Hippocrates Circle Program
Memorandum of Understanding
To: of Superintendent School District
School Principal
From:
Kaiser Permanente Physician Champion
Kaiser Permanente Administrative Champion
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
Date: ______
Re: Hippocrates Circle Programs for 7th & 8th grade students of
Participating School
Mission Statement
The mission of the Hippocrates Circle Program (HCP) is to provide youth from underrepresented communities and diverse backgrounds the awareness that having a career as a physician is possible for them. Through the collaborative efforts of local school districts, medical schools, and the physicians from the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Permanente, Community Benefit sponsorship, the Hippocrates Circle Program strives to strengthen the self-esteem of diverse young people and empower them to pursue the goal of becoming a physician.
Goals and Objectives
Kaiser Permanente’s goal in offering the Hippocrates Circle Program to schools is to provide interactions and resources that:
Ø Mentor and Guide: empower diverse middle school students to become physicians and encourage them to set educational and career goals.
Ø Educate: increase students’ understanding of the different roles physicians play in the health care field. In addition, teach students about healthy eating and make parents and students aware of financial aid and reduce barriers to pursuing a college education.
Ø Facilitate Experience: create opportunities for diverse students to spend time with diverse physicians while they are working in medical facilities
Hippocrates Circle Events
The Hippocrates Circle Program consists of the following events:
Ø Physician Presentation to Students and Parents
Ø Financial Aid Presentation to Students and Parents
Ø Health Ambassadors for Healthy Living
Ø Tour of a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
Ø Tour of a Local Medical School
Ø Affirmation and Graduation Ceremony
Kaiser Permanente Roles and Responsibilities:
Ø Identify, select, and communicate with schools about HCP within the respective Kaiser Permanente service area.
Ø Ensure approval from designated school district designee.
Ø Confirm student participation from school district designee
Ø Manage program schedule and events with school districts, Medical Centers and Medical Schools
Ø Provide mentors for selected students
Ø Provide program supplies, meals for planned events, and certificates at the completion of the program without cost to the student or school
Ø Administer and distribute surveys to students and physicians
Ø Contribute experience as a Role Model for students
Ø Enhance the HC program by soliciting/incorporating feedback of program through surveys
Ø Share benefits of the Hippocrates Circle Program with colleagues
Ø Communicate with local leaders to establish on-going local support and resources for the Hippocrates Circle Program
Ø Sponsor Transportation to Medical Center and Medical School field trips
Los Angeles Unified School District Roles and Responsibilities:
Ø Identify middle schools that are socio-economically disadvantaged
Ø Identify students that come from underrepresented communities, have an interest in becoming a physician and have limited or no existing role models in medicine
Ø Initiate and submit all required paper work; student application, permission slips, health care information, parental consent in compliance with school district policy
Ø Arrange and facilitate transportation and chaperones for field trips
Kaiser Permanente Physician Champion Date
Kaiser Permanente Administrative Champion Date
Superintendent/School Principal Date
Los Angeles Unified School District
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