Mayo Clinic Pathway Programs Foster Future Healthcare Leaders

As students return to their educational institutions this fall, many are reflecting on valuable experiences from their summer break. For those at Mayo Clinic, this often includes the exploration of healthcare professions, engaging in research, and establishing mentorships that broaden their career horizons.

Typically, the journey toward a healthcare career starts with an experience that ignites curiosity rather than a finalized plan. Mayo Clinic offers pathway programs across Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida, providing hands-on learning opportunities that encourage participants to envision their futures in medicine and healthcare.

“Our pathway programs help learners discover where their interests and talents can make the greatest impact,” states Dr. Nneka I. Comfere, Waugh Executive Dean of Education. “By creating meaningful opportunities at pivotal moments in their educational journeys, we're helping students define their paths through experiences that shape their career trajectories.”

These programs not only provide exposure to various healthcare roles but also allow students to forge connections with mentors in their fields, fostering their ambition to pursue careers they might have once deemed out of reach.

Opening New Doors

The pathway programs have introduced many participants to career options they had never previously contemplated. Others find research opportunities and cultivate professional relationships that empower them to pursue their aspirations.

For instance, Sam Rudnick found her direction through practical experiences in Rochester's Career Immersion Program (CIP) in 2019, where she shadowed surgical assistants in the operating room. This exposure helped her identify a career that resonated with her interests and lifestyle.

“Being able to shadow surgical assistants and learn about their daily responsibilities helped me envision myself in that career and confirmed that it was the right path for me,” Rudnick reflects. Now, she’s enrolled in Mayo Clinic's Surgical First Assistant Program, a role she was first exposed to in high school.

Similar paths are evident among students from various Mayo Clinic campuses. In Arizona, Pragnya Karlapudi, a graduate of the CARES Summer Program, is now pursuing her medical degree at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM).

Meanwhile, Florida resident Emily Dorairaj participated in the SPARK Program and later engaged in the CRISP, both paving her way to medical school at MCASOM.

Enhancing Early Interests

As students transition through their college years, many seek deeper insights into the domains they initially explored in high school, enhancing their commitment to healthcare careers.

Programs at Mayo Clinic, including the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and the Undergraduate Plummer Scholars (UPS), offer a plethora of experiences that range from research to clinical immersion.

Elizabeth "Lizz" Cervantes, a participant in SURF in 2021 while studying biochemistry at the University of Texas at San Antonio, realized during her time there that she wanted to pursue her Ph.D. and where she wanted to train. Working closely with graduate students left a profound impact on her career aspirations.

“If I want to grow into that kind of scientist, I should train where they trained,” she reflects. Now, as a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Clinical and Translational Science program at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MCGSBS), Cervantes contributes her insights back into the program by leading professional development seminars for newcomers.

Dr. Tamiel Turley’s journey exemplifies a non-traditional path. After completing her GED and becoming a first-generation college student, she found her footing in research during her 2015 SURF program. Surrounded by accomplished scientists, she realized her fit in the academic landscape and subsequently earned her Ph.D. from MCGSBS, now working as a research associate focused on translational oncology.

Long-term Impact Beyond Summer Experiences

The essence of a pathway experience isn’t confined to a single summer. It encompasses the insights gained and actions taken in the subsequent years.

Students uncover career paths they never considered, bolster their self-esteem, and cultivate networks that last long past the conclusion of their programs. The stories of these participants vividly illustrate what's achievable when opportunities align with ambition. By illuminating potential futures in healthcare, Mayo Clinic is nurturing talent poised to enhance not only its workforce but the wider healthcare community.