The healthcare professional schools at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville want to attract more minorities into their respective careers. In an effort to accomplish this goal, the SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp will be held from Sunday, June 16-Friday, June 21 on the University’s campus.
“We recognize the value of increasing the diversity in our student body,” said Dr. Lakesha Butler, clinical associate professor in the School of Pharmacy. “Considering the low number of minority students who apply to SIUE professional healthcare programs, we have developed a one-week summer camp for high school juniors and seniors who have an interest in pursuing a future career in healthcare.”
Current coordinator of the summer diversity experience, Butler was instrumental in starting the camp in 2009. The camp began as a three-day, non-residential pharmacy only activity that has evolved into a six-day, inter-professional program under her leadership.
This year, the free camp is taking a different spin by coordinating with the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Nursing. The focus is to expose students to careers in healthcare offered at SIUE, said Butler, who was interested in expanding inter-professional collaborations across the university.
Also instrumental in organizing this year’s SIUE Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp are Dr. Cornell Thomas, associate dean of student affairs at the SIUE School of Dental Medicine, and Cheryl Jackson, instructor in the SIUE School of Nursing.
U.S. News & World Report rates dental medicine, nursing and pharmacy, in that order, as the top three among its “100 Best Jobs” ranking. The criteria include occupations that offer a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance and job security.
“We targeted minority students, because we recognize the low minority numbers and the need for more diversity,” said Butler. “We also want to help prepare minority students to get to the finish line. We see minority students apply, but they’re not as competitive. Hopefully, this camp will provide them with the tools to make them more competitive, especially with the addition this year of an ACT Crash Course.”
The response to the 20 slots for the Healthcare Diversity Summer Camp was overwhelming this year, according to Butler. Participants have been selected for the program.
Some speakers and activities on the six-day program include:
• Dr. Gireesh Gupchup, School of Pharmacy dean
• Dr. Venessa Brown, associate provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
• Kelly Brooks, coordinator in SIUE Admissions
• Dr. Anne Perry, interim dean of the School of Nursing
• Careers in Nursing/Advanced Practice
• Anatomy and Physiology Experience (Dental)
• Laboratory Exercise (Dental)
• Introduction to School of Pharmacy/Admission Requirements
• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Lab
• Community Pharmacy Site Visits
• ACT Crash Course
Photo Information: Pictured above is Dr. Lakesha Butler, clinical associate professor in the School of Pharmacy.