The mission of the Medical Science Youth Program (MSYP) is to engage and connect the Zucker School of Medicine (SOM) with k-12 students in the surrounding community through meaningful mentorships and educational opportunities designed to enhance academic success and foster an interest in a career in medicine. This program was created in 2017, when the Office of Special Programs at the SOM developed a partnership with the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP Program) at Nassau Community College. The GEAR UP Program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of this program is to give students college and career readiness in low-income areas where there is a 50 percent or higher poverty level.
This partnership between the Office of Special Programs at the SOM and the GEAR-UP Program at Nassau Community College allowed 30 students from Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School, and eventually the Hempstead High School, to participate in the MSYP at the Zucker School of Medicine. The MSYP offers six two-hour health education classes at the Zucker School of Medicine and provides opportunities for middle school and high school students to form relationships with medical students. These relationships expose program participants to the demanding yet rewarding path toward a future in healthcare. Now in its’ fourth year, the MSYP exists to enhance academic success for underserved youth and foster an interest in a career in medicine. The ultimate goal of the MSYP is to strengthen the bond with local schools, youth, and families.