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Two University of North Georgia (¹û¶³´«Ã½) students participated in the four-week Pathway to Med School program through the Foothills Area Health Education Center (AHEC) this summer. The program looks to help students get into medical school and get them interested in primary care so that they will consider returning and serving the north Georgia community. This summer, eight students from the region participated.

Emilee Bragg, a senior pursuing a degree in biology, and Celia Wilson-Patino, a post-baccalaureate student taking medical school prerequisite courses at ¹û¶³´«Ã½, took part in the program.

Pathway to Med School included mock interviews with actual medical school admissions officials, as well as a physicians' roundtable. Students also had a chance to shadow for 80 hours in a variety of primary care settings. They had 60 hours of research experience through the program, as well.

Bragg, who is from Gainesville, Georgia, and is also pursuing a minor in Spanish, was inspired to enter the medical field by the care her mother's ICU doctor provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. She already had some research experience at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ alongside Dr. Ghulam Hasnain, as they sought to determine if a mutation would cause a significant change in the protein structure of a gene associated with Parkinson's disease.

She was grateful to be able to experience the differences between rural health care and care in more urban settings. Bragg is especially interested in internal medicine and family medicine.

"The program solidified that I want to stay in Georgia and go into primary care," Bragg said. "You get to do a lot of everything. You get to see patients for a long period of time and build relationships with them."

Dr. Neal Lin, lecturer of biology at ¹û¶³´«Ã½, noted the competitive nature of the program and said he wasn't surprised Bragg was selected.

"Emilee is an amazing student who excels academically. Along with classes, Emilee does research, actively participates in student organizations, volunteers her time at a local clinic and supports her peers in their learning as a peer instructor for the Biology Department," Lin said. "She has strong ties to the north Georgia community and is seriously interested in practicing medicine here. This program is perfectly suited for her, and I know she will benefit from the invaluable experiences."

Wilson-Patino, a Flowery Branch, Georgia, resident who earned a degree in applied languages and intercultural studies at Georgia Tech, is taking three semesters of courses at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ ahead of med school. She also previously earned Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees from ¹û¶³´«Ã½, mostly through dual enrollment. She enjoyed meeting others who are similarly preparing themselves for what's next.

"I loved getting to shadow all the different primary care areas," Wilson-Patino said. "I loved being in rural Georgia and seeing how much it meant to give back to the communities."

Jenn Dunahoo, a 2016 ¹û¶³´«Ã½ alumna with a degree in psychology, serves as special projects coordinator for Foothills AHEC and oversees Pathway to Med School. She said the students formed bonds and grew professionally while living and working together.

"Emilee and Celia were fabulous. They were great communicators," Dunahoo said. "They asked good questions, which helped them thrive and build connections while in the program."