AHEC Future Docs: Supporting the Next Generation of Physicians!

Erie Niagara AHEC is excited to announce the launch of the AHEC Future Docs program! This program is a new initiative designed to support undergraduate pre-medical students as they prepare to apply to medical school. With funding from the Boston Scientific Foundation, the program builds on the successes of other AHEC programs.  

AHEC Future Docs officially began this October with an orientation session that brought together the first cohort of eleven students. During orientation, students had the opportunity to meet one another, share future plans, connect with staff, and learn more about the opportunities within the program year.  

Over the next several months, AHEC Future Docs students with participate in a variety of experiences designed to strength both their academic and professional skills needed for applying to medical school. The program includes access to a MCAT test prep course, ran by The Princeton Review, that is run weekly with content experts to best support students preparing to take the exam. Students will also participate in monthly enrichment sessions, including: 

• A panel discussion with current medical students 

• Health literacy training

• Asking for letters of recommendation 

• Mental health support 

• Medical school application advice 

• How to write a compelling personal statement 

• Mock interviews 

Enrichment sessions are aimed at increasing the skills needed to create a strong and holistic medical school application.  

In addition to the sessions, students are also paired with near-peer mentors. These near-peer mentors are current medical students and will be able to meet with participants one-on-one throughout the program to provide them with guidance and encouragement throughout the medical school application process. 

Erie Niagara AHEC is also working with Catholic Health to provide these students shadowing opportunities. Physicians from Catholic Health are paired with students to provide them with valuable shadowing opportunities, allowing them to observe healthcare providers in real clinical settings. Through these experiences, students gain firsthand insight into the daily responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of working in medicine. 

We are excited to be able to introduce AHEC Future Docs and to support the next generation of healthcare leaders!