Past Rhode to Medicine participants share experience with rising medical health students

Alumni of Brown University’s Rhode to Medicine program doled out advice and inspiration for their fellow participants at a career panel last November.

The alumni gathering, typically held once a semester, offered invaluable insight into medical and health sciences education, says Joseph A. Diaz, MD, MPH, the associate dean for pathways and community engagement at The Warren Alpert Medical School. 

Established in 2021, the Rhode to Medicine program offers hands-on experience for undergraduate students interested in careers in science and medicine. It is open to sophomores and juniors at The University of Rhode Island, Providence College, and Rhode Island College, and participants must have attended high school in the Ocean State.

The alumni panelists—Keyline Moreno, a second-year medical student at Howard University; Janelly Polanco, a first-year medical student also at Howard; and Ethan Chanco, a first-year physician assistant student at Franklin Pierce University—spoke about their academic paths, their growing expertise in their fields, and what younger students can do to prepare for health care careers. 

Events like these reinforce the pipeline of future health professionals by enhancing students’ academic development and their competitiveness in the application process, Diaz says.

“The idea isn't just to have current students ask the program’s alumni questions, but to also have them network with one another,” he says.

Rhode to Medicine’s recruitment process also benefits from these recurring panels. Current students will be able to pass along their experiences at the three partner colleges. Learning about the success of prior students helps keep them engaged with each other, the program, and Brown, with the hope that they will choose to practice locally.

“Ultimately, we want to see these students here in Rhode Island,” Diaz says.

Diaz notes that because of the shared experiences among the program’s alumni and current students, much of the energy and excitement arose organically from simple Q&A interactions. Chanco and others bonded over potential opportunities for physician assistant programs, highlighting pathways for students who may want to pivot into different concentrations or professions beyond medical school.

“It means a lot to have that ability to connect with peers who were in their shoes just a short time before,” Diaz says.

Diaz says the program will continue to evolve based on the needs of its upcoming cohort.

“We want some focus on studying for standardized testing and what might be other new challenges for students down the road,” he says. “In the end, it always comes back to what we can offer them as they pursue their careers.”