Page 15 - WesternU View Summer 2019
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Eighty students complete WesternU SHPEP program, gain new
confidence in becoming the future of health care
By Jeff Malet
Summer 2019 was intense and exciting for 80 rising morning curriculum, as well as teaching assistants and
college sophomores and juniors from across the country professors who led hands-on tracks in the afternoon in
who completed a six-week Summer Health Professions medicine, dental medicine, physical therapy, and
Education Program (SHPEP). To celebrate their optometry.
accomplishments, Western University of Health Sciences
Also recognized were Den Parents Sean Rowan and
held a SHPEP Completion Ceremony Saturday, Aug. 3,
Tanisha Hampton, and Resident Peer Advisors (RPAs)
2019 at Pitzer College in Claremont, California.
Marissa Valdovinos, Jeffon Stubbs, Jubilee Ahazie, Hector
WesternU was one of 12 institutions nationwide hosting Cordero, Crystal Sin and Michael Simon. The RPAs were
SHPEP. WesternU hosted the program for the third all past WesternU SHPEP participants.
consecutive year, while nationally SHPEP celebrated 30
“As you prepare to leave WesternU and head back to all
years of encouraging students from financially
four corners of the nation and everywhere in between, I
disadvantaged families and groups underrepresented in
want you to think about one last question: ‘How will I
medicine to enter health professions.
make it a starting point for even greater success rather
WesternU received a grant from the Robert Wood than the end of one six-week experience?’ College of
Johnson Foundation to provide an intensive residential Dental Medicine Dean Steven Friedrichsen, DDS, said
summer enrichment program that supported students during his opening remarks. “You are the future.
with fully paid housing and board, as well as stipends. Continue empowering yourself and others, because it is a
critical asset that will help you convert your academic
The Completion Ceremony recognized the students who
prowess and professional knowledge in a very challenging
completed the program and the faculty who led the
world of health care education and patient care.” n
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