University Pharmacy Students, Sasanka D. Atapattu, MBA, Executive Account Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

·         May 26, 2010 Counseling Psychology: Willie Sanchez, PhD, Professor of Applied Psychology and Counseling, Northeastern University, Carmen Calderon O’Hara, MSW, Academic and Clinical Coordinator, Kennedy Academy, Danny Rivera, Transition Coach, Boston Private Industry Council

9^th Grade Site Visits:

·         Biomedical Engineering Day (October 23, 2009): Shashi Murthy, Ph.D. Northeastern University Rebecca Carrier, Ph.D. Northeastern University Atish Choudhury, Ph.D., M.D. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

·         Broad Institute (April 29 and May 4, 2010): Megan E. Rokop, Ph.D., Broad Institute and additional scientists through lunch event and laboratory tours

·         Dental Office Visit (April 2010): Richard Carr, DDS

·         MSPCA Angell Hospital 9B (March 23, 2010):  Nicole Borrelli, Educator

·         Children’s Hospital 9A (November 5, 2009): Eva Gomez, RN and four nurses during a panel discussion

10^th Grade Site Visits:

·         NU Shadow Day (November 2009): Professors during the classes visited and college students

·         Job Shadow Day (February 2010):  individual professionals visited at Massachusetts General Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Boston Fire Department, Boston Medical Center, Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Read Boston and the Agassiz School

·         Museum of Science (January 11, 2010):  Duane Hill, Ph.D., Suit/Cabot Laboratory

·         CityLab Mobile Van  (April and May 2010, 2 site visits): Matt Micari and Laura Borrelli, Educators

·         The Dimock Center (May and June 2010):  Barbara Couzens, Director of Community Relations and Advocacy and Tom Rutherford, RN, The Dimock Center

11^th Grade Site Visits:

·         Boston University School of Public Health “New Faces of Public Health” (December 2009):  Robert Meenan, M.D. Dean, Harold Cox, Associate Dean, Jonathan Woodson, M.D. Associate Dean, Anna Steenrod & Marianne Garcia, Students, Alveta Haynes, Project Manager, Boston University School of Public Health

School Year Programs and Internship Experiences:

·         Kennedy Academy Senior Community Service Internship Program: 46 students participated this year at various sites including Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston Public School elementary and K-8 schools, Teens In Print, Kennedy Academy, Roxbury Community College, YMCA, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, Roxbury HeadStart ABCD, Harvard University School of Public Health, MSPCA Animal Care and Adoption Center, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Room to Grow, Whittier Street Health Clinic, and the Women of Color AIDS Council. Additionally, fifteen 11^th graders and two 12^th graders were trained and are volunteers for The Efficacy Institute’s Kids 2 Kids Program working at the King K-8 School and the Haynes Early Education Center.

·         Massachusetts General Hospital ProTech Program: seven 12^th graders

·         Massachusetts General Hospital Youth Program: six 10^th graders and seven 9^th graders

·         Brigham and Women’s Hospital Student Success Jobs Program: 14 students in grades 10-12

·         After School Programs: Women of Color AIDS Council Program: 8 female students participated in grades 10 and 11

·         Dual Enrollment: Bunker Hill Community College’s Students Taking Action for Nursing Diversity: seven 12^th grade students participated and completed the program

·         Advisory Programs: Two new partnerships included forty-two 9th graders in the Peer Health Exchange Program and eighteen 10^th – 12^th graders in the Mental Health Nursing Program. Hosted the American Red Cross for workshops during this time period.

·         Wellness & Research Study: Partnered with BodiMojo (Northeastern University), an online wellness program. Seventy-five 10^th grade students participated. Partnered with the New College of Optometry for eye screenings for students and the El-Shaddai Dental Clinic for dental care. Formed a School Wellness Council via the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Summer Programs and Internships:

·         Shashi Murthy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University: Dr. Murthy will host two 9^th grade students in his laboratory.

·         University of Massachusetts- Boston Health Careers Opportunity Program: 6 students will participate.

·         Massachusetts General Hospital: Through the 10^th Grade Youth Program, 5 of 6 students applied for a summer position. Through our partnership with the PIC, 15 positions have been slotted for our students. Interviews are ongoing.

·         Brigham and Women’s Hospital: Through our partnership with the PIC, 20 students have been hired. Interviews are ongoing.

·         Children’s Hospital Boston: Through our partnership with the PIC, 20-25 positions have been slotted for our students. Interviews are ongoing.

·         University of New Hampshire’s Project Smart: one 10^th grader has been accepted.