Health Science Partnership at UC Riverside
The Health Sciences Partnership for Disadvantaged Student Development (HSP) is a pathway program for high school students sponsored by the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine .
HSP mentors visit health academy students at local high schools throughout the academic year, providing them with activities and presentations designed to:
- Improve their understanding of the college admissions process.
- Promote interest in pursuing a college education.
- To enhance the pathway for students who aspire to careers in medicine and health.
An emphasis is placed on students from schools with "at-risk" populations.
How the HSP Works
Students from UC Riverside provide mentorship to high school students through in-classroom visits that present information on college life, health careers, medical school, and facilitating problem-based learning (PBL) activities.
The program is a collaborative effort between UCR and area high schools. It received its initial funding through the National Schools-to-Career Program and continues with departmental support from the School of Medicine and the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Grants Program.
Program Objectives
- Enhance dialogue between high schools and the university in order to develop a mutual understanding of educational challenges and priorities within schools and the university.
- Create sustainable partnerships with local high schools, especially in health career academies and health science career pathways, to promote both the matriculation of students to all levels of education and ultimately to health care professions.
- Develop common goals and enrichment activities that enables students to successfully matriculate between educational systems and levels (high school, two- and four- year colleges).
- Increase the pathway of economically and educationally disadvantaged students who aspire to and achieve excellence in medicine and other allied health careers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
- Compliment high school curriculum and activities by providing mentorship and interactive classroom demonstrations.