Emory University Pipeline pins new students from the School of Health and Medical Sciences at South Atlanta

Dr. Patricia Ford, Principal, School of Health and Medical Sciences at South Atlanta

Pinning of the School of Health and Medical Sciences at South Atlanta students into the Emory Pipeline.

The Emory University Health Sciences Pipeline Program is a multiple-year mentoring and academic enrichment experience for high school students from the School of Health and Medical Sciences at South Atlanta. Founded in 2007 by medical students Samuel Funt and Zwade Marshall and managed by volunteer Emory student leadership, the program meets after school once per week for problem-based learning (PBL) sessions in health sciences. Three cohorts of high school students are paired with undergraduate mentors and led by graduate student instructors from the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing to study infectious disease and reproductive health (10^th grade), neurology and mental health (11^th grade), and predictive and community health (12^th grade), culminating in a student-led community needs assessment.

The program’s goals are to improve high school students’ knowledge of health and health science careers, promote healthy attitudes and behaviors, enhance college readiness, develop academic and leadership skills, and provide rewarding mentoring experiences. Through the Emory Pipeline, students improve their understanding of various health lessons, science lessons and the medical professions. Most importantly, they develop long-term mentoring relationships with college students pursuing careers in the health sciences. Pipeline’s mentoring focuses on enhancing students’ college readiness, academic planning, career awareness, leadership and study skills. “Pipeline helped me connect my passion with my future career goals through talking with my mentor as well as helping me gain a deeper understanding of what college experience will be like, ” says School of Health & Sciences at South Atlanta student Vernesha Moore.

Ms. Yolanda Hood and Dr. Robert Lee, Dean of Multi-Cultural Affairs at Emory Medical School

Last year’s graduating class of Emory Pipeliners were offered $2.5M in scholarships and included two Gates Millennium Scholars. This fall, those students are attending colleges including Spelman, Morehouse, University of Georgia at Athens, Agnes Scott, Clark Atlanta, and Emory University.