Freshmen Get Leg Up on Health Career Possibilities through UAlbany-Albany Med Partnership
ALBANY, N.Y. (November 23, 2015) — UAlbany Living-Learning Community (L-LC) freshmen with eyes toward futures in medicine and health-related fields are seeing their horizons more clearly today, due to a new partnership with Albany Medical Center, called "CONNECT!"
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Albany Medical Center professionals and medical students, seated, are surrounded by UAlbany pre-health students and Associate Vice Provost for Student Engagement Linda Krzykowski, far right, at one of two informal dinners and panel discussions for UAlbany AMC CONNECT! |
The students from the World of Biology, World of Chemistry and World of Global Medicine and Human Rights L-LCs heard and interacted with Albany Med professionals and medical students during panel discussions dealing with a variety of specializations and employment outlooks. The two events, one in October and one in November, included networking time and informal dinners held at the Hilton Garden Inn Albany Medical Center.
“These events allowed our science students greater awareness of career options and also the post-graduation employment which Albany Med has to offer,” said Linda. Krzykowski, Associate Vice Provost for Student Engagement and clinical professor of business. “It improves their college experience immensely and may even encourage them to stay in the region after graduation, helping to build our area's workforce.”
The reaction from the 25-30 UAlbany students attending each event was overwhelmingly positive. “CONNECT! was an amazing experience and I had great interactions with professionals in different health care careers,” said Dylan Ruggieri ’19. “It motivated me to work hard to one day be in their shoes. The panelists gave good insight as to their college life and interests, and how their strengths and weaknesses impacted their chosen careers.”
The October dinner, “Career Options in Healthcare,” gave students the opportunity to connect with Albany Med employees from Child Life, Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Nursing, Epidemiology and Physical Therapy. The dinner in November, “So You Want to be a Doctor,” involved Albany Med attending physicians, residents, medical students and the college admissions director. Students who attended the second dinner were interested in becoming physicians and were curious to learn about the profession as well as the connections between undergraduate school, medical school, and residency.
Albany Med officials will be meeting with Krzykowski in December to develop the next steps in the CONNECT! partnership that will build on meaningful and longstanding relationships between Capital Region students and professionals.
“We very much appreciate that Albany Medical Center is providing wonderful real-world and applied learning opportunities for our undergraduate students as part of its outstanding overall commitment to education in the Capital Region,” said Krzykowski. She also expressed gratitude to Terri Scalise Roller of UAlbany’s Division of Development for being instrumental in facilitating the CONNECT! conversations and relationships
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A comprehensive public research university, the University at Albany-SUNY offers more than 120 undergraduate majors and minors and 125 master's, doctoral and graduate certificate programs. UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as atmospheric and environmental sciences, business, education, public health,health sciences, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering and applied sciences, informatics, public administration, social welfare and sociology, taught by an extensive roster of faculty experts. It also offers expanded academic and research opportunities for students through an affiliation with Albany Law School. With a curriculum enhanced by 600 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers.
