Medical Science Youth Program

This program was created in 2017, when the Office of Special Programs at the SOM developed a partnership with the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP Program) at Nassau Community College.

The GEAR UP Program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of this program is to provide students with college and career readiness in low-income areas where there is a 50 percent or higher poverty level.

This partnership between the Office of Special Programs at the SOM and the GEAR UP Program at Nassau Community College enabled 30 students from:

• Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School
• Hempstead High School

to participate in the MSYP at the Zucker School of Medicine.

The MSYP offers:

• Six two-hour health education classes at the Zucker School of Medicine
• Opportunities for middle school and high school students to form relationships with medical students

These relationships expose participants to the demanding yet rewarding path toward a future in healthcare.

Now in its fourth year, the MSYP exists to:

• Enhance academic success for underserved youth
• Foster an interest in a career in medicine

The ultimate goal of the MSYP is to strengthen the bond with local schools, youth, and families.