BEST supports academic success while increasing diversity in medical field

Friday, June 28 marked a milestone for Brain Expansion Scholastic Training (BEST). The 2024 class participated in the ‘white coat ceremony,’ a rite of passage for medical students and other health-related professionals. The ceremony marks their entrance into the medical profession.

This entrance isn’t happenstance. BEST ignites young people’s passion for medicine, health care, and STEM. Its Medical Pathway Paradigm engages students from elementary to the graduate level in exploring and pursuing careers in the medical field.

The program is needed because there are racial disparities in health and health care in the United States, and in Tampa Bay. Life expectancies for American minorities are almost 5 years shorter than Caucasian counterparts. In addition, American minorities have higher infant mortality rates and pregnancy deaths.

Health disparities keep us, as a community, from realizing our full potential. Increasing diversity in the health care profession is a key strategy to reduce, and eventually eliminate, health disparities.

Medical career pathways

BEST provides career exploration and medical pathway programs that are needed to address health disparities in partnership with Hillsborough County Public Schools, private companies, and now Community Foundation Tampa Bay. The program has been successfully underway at Dunbar Elementary, Sligh Middle School and Tampa Bay Technical High School, which primarily have students of color enrolled.

“Creating pathways for children of diverse backgrounds to enter the medical profession not only affords employment opportunities, but also diversifies the professionals who are providing medical care,” said Rebecca Back, Executive Director at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, a BEST partner. “This is vital to building trust, reducing health disparities, and improving the health of all communities with Hillsborough County.”

Over the past three years, 150 students have earned their “white coat” to enter the medical profession. BEST alumni have been accepted into schools for medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, physician assistant, pharmacy and other medical programs. The Community Foundation Tampa Bay strategically invested in BEST for the high-quality, customized learning opportunities that it provides to Tampa Bay youth.

Academic success

In addition to career readiness, BEST increases academic success for students. Certified teachers provide focused educational instruction and individualized guidance to BEST students. This commitment to academic success aligns with the Community Foundation Tampa Bay’s belief that every child deserves access to high-quality, personalized learning opportunities.

The programs connect in-classroom learnings with real-world application. Practicing and retired physicians and medical professionals present to students to discuss their experiences in the field to add to the classroom instruction. Physicians and administrators from Moffitt Cancer Center serve as mentors for BEST students to provide support, motivation and guidance.

To experience simulated medical environments, students visit the state-of-the-art facilities at Advent Health, University of South Florida and the University of Tampa. They apply their classroom learnings in a simulated medical environment while exploring potential medical fields.

The program works. Students who participate in BEST have better grades and higher high school completion rates. Over the past 19 years, nearly all (95%) of the 5,000 BEST participants have graduated high school. In addition, four out of five program participants complete a post-graduate degree in the medical profession.

Local partnerships

BEST has formed partnerships with several local companies and organizations to support the program and the students who are participating in it.

During the summer, BEST’s high school students can access summer employment opportunities through Career Source Tampa Bay, which funds student salaries. These students can also participate in the BEST Summer Medical Academy, which is a two-week training program supported by Advent Health Hospitals.

In addition, the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County supports the BEST community outreach programs at local churches, community centers and schools.

These types of partnerships provide professional and academic skills to students and support career exploration and academic success. The partnerships are necessary for BEST to inspire students to pursue careers in the medical profession and support them on their pathway.

Expansion

Seeing both the value and impact of this program, the Community Foundation Tampa Bay awarded $30,000 to BEST through the 2024 Competitive Grant Program. The funding supports the expansion of BEST to a new school: the Medical Academy at D.W. Waters High School.

This new initiative would allow BEST to duplicate its already successful programs at a new school. At D. W. Waters, 80% of the student population is African American or Hispanic.

“BEST is a model for other schools that wish to duplicate their programs,” says Alexandra Quintyne, Assistant Principal Dunbar Elementary Magnet School. “We are confident that BEST can transform any school, promoting strong science and STEM implementation, fostering a culture of hard work and inspiring students that the can achieve their dreams.”

At D.W. Waters, students in the school’s Medical Academy can earn certifications in phlebotomy, nursing assistant, pharmacy technician and other similar credentials. BEST will provide workshops, mentoring sessions and personalized training in professionalism and skills necessary to prepare students for first-time employment.

BEST’s programs are supporting educational attainment while preparing students to successfully enter the workforce. These efforts are valuable to the Tampa Bay region’s vitality.