Medical School Partnership Opens Doors for CCBC Minority Students

Despite the many strides taken throughout the world to combat prejudice and bigotry, many students still face unexpected levels of discrimination when pursuing an education. For some students, that discrimination discourages them from pursuing their goals and dreams of achieving higher learning. A new program being offered through CCBC Essex in conjunction with the University of Maryland School of Medicine - Office of Student Research is striving to combat that discrimination by giving minority students an opportunity to perform research in an academic medical setting.

Dr. Jordan Warnick, director of the Office of Student Research at the University of Maryland, approached CCBC Chancellor Irving Pressley McPhail about the possibility of involving the college in this program to increase the access of minority students to training as research scientists. McPhail and CCBC Essex President R. Wayne Branch appointed Dr. Charles Wright, CCBC Essex's first graduate to become a physician, to direct this initiative. Wright, a 1988 graduate of CCBC Essex, returned to the campus as a faculty member in 2001 to propel students toward the health and science professions.

The Student Research Programs of the University of Maryland School of Medicine are designed to provide high school, undergraduate, graduate and medical students with biomedical research opportunities. It gives the participants a realistic understanding of the research environment and exposes them to others in the field who can serve as role models. Research takes place at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as well as research sites around the world.

"Unfortunately our students face a great deal of discrimination that can discourage them when pursuing their academic goals outside of our walls" said Wright. "With this program, students get an opportunity to interact with new people and experience new things that will stimulate their development."

One such student is CCBC Essex graduate Irene Hudson. After graduating in 1999, Hudson continued her education at Morgan State University. Over the summer, she became the first CCBC student to participate in the research program.

"The program inspired me to continue my academic career and explore all options," said Hudson. "I interacted with people I would have never come in contact with, and the research gave me a better understanding of the medical world."

As part of her experience, Hudson participated in a training program for heart, lung and blood research. Her emphasis was cardiac risk perception and an understanding of what people perceived as risk factors for coronary heart disease.

"I developed a great appreciation for medical research and how important it is to the advancement of medicine," said Hudson.

CCBC Essex is currently recruiting students for future research projects at the University of Maryland. If you are interested in participating or learning more about the program, call 443-840-1386.