Amir Carter, a Frankford resident, is a senior at Mastery-Lenfest with an eye on a future in medicine.
Amir got his interest in the field from watching doctor shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and because his mom and aunt are nurses.
“It inspired me to want to help people in need,” he said.
To help young people like Amir, Penn Medicine offers a Physician Track Program for Philadelphia high schoolers who aspire to physician careers. The program includes two consecutive summers of a novel wilderness medicine experience after sophomore and junior years of high school, with medical student mentoring and enrichment experiences/activities during the high school years and the first year of college.
“We look for students who have a strong aptitude in science and math and a GPA ideally above a 3 who are interested in healthcare and are very highly motivated students,” said Abby Miles, Coordinator for Community Engagement and Premedical Enrichment Programs for Penn Medicine’s Office of Academic Success, Community Engagement, Networking and Development (ASCEND).
It was Dr. Pete Sananman, an emergency room doctor and member of the Penn Medicine faculty, who developed a relationship with the Philadelphia Outward Bound School when he led the medical school wilderness medicine program.
POBS is based at the Discovery Center, 3401 Reservoir Drive in Fairmount Park. It offers adventurous learning, rooted in the outdoors.
There was a natural connection between what the Physician Track Program wanted to offer and what POBS could provide.
“Right away, we wanted to be a part and support the program to make it work,” said Katie Nelson, director of programs and safety at POBS.
The first cohort got together in 2020. Cohorts typically consist of 12 students from Mastery Charter high schools. In June, the teenagers go on a 7-day expedition, canoeing in the Delaware Water Gap. The program has expanded to include three additional days in August when students engage in team building, climb ropes, receive CPR certification and are given hands-on training in first aid and other medical techniques.
“Our staff really enjoys working with the young students. It feels like there’s a real connection,” Nelson said. “I love this program. It’s so cool.”
Amir is happy he was chosen to participate.
“Overall, the program is a great thing. I’d recommend people join the program if they have the opportunity,” he said.
Miles said Amir has done well in the program and is now guiding younger students.
“Amir is very dedicated to the program,” she said.
Amir, who aspires to be a neurosurgeon, had never gone camping or canoeing before taking part in the program. He has also made new friends and learned things such as stitching and IVs. And he especially likes the mentorship portion of the program, allowing him to talk, ask questions and learn more about the field.
“The program is a wonderful opportunity. For me, it’s once in a lifetime,” he said.
Miles believes the Physician Track Program is perfect for high schoolers like Amir who are weighing their future and need guidance.
“Programs like PTP are so important to help show students the options for their future. It can be hard to see yourself as a doctor if nobody in your family has done it before. PTP helps give high schoolers an inside look on the pathway to med school and the journey to becoming a physician. The mentors and physicians involved in PTP are here to guide students as they decide what to do when they graduate high school,” she said.
Amir plans to major in pre-med in college and ultimately attend medical school, with dreams of being a neurosurgeon. He’s enjoyed his time in the Physician Track Program and with POBS.
“PTP is a significant part of me, aiding my journey to a better individual and helping me develop as a person. PTP is a place for not only growth but for a place for connections and networking. PTP is an amazing opportunity and I am eternally grateful for this program’s existence,” he said. ••
