The Undergraduate Access to the Health Sciences Program

The Vision for this program started with two Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook medical students and Stony Brook University alumni, who, through their own, very personal experiences, are committed to creating an educational environment where historically underrepresented Stony Brook University undergraduate student could have access to information, programs, mentoring, faculty and staff in the Health Sciences at Stony Brook University.  We thank Jheison Giraldo and Nicholas Browne for not only their commitment to excellence, but desire to have other students have clear pathways to all of the health sciences schools and programs at Stony Brook University. 

 

Jeison Giraldo
Jheison Giraldo

Jheison Giraldo was born in Medellin, Columbia, South America and immigrated to Brentwood, New York at the age of nine.  He graduated from Stony Brook University in 2015, where he completed his Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry.  As an immigrant and previous DACA recipient, Jheison was able to navigate through many barriers to become the first in his family to graduate college and matriculate into medical school.  Jheison has worked diligently on improving mentorship for historically underrepresented students in medicine as the co-president of the Renaissance School of Medicine’s Chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA).

 

Nicolhas Browne
Nicholas Browne

Nicholas is currently a third year medical student at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University.  Graduating from Stony Brook as an undergraduate in 2018, he has used his time in medical school to advocate for local high school students and Stony Brook undergraduate students considering a career in medicine.  His work with the Renaissance School of Medicine’s Chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), as a Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) liaison has demonstrated his commitment to those who have faced and continue to face obstacles related to systemic racism, wealth inequality, language barriers and immigration status.  He serves on the Stony Brook Honor Code Committee and is an interviewer for the Medical School Admissions Committee.  Nicholas hopes to pursue a career in Otolaryngology and continue his advocacy both within and beyond medicine.

 

About the Program:

 
The Undergraduate Access to the Health Sciences Program will serve as a hub for students, faculty, alumni and community to provide information, meet, share, advise and engage in activities relating to the educational and social advancement of historically underrepresented minority students at SUNY Stony Brook University and SUNY Old Westbury College, who are interested in pursuing careers in the health professions.
 
For SUNY Stony Brook University students, through SOLAR, historically underrepresented minority students will be able to self-identify as being pre-health. This self-identification would allow them to receive emails, scholarship announcements and educational information pertinent to their educational journeys.
 
This information will be disseminated through the PACE Program Office. Additionally, information regarding accessibility to this program will be available through SBU 1010 and ADV 101 undergraduate courses at SBU as well as the Pre-Health Advising Office. Please note, it is the intention of this program to work collaboratively with the SUNY Stony Brook University Pre-Health Advising Office. This program is not a substitute for Pre-Health Advising, but to be used as a compliment to the services that are already being provided.
 
For SUNY Old Westbury College students, we will work directly with Dr. Eric Schwartz, Director, Office of Pre-Health Professions Programs to coordinate the dissemination of information to the students, schedule mentoring sessions, etc.
 
Advisory Board: An Advisory Board will be comprised of a member of each of the five Health Science Schools and the Program for Public Health to provide administrative/educational guidance to program leadership including: Dean Kenneth Kaushansky, Renaissance School of Medicine; Dr. Alexandra Guillaume, Renaissance School of Medicine; Mr. Marvin Colson, School of Social Welfare; Dr. Robbye Kinkade, School of Health Technology & Management; Ms. Lisa Johnson, School of Health Technology & Management and Dr. Eric Schwartz, SUNY Old Westbury College as well as other leaders from the health sciences schools and programs.
 
Please contact Inel J. Lewis, MPA, Director, Diversity Initiatives, Renaissance School of Medicine, inel.lewis@stonybrookmedicine.edu for additional information