Undergraduates Visit UAMS on Diversity Day
| Undergraduate students from across the state got a personal introduction to UAMS and the variety of career options available in health care recently through Diversity Day.
More than 145 students and 15 advisors from 20 Arkansas universities and a few surrounding states attended the annual conference-style event, hosted by the UAMS Center for Diversity Affairs. The event gives underrepresented and disadvantaged students the chance to learn about various opportunities at UAMS.
Billy Thomas, M.D., M.P.H. welcomes visiting students to campus.
“It is important to participate in this because what we’re trying to do is show you what’s possible — what your options are and what you can do. That’s really at the heart of all of this,” Billy Thomas, M.D., M.P.H., vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, told students in the welcoming session.
That session introduced attendees to the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, College of Public Health, College of Health Professions and the Graduate School and gave them an overview of academic careers available in each.
“There are important things you can do in health care other than being a physician or pharmacist. Have the confidence that you can do whatever you want to do,” said Thomas. “Nobody gets anywhere without support, and that’s what we’re here today to do is support you in wherever you want to go from a career standpoint. We have the ability to do that. We have the tools.”
Representatives from UAMS colleges met with students in the ED II concourse throughout the day.
Those tools included a morning and afternoon full of breakout sessions led by representatives from the colleges, with topics ranging from “Applying to Medical School 101” to “All About Laboratory Sciences Testing.”
College representatives were set up at booths throughout the ground floor concourse of ED II to answer questions and provide information. Students also received feedback and advice on application forms and interview tactics, learned about summer enrichment and research program opportunities, and received a tour of the campus.