HPCC Testimonials

When I first arrived at North Carolina Central University, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in STEM but was unsure of the exact path I would take. Through the incredible connections and support at NCCU, I was able to explore my interests and gain the confidence to pursue medicine. One of the pivotal moments in my journey was securing an internship at the Yale Summer Enrichment Medical Academy (YSEMA), which solidified my passion for healthcare. Later, through the College of Health and Science's (CHAS) guidance, I was connected to an internship in a toxicology lab at Duke University under Dr. Ed Levin. These experiences, along with the ample mentorship and shadowing opportunities I found through CHAS, shaped my pre-med journey and strengthened my medical school application.

I am incredibly grateful to the faculty and staff who have supported me, particularly Dr. Thompson-Rogers, Dr. Slenn, and Dr. Marshall, whose mentorship has been invaluable. My gratitude extends beyond my designated advisors to every professor in CHAS who has offered guidance and support along the way. Their dedication, along with the kindness of the custodial staff and even the warm familiarity of the Amplified Coffee shop, made NCCU more than just a school — it became my home. The Health Professions Career Center played an instrumental role in my success, offering invaluable resources that helped me refine my application, gain research opportunities, and prepare for the rigorous path ahead.

Now, as I prepare to begin my medical education at A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), I carry with me the lessons and values instilled in me at NCCU. I am also excited to pursue a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) alongside my medical degree to further advocate for underserved communities. My time at Central has shaped me into the future physician I aspire to be, and I am forever grateful for the Eagle family that supported me every step of the way.

When I was deciding where to attend for my undergraduate studies, I was strongly considering NCSU. However, fate had a different plan for me when I stumbled upon the Boston University Early Medical School Selection Program (EMSSP) offered at NCCU. I had always known that medicine was my calling, which led me to enroll in the medical magnet school, City of Medicine Academy (CMA), in Durham, NC, for high school. When I heard about the opportunity at NCCU, it was an instinctual decision for me to pursue it.

There was a former CMA student who had also attended NCCU and successfully completed the EMSSP. They advised me to reach out to the Health Professions Career Center, specifically Dr. Thompson-Rogers, and express my deep interest in the program. From my freshman year onward, I maintained regular contact, and the center’s invaluable guidance greatly facilitated the application process during my sophomore year. Now, as a proud NCCU graduate, I am embarking on my medical journey, determined to become a compassionate and well-rounded physician. I am eternally appreciative of the Health Professions Career Center for making my aspirations a reality.

Jhana will defer her admission to the Boston Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine until the fall of 2024. She will be returning to Boston to work at the Boston Medical Center for the 2023–2024 academic year.

As a freshman at North Carolina Central University, I knew I wanted to do the premed track with hopes to one day get into medical school. During my senior year of high school, while applying to colleges, I researched NCCU’s Health Professions Career Center programs to see what could be a good fit for me. I ran across the Boston University Early Medical School Selection Program and saw NCCU was the only school in NC that offered this program. That is when I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do.

During my first week at NCCU, I found Dr. Thompson-Rogers, the director of NCCU’s Health Professions Career Center, and told her this was the reason I chose NCCU and I would do whatever I needed to get into this program. With welcoming arms, she led me in the right direction and told me how to build my resume before applying for my sophomore year.

Through the Health Professions Career Center, I was able to find many internship opportunities and landed a summer internship at Duke University. This then led to continued research opportunities, which made me a competitive applicant when applying to BU EMSSP. After my acceptance, Dr. Thompson-Rogers set me up with specific academic advisors to be sure I took all courses needed to excel in the program and be prepared to spend my senior year in Boston. Dr. Heck-Grillo and Dr. Thompson-Rogers made sure I had a smooth transition into my senior year at Boston University.

The College of Health Sciences and the Health Professions Career Center are the reasons I was able to successfully be promoted to Boston University School of Medicine to pursue my dream of becoming a physician.

The Health Professions Career Center provided personalized guidance and support, offering career advice, internship opportunities, and networking connections within the healthcare field. This office along with Dr. Thompson-Rogers played a crucial role in helping me navigate the complexities of the healthcare industry and providing insights into various career opportunities within the healthcare field. Their assistance was also instrumental in securing internships that allowed me to gain hands-on experience, shaping my understanding of the medical field and solidifying my interest in pursuing a medical degree.
 

Dr. Thompson Rogers has changed my life. She has been there for me in every step of my academic journey and has been a blessing in my life. I do not know how I can ever repay her for all the support she has given me. When times were challenging, she did everything in her power to keep me on track and was always there when I needed her.

The Health Professions Career Center at North Carolina Central University enabled me to see how I can be an active participant in medicine and gave me options for what I could do within a career in healthcare. During the Clinical Health Summer program at Duke Regional Hospital, I shadowed in the Emergency Department. I gained invaluable clinical experiences that I used in my medical school applications and interviews. That opportunity made me a strong candidate when applying to medical schools. In addition, I realized the passion that I had for emergency medicine, expanded my professional network, and learned about different techniques and procedures within the hospital. Now I am a graduate student at A. T. Still University pursuing a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). I also plan to pursue a Master’s in Public Health.

The Health Professions Career Center provided many opportunities to network with medical schools and connections to internships, including a medical internship abroad. These experiences along with the unwavering support I received from the Health Professions Career Center have truly prepared me to be a competitive medical school candidate and a promising future physician.

While I was an undergraduate student at North Carolina Central University, I utilized the office of Health Careers and gained access to many opportunities. After the first semester of my freshman year, I completed an internship abroad in Iquitos, Peru, with the assistance of Dr. Thompson-Rogers. During my tenure, I also completed a two-year cancer research partners program between the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and North Carolina Central University with the Health Careers office. Today, I am a student in podiatric medical school and truly appreciate all the support, knowledge and guidance provided by the Health Careers office and Dr. Thompson-Rogers.

The Health Career Center at NCCU provided exposure to various career options and how students can seek admission to graduate and professional medical and health-related programs. As a pre-medical student, Dr. Kaye Thompson-Rogers advocated for career development opportunities that I was able to get involved in, such as the Duke Summer Health Program and Tropical Pathology and Infectious Diseases Association. Along with summer internships, the Health Career Center allowed students to create a professional network by hosting programs throughout the semester to engage with admissions from future schools and programs of interest. If there was any help that I needed, the Health Career Center was always a place for me to visit, seek advice and ask for guidance on what I needed to prepare myself for medical school. My experience with the Health Career Center helped cultivate my career path and highlight points of interest while creating opportunities for minorities such as myself to gain admission into professional school.