I AM ABEL Foundation

ith your mentor and various medical shadowing opportunities. Pathways to Medicine presents
“So You Want To Be A Doctor”
1st Annual Conference Summer 2016

This Annual Conference will be the biggest event of it's kind in Chicago, featuring informative sessions designed to help you navigate the daunting road and roadblocks inherent to becoming a physician. Seminar topics and highlights include:

How to start the medical school application process (AMCAS and AACOMAS)
How to nail the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test)
The ABCs of getting accepted to medical school
Exhibitors from major area and national medical school admissions offices
Doctor vs Advanced Practice advisors (Nurse practitioners, Physician Assistants, etc.) Information on postbaccalaureate and career changer programs (for those who seek a career in medicine without the traditional college preparations)
Keynote address delivered by a pioneer in diversity medicine
WIN FREE Kaplan MCAT review materials valued at over $1.000
Much, much more! Join our mailing list for notifications as more information becomes available! Pathways to Medicine Medical Scholar Program


1) This is an intensive 6-week program designed for career planning and preparation for serious students interested in becoming physicians. We will provide courses in pre-medical related topics to spark and encourage continued interests in human anatomy, forensics, physiology, and biochemistry- the building blocks for a successful medical school experience. The program will also include an introduction to the patient and the clinical aspect of medicine through the use of mock patient interviews and detailed patient history training. Hands-on didactics also include physical exam training and weekly shadowing at a local or private clinic. Applicant Requirements:
-College students (rising Sophomores- rising Seniors)
-Minimum 2.8 GPA
-Complete application with personal statement (Click APPLY button!)
-2 letters of recommendation
-Official transcripts


3) Must be committed to complete the entire program and have a serious interest in becoming a physician

4) Stipend of $1,200.00 will be paid to those who have completed the entire program and remained in good academic standing

(still working on this)







Pathways to Medicine International Baccalaureate Medical Scholar Program


1) Highly selective candidates with GPA >3.0

2) Successful completion of Pathways to Medicine Scholar Program a plus

3) Active ambition to pursue career in medicine

4) Applicant must be entering his/her 3 or 4th (5th) year of undergraduate college

5) MUST have completed at least 2 years of high school or 1 or more years of college Spanish

6) Have an interest in mastering the Spanish language with a desire to serve the medical community which can benefit from your language skills

7) Have a passion for learning other cultures and an interest to study abroad where you will further develop your medical and premedical skills while strengthening your mastery of the Spanish language in the real world abroad.

8) Junior or senior in college will be for select scholars and involves travel abroad. I have a life mission and agenda to promote second language acquisition particularly within the African-American communities. I truly believe that we reduce barriers when we speak the same language; literally and figuratively. I believe that black Americans are often oblivious to the fact that there are blacks who look like them and experience some of the same challenges, all over

the world and in countries nearby. Not only is there an increasing need for bilingual healthcare providers in America with our growing Latino population, African-American and Latino students as well need enhanced skills to make them competitive and appealing to medical school admissions committees. This program will select and train highly qualified student. They will enjoy an outstanding combined medical and language immersion experience aboard. This may even provide a source of references for the students Medical School applications. My goal is completely adaptable and is in its infancy in conception. I plan to launch it next summer 2016. The main reason for my travel to Costa Rica is to find a safe place in Latin America where I can bring a select group of capable scholars to stay for 6-8 weeks and provide an enhanced language immersion and medical experience. This program hopes to immerse students who possess at least a beginner’s or intermediate background in Spanish (either through native speaking or through high school and college Spanish language classes) in a class that will involve intense Spanish language instruction, cultural experiences /field trips or possibly homestays that can further support continued language fluency and a solid exposure to the health care system in Costa Rica where they can shadow or have hands-on clinical experiences. I will also like to provide some

volunteer opportunities (i.e. an outreach project promoting a medical mission (i.e. in a rural or city area with great need (i.e. Limon?) would also be great. Maybe we should be a part of building such an effort. University based credit for college students would only be a plus and could be a goal down the line. Since I am still trying to determine what the program should look like, I have other ideas as well which include introductory coursework in the basic sciences so students can have an idea what the first two years of medical school look like. I even envision introduction to medical Spanish and basic concepts related to patient history taking, clinical shadowing opportunities and introductory topics in the basic sciences. I would love my students to enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn the history of this Latin country as well and leave understanding that there are people hundreds to thousands of miles away who not only look like them but share a common ancestral history and similar sociologic challenges. Now, I also have a separate S Corporation designed for older, mature adults ( I have attached the brochure we are completing). It’s called late learners language academy. There will be a 6-week didactic course introducing the Spanish language. The students will then come to Costa Rica and have 20hr of group or private tutoring lessons in Spanish per week. I would prefer to not use an established language school because that will increase expenses. I would prefer to create a mobile learning experience by identifying a Spanish language instructor (costa Rican) who can teach my class at a chosen location (conference meeting room, etc..). I am launching this program this summer. Again, it will start with 6 weeks of classes introducing Spanish to our adults. Our first immersion excursion is currently planned for Punta Cana October 3-10th I would LOVE to bring the Late Learners Language Academy to Costa Rica for a week of fun, history and Spanish classes. Thank you for listening to my thoughts. I welcome any ideas, support or assistance you may be able to offer and look forwards to meeting you. LaMenta, S. Conway, MD, MPH