Program Overview

Introduction to the Health Sciences Scholars Program

The Health Sciences Scholars Program (HSSP) is a comprehensive program designed to support students in their academic and professional growth. HSSP is replacing HS LEAP in the fall of 2025 and is driven by the following goals:

Program Goals

• Professional Portfolio Development: Creating a comprehensive portfolio that reflects students' skills, experiences, and academic achievements, aligning with the mission of workforce excellence.
• Research Scholar Recognition: Aiming to be acknowledged for significant contributions to healthcare research.

Program Structure

The program is structured into several components, including:

Career Development

• Career Development: In the fall semester, this class is aimed at securing a position in a research lab, a critical step toward academic and professional growth.
• Students actively pursue volunteering opportunities, gaining valuable community exposure while building a robust resume.
• By focusing on personal branding and crafting impactful personal statements, students align their academic pursuits with career aspirations in healthcare and research.

Lab Exploration

• Lab Exploration: During the spring semester, the course is concentrated on integrating research into students' academic degree.
• This involves strategically enhancing their profile and identifying labs where they can contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects.
• Participation in the Undergraduate Research Symposium allows students to engage with the research community, reflect on their experiences, and deepen their understanding of the healthcare research landscape.

Research Components

• Research I: In their second year of HSSP, students achieve a significant milestone by publishing an abstract.
• This accomplishment is further highlighted by an abstract presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), where students share their research findings and engage in meaningful discussions with peers and faculty, fostering collaboration and innovation.
• Research II: Students delve into various research methodologies, including:
  • Qualitative
  • Quantitative
  • Mixed Methods
• Each methodology provides a framework for analyzing diverse aspects of their research questions, focusing on sample populations, experimental design, and methodological rigor, all crucial for advancing healthcare knowledge.

Program Outcomes

After completing the HSCD and HSLE courses, students will be able to create a comprehensive Professional portfolio that reflects their skills, experiences, and academic achievements, aligning with the mission of workforce excellence.