April 19, 2023

By Lisa Ryan

Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health is building connections with future physicians and scientists in the Reading, Pa., community. First- and second-year MD program students have partnered for two years with Sisters in STEM and recently expanded their work with the Reading Science Center program, which encourages elementary- and middle-school girls to study science.

Earlier this year, MD program students hosted Sisters in STEM at the West Reading Campus for a day of hands-on lessons in medicine, marking the girls’ first visit to the medical school. The field trip aligned easily with Sisters in STEM’s mission.

“The program’s goal is to foster a love of science in young women, building a foundation that will inspire them to continue their education in STEM-related courses, including those focused on health care,” said Andrea Bensusan, academic coordinator at the College of Medicine at Tower Health. “Many of the Sisters in STEM participants come from communities that are underrepresented in STEM careers, including medicine.”

At the West Reading Campus, Sisters in STEM participants worked with MD program students to complete patient simulations, had lessons on thoracic anatomy and the circulatory system, and gained opportunities to practice, checking each other’s heartbeats and blood pressure.

MD program students from the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) helped make the field trip a success, as did students involved in Cutting Edge Anatomy, an extracurricular group pairing medical students with school-aged aspiring physicians for mentorship.

Other MD students work with Sisters in STEM throughout the year, as part of the hands-on learning and community engagement that is a pillar of the College of Medicine’s first- and second-year medical school curriculum.

Whether they are working with young scientists for an afternoon or long-term, MD program students don’t just facilitate the kids’ hands-on education in biology and medicine. They also model a potential educational and career path.

Take a look at photos from Sisters in STEM’s visit to Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health: