PCOM Celebrates 10 Years of Opportunities Academy, Inspiring The Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals

July 2, 2026

Earlier this month, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) hosted nearly 200 high school students for its annual Opportunities Academy, a week-long summer enrichment program for local high school students to learn about careers in healthcare in an effort to support their college-readiness journey.

Across the College’s three campus locations, students participated in interactive learning experiences that allowed them to see health care in a practical setting. Daily activities included an emergency response relay, stop-the-bleed demonstrations, CPR instruction, and interactive patient care with standardized patients. In addition to developing clinical skills, students received guidance on the college admissions process and learned the importance of building professional relationships with healthcare providers and mentors.

Organized by the Office of Campus and Community Partnerships, Opportunities Academy also relies on the support of PCOM students and staff who share their educational and professional experiences.

“I think many of the high school students appreciated the chance to explore medicine early on,” said Kelsey Short (DO ‘29), who was an on-campus mentor in Philadelphia. “It gave them a broader understanding of the healthcare field and the diverse career opportunities available within it.”

Wesley Dieudonne (DO ‘29), who was a student volunteer on the Suwanee campus, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how the program can instill confidence in high school students. “I hope students were able to take away from the program that they have the ability to achieve anything they put their mind to. Once they have that goal in mind the constant reminder must be, ‘I can, I will, I must’.”

Eunice Hermithe, a rising junior at Philadelphia High School for Girls, said the experience helped her better understand what lies ahead as she works toward her longer-term goal of becoming a physician.

“This program gave me a better understanding of what it takes to pursue a career in medicine,” she said. “I learned about the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the medical school application process, and the different paths people take to become physicians. Hearing our mentors’ experiences made these goals feel more achievable.”

Fiona Gaymon, a rising senior at Science Leadership Academy at Beeber in Philadelphia, shared Hermithe's sentiment, reflecting on how Opportunities Academy has played an important role in helping her identify the type of doctor she hopes to become.

“When I first started the program, I wasn’t sure what kind of doctor I wanted to be, but coming back each summer gave me the opportunities to learn about different specialties, and that’s when I realized I wanted to become a pediatrician.”

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