Workshop 1:
"If you can dream it, you can do it"
During the first workshop, students were given a workbook that they used throughout the program for writing prompts, assignments, and self-reflection exercises. They reflected on what they hoped to gain from the program and got started on developing their personal goals.
We invited community organizations and policy makers to speak with the students about their work in improving a variety of health conditions in Chicago, and students were able to choose the condition they wanted to focus on for the rest of the program. |
Workshop 2:
Intervention Development
During the second workshop, students focused on creating an intervention or PSA aimed to improve and bring awareness to the health condition they chose to study. To assist with development, graduate students from Northwestern University Segal Design Institute Engineering Program taught the students the basics of design innovation.
Students also worked with a professional life coach to develop their personal goals beyond this project and how they can get the most from the program. We wanted to leave students with skills they can use going forward no matter what field they pursue. |
Workshop 3:
Community Health Issues and Health Careers
During the third workshop, Students toured Northwestern's Medical School and Lurie Children's Hospital and heard from physicians and medical students about their career paths and their advice for success. Students asked questions about their journey and continued completing exercises about goal-setting and tracking their progress early on in their academic careers.
There was also time allotted for students to continue working on their group PSAs to be presented at the final workshop, and their individual projects about their progress in the program. |
Workshop 4:
Final Presentations
During the final workshop, the students presented their final health intervention projects in a trade show format. Families and Northwestern/Lurie faculty and staff were invited to attend to see what the students made and saw how they are making their communities a better place. For their participation, each student received a certificate of congratulations for completing the program.
All students who consented to participate in the research aspect of this program completed pre and post-program measures evaluating levels of empowerment, stress, self-efficacy, and quality of life as well as a health knowledge survey. We also asked all students to complete an anonymous evaluation of the program to understand their likes, dislikes, and recommendations to improve future iterations. |