Turning a Pipe Dream into a Reality

Youth and undergraduate programs at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, such as Summer Scrubs and Pre-Medical Academy (PMA), are essential to high school and undergraduate students.

Because the programs create pathways that did not exist previously, prospective students feed their early interest in medicine and build confidence from the tools, mentorship and exposure provided to them. 

Four medical students from the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix’s Class of 2025, Amal Altaf, Joshua Willis, Nicole Falls and Michelle Goforth, participated in these programs before attending medical school.

During their undergraduate studies, Altaf and Willis embarked on the Pre-Medical Academy to better navigate the complexities of the medical school application process. This experience included shadowing physicians and volunteering, helping build relationships with the college.

For Altaf, Pre-Medical Academy started her volunteering work, where she was able to talk with patients and their families, as well as opened research opportunities.

“I had the chance to learn about medicine on a more cellular level,” Altaf said. “That was really important because it forced me to reflect on my journey and motivations of why I wanted to do medicine.”

In his sophomore year of college, Willis said that the Pre-Medical Academy aided in his preparation for the MCAT and helped him to craft his personal statement.

“If you are interested in medical school, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to apply for this program at the U of A,” Willis said. “There’s not a better way to get plugged into the school. You are going to be prepared to apply to any medical school.”

Saturday Scrubs and Summer Scrubs both invite high school students to explore their interest in the health professions, with previous events including pig heart dissection, CCO-CPR certification training, field trips and related lab experiences.

Falls and Goforth participated in Saturday Scrubs and Summer Scrubs, respectively. Goforth, a first-generation college student, said Summer Scrubs helped guide her on the path to medical school.

“I’m from a rural community, so there are not a lot of people from my high school that would go on to become doctors or go into science fields,” Goforth said. “Being able to participate in Summer Scrubs was a really cool experience to visit Phoenix and see so many different career specialties.”

As medical students, Falls and Goforth both volunteered for the Saturday Scrubs and Summer Scrubs programs. For Falls, she viewed the experience as an opportunity to pay it forward for future medical school students.

“I leaned on the Saturday Scrubs and Summer Scrubs programs to give me early exposure and figure out if a career in medicine was something I was interested in,” Falls said. “It’s really full circle because both Michelle and I got to be leaders of the program as medical students and give back to the community.”

Because they participated in one of the college’s programs, each student made lasting connections that aided them in preparing, applying and matriculating into medical school.

Chip Young, manager of these college initiatives, said he finds motivation in witnessing participants’ passion for medicine grow and sometimes leading to matriculation to the college.

“These programs not only provide a space where these students are surrounded by peers with similar interests, but creates opportunities, exposure and empowerment through hands-on experiences, academic enrichment, mentorship and career exploration,” Young said. “I am very lucky to be able to provide these opportunities to so many students, and even more proud to see these students graduate from the College of Medicine – Phoenix and begin residency.”