GPPA Medical Scholars Program Conducts Orientation
On September 14, 2024 in Faculty Alumni Hall, the new class of GPPA Medical Scholars convened for its 2024 orientation. The GPPA Medical Scholars are UIC Honors College students with a guaranteed entrance into the COM. This group of 38 first year students may spend the next eight years of education together.
GPPA leaders felt it was important for this group to quickly get to know each other and develop a community. After an introduction to the GPPA program and its leaders—Dr. Helen Lee and Professor Eric Swirsky—the students engaged in a two hour improvisational comedy workshop. The students identified goals for the workshop, which was focused on human-centered skills that will be important to future physicians. These goals included reading body language/non-verbal communication, understanding tone/improving listening skills, admitting what you don't know/asking for help, engaging in hard conversations, and conveying empathy.
Afterwards, students were led on a historical tour of Pilsen led by Mahogany Historical Tours.