The path from interested to application...
The mission of the Catalyst Initiative is to reduce barriers to entering the health professions. Currently, open to students in the School of Public Health, the program empowers undergrad public health students by providing enriching seminars in four key areas: increasing knowledge of the health professions, preparation for the application process, acquiring essential skills and experiences, and fostering a community.
The Catalyst Initiative is leading the effort to increase diversity among future leaders in medicine, science, & public health. Participants will be empowered with the resilience to continue along their journey toward a successful career in healthcare.
KNOWLEDGE
PREPARATION
SKILL BUILDING
COMMUNITY
Upon program completion, participants will enhance their:
- Knowledge of the health professions
- Preparation for successfully navigating the application process
- Skills & experience needed for a robust resume
- Sense of community of like-minded professionals and peer mentors
- Acquisition of skills & resources to reduce barriers to entering the health professions
- Certificate of completion
- Useful professional gifts (e.g., polos, padfolios)
- Access to library of workshops
- Access to professional network
- Completion ceremony
- Multifaceted: Increasing diversity of our future leaders
- Excellence: Striving for outstanding achievement in and out of the classroom
- Resourceful: Ability to seek help from a variety of sources
- Supportive: Creating a social and academic support system for students
Empowering students to build the skills, knowledge, and community to overcome barriers to entry into health professions.
The application for Cohort 2: Spring 2025 will open this fall!
Are you interested in supporting the Public Health Science Catalyst Initiative?
We are always seeking to partner with individuals and organizations, both on and off campus, who share our mission of empowering aspiring pre-health students. Planning for the next cohort is already underway, and we welcome collaboration to enhance the impact of our initiative further. To partner, contact phsc@umd.edu.
A special thank you to Cohort 1: Spring 2024 program collaborators.
Practitioner Mentors & Alumni
- Michelle Jenkins, PA-C PA in Adult Liver Transplant at MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute
- Erika Ventura Castellon BSN, RN - Research Assistant, NIH
- Roohali Sukhavasi, MD - 4th-year medical student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Rovenia Manor, PT - Physical Therapist
- Ekpa Eyoma, DDS, MPH - Dentist/ Certified dental public health specialist
Program Admissions Representatives
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Director of PharmD Admissions
- Johns Hopkins, Assistant Director of Admissions
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Admissions Representative
- Townson's Physician's Assistant (PA) Studies Program, Clinical Director & Professor
- UMB Dental School, Director of Predoctoral Orthodontics
- UMB Medical School, Director, Office of Admissions
Campus Supports & Resources
A FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR SPH STUDENTS
Participants gain access to valuable mentorship, networking opportunities, and practical experiences that enhance their readiness for health professions. The initiative aims to foster a supportive community, enabling students from diverse
backgrounds to achieve their professional aspirations for entry into competitive graduate programs - and beyond.
Year 1: 2024 Program Summary
- 47% first-generation students
- 81% female students
- 67% of students identify as an ethnic minority
- 62 students attended at least one session
- 38 students successfully completed the program
In Cohort 1/Year 1, student rankings from pre-program to post-program indicated increased confidence in 100% of the areas of emphasis. As a result, all participants exited the program with enhanced self-efficacy and a clearer path to executing their future career goals.
Check out what students have to say about Catalyst!
Reflections from Catalyst
This program allowed me to feel supported in a community of like-minded students and mentors dedicated to helping me. Before joining the catalyst initiative, I felt like I was figuring out my career goals on my own, but now I have a strong support system and a clear path forward. My time spent in the catalyst initiative was rewarding not only for the valuable resources but also for instilling me with confidence in knowing that I am more than capable enough to achieve my goal of one day becoming a doctor.
Reflections from Catalyst
The opportunity to interact with and learn from panelists representing a variety of health careers was incredibly enlightening. Their personal health journeys and willingness to answer our questions helped me gain invaluable insights into different specialties, aiding me in refining my own career goals. The hands-on activities focused on resume building and interview readiness helped me significantly improve my resume, making it more targeted and impactful. As I refined my interview skills, I earned an internship with Kennedy Krieger Institute at the Maryland Center of Developmental Disabilities, for which I was accepted and will start in the Fall of 2024.
Reflections from Catalyst
The Catalyst Initiative gave me the opportunity to interact with health professionals, admissions officers, and graduate students from a wide range of healthcare fields. The program provided me with the resources to learn about new careers in healthcare, inspiring me to apply to pharmacy school this cycle. I truly can’t thank the faculty enough for their hard work in creating this amazing program, joining was one of the best decisions I’ve made in undergrad!
