This Saturday program will expose high school students (grades 11 and 12) to a wide range of potential health careers through interactive programming.There will be 2 sets of 4 sessions, one fall and one spring, each serving 25 students recruited from city of Syracuse high schools. Students will receive a stipend upon completion of the program.

The following sessions will be held on Saturdays on the Upstate campus. The following is a sample of program sessions.

1) Facilitating Function. At Upstate’s Institute for Human Performance students will be introduced to rehabilitation professions; experience the motion analysis lab, where precise measurement of movement patterns helps evaluate surgical outcomes; get an overview of concussions and their management, and learn about facilitating positive behavior change. Professions: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Behavior Analysis

2) Conquering Cancer. In the Upstate Cancer Center students will meet with radiation therapists and view these treatment options, tour the chemotherapy suite, and spend time in the healing garden. Professions: Radiation Therapy, Pharmacology, Medical Laboratory Science, Social Work, Nursing

3) It’s an Emergency! Held at EMSTAT – the home for Upstate Medical University Emergency Medicine – students will observe emergency simulations

4) Simulation Saturday. Hands-on activities and demonstrations bring medical practice to life in imaging, ICU and operating room environments. Professions: Respiratory Therapy, Cardiovascular Perfusion, Medical Imaging

5) Do the Research. Rotating through different laboratories students will learn about types of research conducted in an academic medical center to better understand illness/disease and make improvements in diagnosis and treatment.

Program Dates:
 

Spring 2026: January 31, February 7, March 7, March 14

Application Process: 

• Applications for Spring open on December 15 and close on January 15.
• Students will be selected by lottery. Students not selected students for the Fall session will be entered into the lottery for the Spring session.
• Students will be notified by by January 24th for the Spring session.

​​​​​Any questions regarding this program can be directed to Dr. Katherine Beissner, Dean, College of Health Professions at chpdean@upstate.edu or 315-464-6560.