Page 43 - WesternU View Summer 2019
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Without the MSMS program, Chan Health Workforce continued…
said he most likely would have been
overwhelmed going into COMP. “Scope-of-practice restrictions are being lifted in states across the country,
and health care administrators are allowing NPs to take on expanded roles
“I knew I was not academically
in primary care settings,” Lopez said. “NPs continue to provide primary care
prepared,” he said. “I was doing
to more Americans, improving health across the United States. The Family
research on the campus even before
Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program at the College of Graduate Nursing at
applying to this program. I heard
WesternU was recently awarded as a top FNP program in California. We
through other students that a lot of
continue to strive to meet the needs of vulnerable populations within
the medical students who went
Southern California and across the nation.”
through the MSMS program were
prepared. The program helped me WesternU is committed to implementing or assisting opportunities for
gain confidence going into medical Pomona community empowerment though Pomona Health Career Ladder
school. It surpassed my (HCL), community-based oral health centers and the Promoter program,
expectations.” said Associate Vice Provost for Academic Development Elizabeth Rega, PhD.
GCBS graduate Thalia Fabian, CGN helped plan and implement Pomona’s Health Promoters, a group of
MSMS ’19, will also enter COMP in health workers who provide education and resources to the community.
the fall. The MSMS program helped Spanish-speaking Promoters have been trained in basic adult education
her gain confidence in her academic techniques, communication, leadership, and being community resources.
abilities. Promoters have received training in Community Emergency Response
“As an undergrad, I felt so Training (CERT) and do outreach throughout the community.
inadequate and not capable of being
The Pomona Health Career Ladder is entering its 10th year as a multi-
a doctor or getting into medical
institutional formal alliance of WesternU with Cal Poly Pomona and the
school. I had a lot of test anxiety,”
Pomona Unified School District. During each academic year, local students
she said.
at the middle and high school levels attend six monthly Saturday workshops,
The MSMS program helped her where more than 100 WesternU student volunteers from most of the nine
improve her study habits and colleges teach students various elements of the health care professions.
techniques, so by the second semester
she was not stressed about taking American Indian Health Career Ladder began in 2011 to help California
tests. Native American students overcome social and institutional barriers
“It allowed me to set aside my preventing them from becoming health practitioners in their communities.
anxiety and see how capable I am,” “HCL is fostering a uniquely Pomona-driven program empowering students
Fabian said. “This program has and parents to become health professionals ‘from our community, for our
given me and my cohort an community,’ as well as to promote healthy lifestyles in a population with
opportunity that other medical
schools didn’t. They saw potential in epidemic levels of lifestyle-related diseases,” Rega said. “Our collaborative
us. They see more than GPA and an has created a network and pathways to assist parents and students in
MCAT score. They saw the impact becoming physicians, dentists, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists,
we are capable of having. We only physician assistants, veterinarians, foot and ankle surgeons, optometrists and
needed this opportunity.” a range of other health professionals.” n
n
“The MSMS program gave me a second chance “It only takes one medical school to give me a
to make my dream a reality. I always tell chance and COMP was that school. I could not
people that their dreams are reflective of their have achieved acceptance without the help of
purpose in this world, so never give up on the MSMS Program. Thank you WesternU!”
them! I am forever thankful.”
Thalia Fabian, MSMS ’19
Azaria Lewis, MSMS ’19 College of Osteopathic Medicine
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Class of 2023
of the Pacific, Class of 2023
WESTERNU VIEW Summer/Fall 2019 | 41
