For the second year, UW-Eau Claire and the Mayo Health System will be collaborating to present the Medical Academy Program. Open to students and community members alike, the event will be running from March 31 until April 28, according to the Medical Academy Program page from the Health Careers Center.
“Physicians in different specialties will speak at different sessions, these are Monday nights, and they will talk about their pathway to medical school, what a day in the life of a physician in their area looks like and share a little bit about their area of medicine,” Julie A. Anderson said, a professor of biology and the director of the Health Careers Center at UW-Eau Claire.
According to Anderson, all the presentations will be conducted by Mayo Clinic physicians. In addition, Anderson also described a question-and-answer session in which participants can interact with speakers.
Dr. Timothy Young, another organizer of the event as well as a neurologist in the Mayo Health System, said there are demonstrations that also help to develop this connection, in which audience members can participate.
According to Young, this is a program unique to Eau Claire.
“This is a collaboration between UW-Eau Claire and the Mayo Clinic Health System, and it wouldn’t be possible without the teamwork that we’ve developed and so we hope to do more of this,” Young said.
Young was also the creator of the Medical Academy concept. He initially developed it during his time at the University of Minnesota, twenty years ago.
The quality of this event was echoed by Bret Schwengler, a non-traditional second-year biochemistry and molecular biology student.
“I think one of the most impactful things over the course of the program was just the fact that they were able to keep their audience engaged with interesting content,” Schwengler said.
This year, the program will be made all the more dynamic by different specializations. Anderson and Young listed general and trauma surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, hospital medicine and emergency medicine as being represented this year.
According to Young, this year each presenter will also be accompanied by a medical student and a resident, in order to further diversify perspectives.
“It’s just another wonderful example of how universities and community institutions like Mayo can collaborate and bring something great to the students and the community at large,” Anderson said.
Young also described how this impact goes beyond the university, with community members and high school students taking part.
Anderson encouraged participants to “Come willing to learn and engage with other learners and our presenters.”
She described the value that this program has to many community members, healthcare students and workers, even if they do not plan on becoming a physician. Understanding physicians and their work is invaluable.
“It’s just another really great example of the terrific partnership and collaborative programs that we have, the university has, with our wonderful community partner in Mayo Clinic Health System,” Anderson said.
Registration is currently open for the 2025 Medical Academy Program.
Crist can be reached at cristes9272@uwec.edu.
