Mother Caroline Academy Launches First Immersive Career Program for Middle School Students

Mother Caroline Academy, the only tuition-free, all-girls elementary and middle school serving under-resourced communities in Boston, announced the launch of its first immersive career development program for middle school students, taking place at Boston Children's Hospital.

The week-long Science, Technology, Education, and Healthcare Career (STEHC) Camp will take place March 4-8 at Boston Children's, offering Mother Caroline Academy seventh- and eighth-grade students exposure to future careers in medicine. The program launch follows a successful pilot program completed in March 2023. Mother Caroline Academy, which is located on Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester, serves students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunch programs.

Health experts say greater diversity in the medical field is necessary to address a variety of health disparities and lead to better health outcomes for all. Currently, only 5.7% of active physicians in America are Black, while the overall Black population is 13.6%. The Hispanic/Latino population is also underrepresented. Only 6.9% of U.S. physicians are Hispanic, despite making up 19.1% of the country.

"We've realized that with early exposure to careers in the medical field and investment in students even earlier than high school, we can take a first step in transforming the landscape of the healthcare workforce," said Izabela Leahy, Executive Director of the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine at Boston Children's. "By collaborating with Mother Caroline Academy, the STEHC Program can leverage the talent and enthusiasm of current healthcare professionals to create a diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce. It enables us to inspire future healthcare professionals and grow the diverse pipeline of tomorrow's leaders."

The program curriculum will include:

Hands-on, practical experience with operating room simulations at Boston Children's Immersive Design Systems lab, as well as ultrasounds and live demonstrations.

Discussions with Boston Children's physicians and hospital leaders, with introductions to a variety ofclinical specialties at the hospital as well as non-clinical careers in administration, finance, marketing, and other fields.

Engagement with students from Harvard Medical School, including an anatomy and pathology workshop and a panel discussion, and with a student from MIT who held the Pediatric Anesthesia Clinical and Research Internship (PACaRI) at Boston Children's.

Learning opportunities with other health care professionals, including Mother Caroline alumnae Shinikha Paige (class of 2000), program manager at Boston Children's, and former Mother Caroline teacher Sarah DiMare Atwood, now a nurse at Boston Children's.

Meeting with the hospital's Workforce Development team regarding career development and future opportunities for enrichment and employment.

"Education outside the classroom is critical for empowering girls and preparing them for potential future careers," said Marie Louise Greenidge, Mother Caroline Academy's Interim Head of School. "This program helps to level the playing field, giving students from less-advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds the tools and experiences they need to pursue these essential careers. We're appreciative of this collaboration with Boston Children's and hope to expand it in the future to include more educational opportunities."

The Women's Foundation of Boston is supporting the launch of the immersion program as part of a three-year grant, awarded in 2023, to expand Mother Caroline Academy's STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) initiatives and enable students to further pursue interests beyond the classroom.

Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center is a tuition-free independent school for girls in grades 3-8, serving traditionally under-resourced Boston neighborhoods. Founded in 1993 in the Catholic tradition, the school promotes cultural, religious, and ethnic inclusion that's reflective of Boston's rich diverse communities. Our commitment is to drive active success for the community by providing a holistic approach to education and family service. The school is located in Dorchester. For further information, visit mcaec.org.