The Community Medi-Corp Program Expands Academy

Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. The Community Medi-Corps Program, a new initiative of the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), will address that gap and expand Academy programming while enriching the regional workforce.

The Community Medi-Corps Program (Medi-Corps), made possible by a $700,000 grant from Growth and Opportunity Virginia, will augment the Academy’s curriculum and enhance health sciences education in the Arlington Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools. The centerpiece of Medi-Corps is a mobile Immersive Learning Center (ILC) – a 45-foot-long classroom/lab on wheels that will provide students with cutting-edge technology, simulation, and immersive virtual reality and augmented learning experiences

“Medi-Corps and the ILC will allow students to engage and work together to problem-solve, use virtual technology and interact with experts in the life and health science fields,” said Linda Zanin, director of strategic partnerships at GW SMHS. Zanin is co-directing the project with Teri Capshaw, principal investigator on the grant, a member of HS administration, and an adjunct SMHS faculty member. Also serving on the grant team is Kevin O’Connor, associate professor of medicine and senior medical advisor to GW Health Sciences, and Qing Zeng, professor at SMHS and director of the Biomedical Informatics Center. Several faculty and staff members from SMHS and ACPS are supporting the project. “Our vision is for this initiative to serve as a best practice for other areas in Virginia and the region,” Capshaw said. “We feel strongly that this innovative model, linking secondary education, community colleges, and four-year institutions, will benefit students in numerous ways and better prepare our future workforce in health sciences. We are excited about the possibilities.”

The ILC will incorporate the latest immersive learning technologies to support critical thinking and applied learning to maximize student learning and engagement. “Our goal is to inspire youth to explore and connect as we create tomorrow’s next generation of health care leaders,” O’Connor said. “Students will be able to engage and collaborate, using new technologies that will strengthen their studies and workforce readiness. Our mission is to provide state-of-the art opportunities for students to learn STEM-H subjects interactively.”

Medi-Corps will further bridge the gap between academics and the workforce by offering internships and mentorships with experienced health professionals. Academy students will be better prepared in the pathways they choose to high demand health and life sciences industry jobs that are much needed to grow the economy.

The ILC is currently under construction by a vendor in Ohio and will be delivered later this year. Plans for a ribbon-cutting event are underway, and curricular planning for ILC use with Academy classes in the 2021-22 school year are in process.

For more information about Medi-Corps, please contact Teri Capshaw tcapshaw@gwu.edu or Linda Zanin lzanin@gwu.edu

COMMUNITY MEDI-CORPS:

  • Features a 45-foot mobile Immersive Learning Center that bridges the gap between the classroom and the field
  • Transforms educational experience through innovative virtual reality
  • Raises student aspirations and attract students to postsecondary education
  • Provides summer programs, job fairs, and community outreach events

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