Nine selected for UPMC cardiology program
Dec. 1, 2023
Nine selected for UPMC cardiology program
Beginning on Jan. 9, 2024, the hybrid program features four weekly hour-long virtual sessions. During these sessions, students learn about the field of cardiology, how cardiac issues affect their community, and hear stories from a diverse group of practicing cardiologists. Paired with a single mentor, each student is able to develop a close relationship with a cardiologist, which often leads to future mentoring and advice for years to come. Students also break into small group discussions every week where they can meet other mentors and students who live near them and are interested in cardiology.
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.”
