New premedical program between ASU and Mayo Clinic opens

Friday, November 21, 2008

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The growing relationship between Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University (ASU) has resulted in a new collaborative effort: The ASU Barrett Honors College Premedical Scholars Program.

The program, sponsored by Mayo Clinic for students at Barrett Honors College, will teach premedical students about the wide variety of interests and career opportunities available in the practice of medicine, and also encourage them to take an active role in community and humanitarian programs.

The initiative pairs each student with a Mayo Clinic physician mentor and provides a number of active learning and growth opportunities, including:

• Shadowing Mayo Clinic physicians from a variety of medical and surgical specialties

• Hands-on laboratory experiences, including suturing, applying a cast, CPR, performing a simulated colonoscopy and operating in the surgical simulation center

• Research assignments on Mayo Clinic-sponsored projects that complement those already available through ASU

• Help in preparing a strong medical school application

Students will also be encouraged to participate in a number of human-interest community programs, including:

• Shadowing medical directors and home nurses at Hospice of the Valley

• Observing a variety of clinical treatments at St. Vincent de Paul Free Clinic

• Participating in an ambulance ride-a-long with Scottsdale Emergency Medical Services

• Training as a support group facilitator at the New Song Center, which provides grief support and education for children, young adults, and their families

Future lectures include a wide variety of topics, such as "The Life of a Neurosurgeon," "What it's Like to Take Care of the President of the United States" and "Astronaut Medicine."

"I am delighted about this connection with our ASU colleagues and the opportunity to proactively encourage premed students to become involved in diverse areas of medicine that will help them to provide support to those in need," said Victor F. Trastek, CEO, Mayo Clinic.

"Mayo's Premedical Scholars Program for Barrett students is an opportunity for ASU's honors students interested in pre-health careers to gain a wide variety of experience and knowledge in medicine completely unparalleled in my 30 years experience advising pre-health students," said Mark Jacobs, Dean, Barrett, The Honors College. "We are extremely grateful that the Mayo Clinic so generously and creatively devised this program for our students."

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About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,300 physicians, scientists and researchers and 46,000 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla., and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. Collectively, the three locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. For information about research and education visit www.mayo.edu. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.