14 selected for Health Professionals Prep

Jan. 19, 2024

Fourteen Upper St. Clair High School students have been selected for the Health Professionals Prep (HPP) program at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. Participants for the 2024 spring season include seniors Ryan Arya and Anna Lao; juniors Edith Alford, Lexi Cwiklinski, Samuel Hajdu, Ryan LaRocco, Esha Lathia, Elise Parrish and Anushka Sharma; and sophomores Anoushka Barve, Valentin Cannic, Roha Pandya, Andrea Rodriguez and Adriana Rodriguez.

The HPP is an academy for high school students that provides exposure to careers in the health sciences. The program, which meets in-person every Wednesday, began on Jan. 10 and will conclude April 3, 2024. Participants rotate in two-week blocks, between each school of the health sciences, including dentistry, health and rehabilitation sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health.

Students have opportunities to engage in a variety of interactions including career awareness and exploration, clinical experience, student mentoring, academic experience, reflection, observation and influential conversations, academic planning, and student success skills.

HPP is open to Pittsburgh-area students in grades 9-12 who have an overall grade point average of 2.5 or above. Candidates were required to submit an application, including an essay and letter of recommendation.

HPP is an initiative of the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and affiliated hospitals and clinical sites of UPMC.