Celebrating 23 years of excellence: The Annual Symposium on Career Opportunities in Biomedical Sciences & Health Professions

The Association of Minority Health Professions Schools, Inc.(AMHPS) held the 23rd Annual Biomedical Symposium on Career Opportunities in Biomedical Sciences and Health Professions from April 1-4, 2009 at the Louisville Marriot Downtown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, the Symposium was hosted by Howard University, College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, and College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, of Washington, DC.

The Symposium brought together more than 500 people including 400 students from more than 16 states.

Through various workshops, the Symposium was able to disseminate information on career opportunities in pharmaceutical sciences, veterinary medicine, public health and medicine, as well as career pathways to the biomedical sciences.

Additionally, workshops offered information on undergraduate and graduate school preparation.

Workshop presenters, made up of research and teaching faculty at AMHPS member schools in addition to renowned minority scientists, were an integral part of the Symposium.

Symposium Attendees were also motivated, educated and informed by the Keynote Speakers who addressed them. These included Keith L. Brown (20/20 Enterprises), Dr. Adewale Troutman (Director, Louisville Metro Department of Public Health ), Dr. Arthur W. Fleming (Network of Ethnic Physicians), Dr. M. Jocelyn Elders (15th Surgeon General of the United States), and Dr. Reed V. Tuckson (Sr. VP, United Health Group).

Students were also able to interact with professionals at the poster presentations where students presented their scientific research papers.

We are grateful to all the excellent students who attended and the many workshop presenters, counselors, staff and faculty that made the 2009 Symposium a success!

Workshop Topics for 10th & 11th  Graders Included:

• Career Opportunities in Medicine, Science, and Health
• Choosing a Career in Public Health
• Preparing for careers in the Biomedical Sciences: The Essential Behaviors of Successful Undergraduate Students
• Epidemiology: Becoming a Disease Detective

Workshop Topics for 12th Grade and Undergraduate Freshmen Included:

• Environmental Toxicologist; Guardian of Mother Earth
• What is a Physician Assistant?
• What is Biomedical Engineering? What Career Opportunities are available? How Do I Become One?
• Informatics Research: The Power of Analyzing Data for Careers in Science

Workshops for Undergraduate Upperclassmen Included:

• Development tips for aspiring public health professionals at the federal & state level
• Transition from Student to Professional: Pharmacy
• Exploring Allied Health Careers that Address Health Care Disparities in Communities of Color
• Becoming America’s Next Top MD…Methods to Matriculate Through Medical School