MedEx Academy

This is a new initiative launched summer 2010 by the Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS). It represents an important part of our Workforce Development efforts to get more young people into the health care career pipeline. It is also one of the key components of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville Expansion, particularly related to student recruitment.

Tier 1 - MedEx Academy 6 Experiences
• Patients – Students complete a Health Risk Assessment (HRA); attend health and wellness symposiums; group exercise and individual training sessions.
• Clinicians – Students experience health care careers through observations, virtual, simulated, cinematic, and classroom experiences.
• Researchers – Students are paired with medical faculty members to learn research and scientific principles, and complete scholarly activities.
• Employees – Students work with human resource recruiters to learn job trends, how to be a good employee/team member, and complete a videotaped interview.
• Volunteers – Students spend a day volunteering with United Ministries.
• Students – Students complete practice exam for SAT/ACT and receive counseling on how they can improve their score. Students also meet with academic advisors.

MedEx, now in its second year, experienced growth through new programs, greater participation from multiple schools in the district, the launch of a student advisory program, and the anticipation of Tier III. Students affirm their interest in professions in health care throughout the program, with many students planning to attend Medical School, possibly in Greenville.

Recap MedEx Academy Tier I – Year 2

As planned, Tier I applications branched out to all rising public high school seniors in Greenville County. In response, ninety-two students submitted applications, of which only fifty-four were fully completed. Thirty-six were scheduled interviews. After the application and interview process, twenty-one students were accepted into the program, representing thirteen Greenville County high schools. The twenty-one already had a strong desire to be in the health care field, so the main challenge was exposing them to enough different careers where they could comfortably pick a specialty. Tier I students spent four weeks in the program exploring not only the health field, but their comfort levels and interests. They participated in simulations, tours, research, and community service. Request for applications will open this winter for the third class of Tier I.

A student advisory program was also initiated this year in correlation with the greater Tier I participation. The five Drive scholars from the founding twelve Tier I students were asked to participate as student advisors. They were responsible for managing program logistics, providing guidance and leadership to students, and serving as mediators between the directors of the program and the students.

Our founding pipeline partners are valuable players in this effort. We wish to thank Furman University, Clemson University, Greenville Technical College, The University of South Carolina, and Greenville County Schools. Their work with us on the development of the curriculum development insures proper academic credit can be awarded for each student’s participation. Additionally, we plan to offer certification programs in the future.

Reverberations of the GHS Medical Experience Academy will influence favorably socio-economic, public health, and educational initiatives throughout South Carolina.

Interested students can get more information by contacting Al Squire, director of GHS workforce development, at macademy@ghs.org.