Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS) has a vision to “Transform health care for the benefit of the people and communities we serve” and a mission to “Heal compassionately. Teach innovatively. Improve constantly.” This mission and vision lead Greenville Hospital System to create the GHS Medical Experience Academy, to support high school juniors and seniors and college undergraduates in preparation for advanced training in health care. When fully actualized, the GHS MEDEX Academy will serve as the pipeline for students interested in pursuing a career in health care.
Reverberations of the MEDEX Academy will influence favorably socio-economic, public health, and educational initiatives throughout South Carolina.
The GHS Medical Experience Academy will begin in the summer of 2010 with a 4 week pilot program of 12 academically talented rising 12th graders. It will provide educational and social activities as well as mentoring and academic tutoring to equip rising high school seniors to make informed career decisions and prepare for continued health care training. As part of this program students will participate in daily tutorial sessions and get hands-on experience in laboratory activities, as well as participate in small group discussions on health issues, hear weekly guest speakers, job shadowing, field trips, and much more.
GHS MEDEX Academy
To support high school juniors and seniors and college undergraduates in preparation for advanced training in health care.
GHS MEDEX Academy Program Description
• GHS Medical Experience (MEDEX) Academy - Tier I – Rising Seniors in High School
Students participate in learning experiences designed to introduce foundational competencies needed for a successful health professions career.
• GHS Medical Experience (MEDEX) Academy - Tier II – Rising Sophomores in College
Students participate in progressive learning experiences which build preparatory skills and aptitudes and guide students’ health career decisions.
• GHS Medical Experience (MEDEX) Academy - Tier III – Rising Seniors in College
Students engage in chosen field clinical/non-clinical, hands-on, research-rich learning experiences.
GHS MEDEX Academy Student Provisions
• Scholarships – Students participating in MEDEX Academy are eligible to apply for Greenville Drive Scholarships. Scholarships are restricted to accredited community college, four-year University, or graduate/professional healthcare academic program – public or private, secondary or post-secondary, within the State of South Carolina. See Greenville Drive Scholarship document for details.
• Academic Development – Students participating in MEDEX Academy are eligible to receive additional assistance in preparation for acceptance into an accredited community college, four-year University, or graduate/professional healthcare academic program – public or private, secondary or post-secondary, within the State of South Carolina.
• Financial Assistance – Students participating in MEDEX Academy will receive a monetary subsidy upon satisfactory completion of each tier.
Greenville Drive – DRIVE Scholarships
GHS will also team up with the Greenville Drive to take their partnership to a new level. In the fall of 2010, GHS plans to launch The Drive Scholars, an inaugural program to encourage students to pursue health careers. This is an important initiative of both GHS and The Drive because of the growing need for health professionals and the need to guide more students to health related occupations. It will provide 5 students from the GHS Medical Experience Academy with college scholarships. The scholarships are redeemable upon enrollment in an accredited college and are conditional upon the students maintaining their academic standing and good citizenship. Each year the Drive Scholars will team with a “Medical Champion” at the Greenville Hospital System to provide subsequent support to other students in the GHS Medical Experience Academy.
The Drive Scholars program will kick off with a signature Field of Dreams philanthropy event on October 7, 2010. The event will feature interactive activities and an opportunity to meet the current Medical Experience Academy participants.