• Author
    Michelle Ryder
  • Discovery PI

    Kymora Scotland

  • Project Co-Author

  • Abstract Title

    Medical Education Discovery Scholars: A Los Angeles High School Medical Outreach Program

  • Discovery AOC Petal or Dual Degree Program

    Medical Education Leadership & Scholarship

  • Abstract

    Background:

    Under resourced high schools in Los Angeles report a scarcity of medical exploration opportunities for their students.  High school students start their medical careers later, have less competitive applications, or not pursuing medicine at all. These students have the potential to improve their communities health via culturally competent care. Math and Science College Preparatory’s (MSCP) aligned mission to empower Black and Latinx students from low income  backgrounds to pursue STEM careers made them an ideal partner site.

     

    Objectives:

    Create an afterschool program for high school students that enhances health literacy, encourages medical career exploration, and improves students' resumes. As a secondary goal, this program aims to measure barriers to a career in medicine and the impact of the program on self-efficacy.

     

    Design:

    Medical students were recruited to design 45-minute modules addressing topics that high school student participants identified as important to them such as depression, substance use, and pregnancy. From October 2025 to March 2026, high school students discussed these topics and evaluated the module effectiveness. Discussions primarily occurred after school in a classroom setting. Participants then developed group research projects and outreach materials for a novel research conference. As an adjunct, select student participants with exceptional participation were invited to become research assistants in a urology lab.

     

    Impact:

    Anonymous qualitative faculty feedback unanimously found this program to positively affect their students. Feedback obtained after each module highlights student engagement with the material, introduction to novel information, and a good learning environment.

      Table 1. Module Feedback

     

    Organization of Module

    Learning Objectives Aligned

    “I Learned Something New”

    Workload

    Reaffirmed Pursuit of Medicine

    Good Learning Environment

    Global Health

    2.14±1.5

    4.86±0.38

    4.86±0.38

    4.43±0.79

    4.43±0.79

    5±0

    Skin Care

    4.78±0.44

    4.78±0.44

    4.67±0.50

    4.44±0.73

    4.67±0.50

    4.78±0.44

    Depression

    4.64±0.66

    4.64±0.66

    4.45±0.79

    4.55±0.74

    4.36±0.81

    4.55±0.74

    SUD

    4.78±0.44

    4.78±0.44

    4.56±0.73

    4.22±1.39

    4.67±0.71

    4.89±0.33

    Mental Health EM

    5±0

    4.80±0.45

    4.80±0.45

    5±0

    4.80±0.45

    5±0

    Lessons Learned:

    The richest discussions were when a medical student was on site. Longitudinal relationships encourage students to attend, participate, and solicit feedback. Students did need structured and repeated reminders for surveys, projects, and permission slips.

    Summary:

    Given competing student participant responsibilities, it is not practical to have a student on site for all program weeks. The program would benefit from representative student leadership and recruitment of undergraduates. Program evaluation is ongoing. Initial reports show participants found internships, hands-on workshops, and research opportunities the most helpful and interesting. Active mentorship from faculty and medical students in these programs should continue as this may encourage more longitudinal participation of high school students. Post survey data evaluating student participant program feedback, health literacy, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers are pending. The novel high school student research presentation born from this pilot program is scheduled to take place on May 20, 2026 with further insights to follow.

     

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