University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hosts several medical programs every year for different age ranges. Sophomore Jayda Allen will be participating the in Bridging the Gap program for rising ninth and tenth graders, designed to give students the skills needed to succeed in the health care field.
“Before this program, I participated in another UAMS summer program called Spring Forward in middle school. This way I would have more experience for the Bridging the Gap program, so that they could see what type of person I am,” Allen said. “So maybe when they narrow down their choices for Bridging the Gap, I would be one of them,” Allen said.
Allen has known for a while what she wants to do with her life.
“It started in middle school when I would watch ‘Untold Stories of the ER’ and I was really fascinated with it. Plus, I always knew that my stronger subjects in school were math, science and history,” Allen said. “Then I figured out I loved babies, but I also loved watching ER stories and my cousin is a physician’s assistant, and she gave me more insight on what I wanted to do, to work in obstetrics.”
UAMS’s Bridging the Gap program will take place June 9 – July 17, with the intention to teach students concepts that will help them in the future, such as medical terminology, library research and math, science and literacy skills.
Even though the medical field is commonly known as difficult to get into, Allen has prepared herself.
“I want to get as much exposure needed because when applying for medical school I will need at least 100 hours of experience through college and three years of medical camps and Bridging the Gap would help with that, because while I’m in college I would be able to mentor other kids just like me,” Allen said.
Unlike most who are still confused on where they would like to go to college after graduation, or even if they want to go to college at all, Allen is not.
“After high school I plan on going to UCA or U of A at Fayetteville and major in biology or computer sciences, then go to UAMS for a two and a half to three years of physician assistant program. After graduating I want to practice in San Antonio, Texas,” Allen said.
