Dr. Carolyn Volel-Heiderstadt, a 1996 Weill Cornell alumna, was the keynote speaker at the Regional Premedical Conference.
Weill Cornell was host to the annual Regional Premedical Conference on Dec. 1 ,attended by 200 students from 30 high schools and 25 colleges primarily from the metropolitan area. The conference, which Weill Cornell has hosted for many years, was sponsored by three medical student organizations: Students for Equal Opportunities in Medicine (SEOM); Boricua Latino Health Organization (BLHO); and Student National Medical Association (SNMA). The conference provides high school and college students with information on the admission and application process for colleges and medical schools.
"I was glad to interact with people who were from similar backgrounds, had gone through the medical school process, and were well on their way to becoming doctors," said one of the college students who attended.
Weill Cornell speakers included Dr. Bruce Ballard, associate dean for student affairs and equal opportunity programs; students Kenolisa Onwueme (MD-PhD Program) and Francesca Domenech (Graduate School of Medical Sciences), both of whom spoke on their programs and current studies; Dr. Carlyle Miller, clinical instructor in medicine, and Liliana Montano, assistant dean of admissions, both of whom discussed the admission process to medical schools; Elizabeth Wilson-Anstey, coordinator for minority affairs, who spoke about the student transition from high school to college; and keynote speaker Dr. Carolyn Volel-Heiderstadt, a 1996 Weill Cornell alumna, who is assistant clinical professor of pediatrics and population and family health at Columbia University. In her talk, Dr. Volel-Heiderstadt explained the importance of physicians being able to effectively communicate with their patients, as well as with their colleagues, noting that in some cases, it may be necessary to use different terms to explain the same condition.
Lloyd Hall, director of admissions at Cornell University in Ithaca, presented information on the admission process for college.
Dr. Bruce Ballard and Dr. Carolyn Volel-Heiderstadt sit among high school and college students at the annual Regional Premedical Conference, hosted by Weill Cornell.
"Countless times throughout the fair there was positive feedback from high school students, college students, teachers and parents about the information they received and the openness of the medical students," said Jenice Forde, SEOM co-president and second-year medical student at Weill Cornell.
"The premedical conference is unique in that it separates college students from high school students midway through the program, where they receive individual counseling on applying to either medical school or college," added John Paul Borrego, SEOM co-president and second-year medical student at Weill Cornell.
All participants were given a guided tour of the Medical Center; watched a video presentation on "Motivating Students to Excellence" by world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, who is director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions; and obtained information on financial aid from LaVerne Walker, assistant director of financial aid at Weill Cornell.