Rohini Chopra / en U of T summer mentorship program creates connections for Black and Indigenous youth /news/u-t-summer-mentorship-program-creates-connections-black-and-indigenous-youth <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T summer mentorship program creates connections for Black and Indigenous youth </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-08-17-mentorship-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=k_obxD25 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2018-08-17-mentorship-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=t28OJR2A 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2018-08-17-mentorship-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=BnXUeJZ5 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-08-17-mentorship-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=k_obxD25" alt="Photo of mentorship program"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-08-17T13:19:43-04:00" title="Friday, August 17, 2018 - 13:19" class="datetime">Fri, 08/17/2018 - 13:19</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">The summer mentorship program provides more than 70 high school students who are Black, Indigenous or from other under-represented backgrounds with mentorship opportunities and hands-on experience in health sciences </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/rohini-chopra" hreflang="en">Rohini Chopra</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/diversity" hreflang="en">Diversity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/diversity-mentorship-program" hreflang="en">Diversity Mentorship Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mentorship" hreflang="en">Mentorship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/summer-mentorship-program" hreflang="en">Summer Mentorship Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Weaving needles into silicon skin pads isn’t what you’d expect many high school students to do on their summer break.</p> <p>But this workshop in suturing – which creates strong, supportive connections to seal a wound – is just one example of the experiences offered by the <a href="http://www.md.utoronto.ca/SMP">Ƶ's&nbsp;summer mentorship program</a>&nbsp;(SMP). It’s also a metaphor for the program’s goals.</p> <p>Support and connection are key themes throughout the month-long program, which provides more than 70 high school students who are Black, Indigenous or from other under-represented backgrounds with mentorship opportunities and hands-on experience in health sciences.</p> <p><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XTPHqgSpf20" width="750"></iframe></p> <p>Idil Abdi, who will start Grade 12 in Thornhill this fall, was among the group of aspiring health-care professionals to take part in SMP this year. The group explored health-related professions – including medicine, nursing, public health and social work – through lab work, lectures and practical experience.</p> <p>“I was eager to join SMP for a taste of university life,” says Abdi. “It surprised me to see all the academic options available in health sciences and I learned that with hard work and dedication, the possibilities are endless.”</p> <p>Among the medical professionals the students met were pediatricians, radiation technologists and family doctors.</p> <p>“It was incredible to see how they all support patients and have a positive impact on their lives,” says Jacob Fraser, a participant in the mentorship program who hopes to become a family doctor.</p> <p>The program also provides students with career services like resumé and networking workshops. “Learning how to write a cover letter, present yourself and network was one of the highlights for me. These skills will help me navigate my way through the workforce today and later on in my profession,” says Tyler Cobbinah.</p> <p>Since the program launched in 1994, more than 900 students have participated and 85 per cent of surveyed graduates have since begun working toward or completed a university degree.</p> <p>SMP alumna Tonya-Leah Watts is starting her last year of undergraduate studies in biomedical sciences. Inspired by her time in the program, Watts is also preparing to write the Medical College Admissions Test.</p> <p>“Where I grew up, I didn’t see people like me pursuing medicine. In SMP, I made connections with other people of colour who supported me outside of the program and helped me apply to university,” she says.</p> <p>As it approaches its 25<sup>th</sup> year, SMP continues to be a catalyst for building strong connections between adolescents and health sciences and increasing the representation of Black and Indigenous people in medicine by investing in their success.</p> <p><strong>Husam Abdel-Qadir</strong> graduated from SMP in 1998 after immigrating from the Middle East. Today, he is a cardiologist and clinician-scientist who volunteers with U of T’s <a href="https://medicine.utoronto.ca/about/diversity-mentorship-program">diversity mentorship program</a> and is the director of continuing professional development for the <a href="https://bpao.org/">Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario</a>.</p> <p>“The SMP broke down barriers for me – I was exposed to Black leaders in health care who proved someone like me can be successful in medicine,” Abdel-Qadir says. “I want to keep the momentum going and continue to create a strong and supportive community for Black and Indigenous youth, showing them they too can be a face in medicine.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 17 Aug 2018 17:19:43 +0000 noreen.rasbach 140947 at