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Health Center Today, April 27, 2011

2011 High School Mini Medical/Dental School Graduates

By Chris DeFrancesco

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Photos by Michael Fiedler

Nearly 80 students from 20 Connecticut high schools took part in the 2011 High School Mini Medical/Dental School.

The eight-week series of Thursday afternoon lectures by Health Center faculty concluded with the awarding of diplomas in the Low Learning Center April 21.

The lectures covered medicine, dental medicine and research.

Fifteen Health Center faculty members gave presentations, including:

  • Dr. Achilles Pappano, Professor Emeritus, Department of Cell Biology:
    “The Rational Use of Drugs”
  • Dr. David Rowe, director, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development:
    “The Connecticut Stem Cell Initiative”
  • Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, vice president for health affairs and medical school dean:
    “Orthopaedic Surgery”
  • Dr. Linda Barry, assistant professor of surgery:
    “Becoming a Surgeon”
  • Dr. Peter Deckers, Dean Emeritus of the medical school:
    “Precursors of Professionalism”

Other topics included cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology, oral health, reconstructive dentistry, psychiatry, immunology, obstetrics and gynecology, bone disease, neurosurgery, and combined degree programs offered at UConn.

The students who attend the annual Mini Medical/Dental School are interested in careers in medicine, dental medicine or biological science and are selected by their guidance counselors or science teachers.