title: An Educational Program for Underserved Middle School Students to Encourage Pursuit of Pharmacy and Other Health Science Careers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and implement an active, hands-on program for underrepresented minority (URM) seventh grade students and to determine if participation in the program increased interest in health care careers and understanding of pharmacy and physician assistant (PA) professions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hands-on educational program was developed in conjunction with local middle school administrators and staff for URM 7th grade students. The program was designed to be hands-on and focus on pharmacy and PA laboratory skills. A discussion component was included, allowing participants to interact personally with pharmacy and PA students and faculty members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students' responses to survey questions about interest in health care careers and knowledge about health professions were compared before and after 2 separate offerings of the program. After the program, significant increases were seen in participants' understanding of the pharmacy and PA professions. An increased percentage of participants reported interest in health care careers after the program than before the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Introducing middle school-aged URM students to the pharmacy and PA professions through a hands-on educational program increased interest in, and knowledge of, these professions.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Manchester, New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Carroll-Ann
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Manchester, New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Thao T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Manchester, New Hampshire.
authors.forename: Linh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002321:Career Choice; D002648:Child; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007587:Job Description; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology
keywords: community service; diversity; health disparities; minority recruitment; youth education