Fort Valley State University

Christian Felton, a junior at Southland Academy in Americus wants to be a pediatrician. Aspiring pharmacist Kristen Dixon is focused on finding new cures for diseases like diabetes, lupus and cancer. Delivering healthy babies is the passion of Le Gregis Prunell, who plans to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology. Fort Valley State University is shining a light on the paths of 25 aspiring young health professionals like Christian, Kristen and Le Gregis. The students, from 21 Georgia high schools, are participating in the 13th annual Pipeline Pre-Health Science Enrichment Program at Fort Valley State University.

The FVSU biology department and the Medical College of Georgia are conducting the summer camp jointly at no cost to the students. The program is now under way and runs through June 20.

The goal is to increase the number of minorities in the health profession by offering high school juniors and seniors a jump start through hands-on laboratory experiences, daily mathematics workshops and instruction in verbal and writing skills.

Students will take interactive field trips to health and science institutions such as the Medical College of Georgia and the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine; as well as the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime laboratory in Atlanta. The students will participate in activities that focused on their preparation for college through Scholastic Aptitude Test preparation workshops, rigorous academic curricular activities and computer literacy sessions.

Program director Dr. Clinton Dixon – who established the program – will introduce students to several Middle Georgia health care professionals: dentists, physical therapists, pharmacists, and orthodontists.

Felton, Dixon, Prunell and the rest of the campers will be a step closer to reaching their career goals by summer’s end, thanks to FVSU’s Pre-Health Science Enrichment Program.

For additional information about the program, contact FVSU’s biology department at (478) 825-6240 or visit www.fvsu.edu.