Bridges program promotes bioscience careers
CBET has formed a partnership with Monroe Community College on an extraordinary program designed to “make available to the biomedical science research enterprise and to the nation the intellectual talents of an increasing number of underrepresented minority students.” Health issues facing minority communities are profound, and true equality in health care will be achieved only when the next generation of physicians and research scientists reflects the racial, cultural and ethnic diversity of this country. The Rochester Biomedical Experience is a grant-funded “Bridges to the Baccalaureate program” of the National Institutes of Health.
Students begin participating in the program during their senior year of high school by attending Saturday College every two weeks where they learn about careers in the biosciences and learn to use many of the tools and techniques used in biomedical research. Following graduation, students are officially welcomed into the program with a formal white coat ceremony (view press release) that begins a 5-week, full-time Summer Academy. In the fall, the new “RBE Scholars” enroll at MCC and begin a course of study the will eventually lead them to a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences at RIT. Along the way, students conduct research under the supervision of RIT faculty mentors.
For more information about this exciting program, contact the CBET office at 585.475.2532.
