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Participating in MSI AHEC opened my eyes to a whole new medical world I had never seen before and I’m so grateful to MSI AHEC for allowing me to explore the medical field first hand.

Before this experience, I had some serious doubts about going into healthcare, but after six weeks of hands on experience, I am glad to say that many of my doubts have been resolved, thanks to the wonderful talks and didactics that you made possible.

I am always grateful for the opportunities MSI-AHEC provided me. I was placed in various volunteering placement and research through the CHSC program of City College. Throughout volunteering and the internship, my whole perspective of our health care system has changed. I am determined to serve the underprivileged and underrepresented communities.

I’m just writing to officially inform you that I was accepted into Skidmore College. Because of my participation in the Summer Health Internship Program, I hope to major in psychology and study developmental and behavioral psychology alongside cultural anthropology as a minor. Thank you for your help in providing me some great summer opportunities.

Thank you for the internship opportunity through the Health Careers Internship Program. Working closely with MSI AHEC and Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnerships has given me the opportunity to help underserved residents in Central Harlem. Meeting the community with one of the highest child morbidity rates has given me a new aspect of patient care. One of my main goals are to help the underserved communities all over the world, starting with Central Harlem.

I am writing to you today with gratitude for the opportunity you gave me this summer by participating in the MSI AHEC summer internship program. The program made me angry, discouraged, inspired, and motivated to help ease inequalities and injustice on people of color and low socioeconomic background from our healthcare system. I was inspired to step out of my comfort zone and help push for something that I strongly support. Ultimately, this led me to join leadership as the secretary of the NYITCOM chapter of White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL).

…I have learned how different factors in poor neighborhoods affect health outcomes. As a future physician, I must understand the communities my patients belong to in order to treat them effectively. The Community Health experience (CHE) program helped me learn about the communities I may one day serve.

From my participation in MSI AHEC programs, I have gained a deeper understanding of the health disparities that are rampant in our communities. I have also gained insight into the organizations that prioritize combating the differences between the health outcomes of patients from distinct racial backgrounds. This enlightenment has influenced me to become a purposeful health advocate who will be committed to promoting health literacy

Being in the MSI AHEC programs has given me the motivation I need to pursue my dreams. When I think about MSI AHEC, I know that there are people supporting me. This is important because with their support I believe in myself and work harder to make them proud.

The Collegiate Health Service Corps (CHSC) program has been an irreplaceable tool in defining my future, facilitating a learning experience and a moment of growth. Through my placement at City Health Works I grasped the still novel concept of a health coach and the evolving role they play, as well as the stress they can relieve from a physicians and patients perspective, not to mention relief of the burden on the healthcare industry which has a shortage of primary care providers. This was a great networking opportunity, to connect with people taking part in this organization and its mission, glean from their experiences and advice, to utilize it for my own future in determining the role I will play in healthcare.

When I started MSI AHEC, I was not sure what I wanted to major in, but throughout the summer with all of the didactics, along with my experience at the NYC Health Department, and my peers sharing their experiences, I was able to realize my passion for being an advocate and a voice for minorities and disadvantaged people in the healthcare system.

…I participated in the Manhattan Staten Island AHEC Summer Health Internship Program, where I was placed at the Family Health Center of Harlem within the Institute for Family Health. I attended health fairs and other outreach events, helped staff educate community residents about preventive health issues, nutrition, and took blood pressures. I was always passionate about a variety of health issues, but was not familiar with what it is actually like working in the medical field and did not have enough of an understanding to be able to pursue public health in any meaningful way… I think my experience last summer made a huge difference in my future – I have just been accepted into an advanced nursing program and offered a four year scholarship.