Six selected for cardiologist program
Dec. 11, 2020
Six selected for cardiologist program
The program will take place virtually with events planned each Wednesday evening throughout the month of January. Events will include an introduction to the field of cardiology, a panel discussion with physicians, case study discussion relative to diversity and mentoring opportunities.
The mission of the I Look Like a Cardiologist program is to expose students from backgrounds underrepresented in cardiology to the field in order to inspire diverse high school students to consider a career in the field.
According to the program’s website, “heart disease is the most common cause of death for Americans from every gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class. However, despite the gains that some of these groups have made in medical school graduation rates over the past two decades, women and people of color remain significantly underrepresented in cardiology. Through targeted outreach to diverse and intellectually talented high school students in greater Pittsburgh, we hope to cultivate an interest in cardiology and develop a mentorship program for potential future cardiologists from diverse backgrounds.”
The I Look Like a Cardiologist program is coordinated by Kathryn Berlacher, a practicing physician educator at The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Diana Rodgers, founder and CEO of Fit Education Consulting, LLC and a doctoral graduate in higher education management with a focus on medical school admissions at the University of Pittsburgh.
Students are selected by competitive application that included the submission of transcripts, test scores and two essays. The program, which drew more than 120 applications, is sponsored by the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. The I Look Like a Cardiologist program first launched in January 2019.
