Adtalem Global Education’s Mini Med Camp at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), is revolutionizing the way underrepresented students approach careers as physicians.
Adtalem and its medical schools—American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and Ross University School of Medicine—are taking a transformative approach to inspire and educate high school, community college, and undergraduate students through hands-on medical experiences and interaction with alumni in healthcare.
It’s called Mini Med Camp, and it’s bridging the gap between aspiration and opportunity for underrepresented minorities.
Justina Nasato, national director of student and university partnerships for Adtalem, is the principal architect of the articulation agreement between Adtalem and SUNO and, with Mary Muller, director of marketing for AUC, the driving forces behind the first ever Mini Med Camp, hosted in November.
“For many of these students, no one has ever told them they could be a physician,” Nasato explains. “We’re showing them that this is a real possibility—not just a dream.”
The articulation agreement with SUNO provides a unique pathway for students to enter medical school without traditional barriers such as the MCAT, which applicants are required to take but can have their scores are waived for admission if they successfully complete Adtalem’s Medical Education Readiness Program (MERP). This approach offers students an opportunity to overcome systemic obstacles while keeping them supported financially and academically.
A Multi-Layered Impact
Mini Med Camp’s structure aims to address a broader issue: the lack of diversity in medicine. By targeting high school students through dual-enrollment programs, community college students, and nontraditional undergraduates, the event creates multiple entry points into the medical field.
In 2024, nearly half of Adtalem’s graduates were minorities.
SUNO’s commitment to community impact further amplifies the program’s reach. The university opened the event to all students in the region, not just its own. Dr. Lisa Mims-Devezin, a faculty member at SUNO and the university’s former chancellor, expressed the profound impact the camp had on the broader community.
“This Mini Med Camp gave students hope. Some students told their counselors they didn’t even believe being a future doctor was possible. It gave them a sense that they belonged to something other than what they thought they could be.”
The Power of Experiential Learning
The Mini Med Camp’s hands-on activities are at the heart of its success. Participants worked with AUC graduates on practical exercises like suturing and clinical simulations, providing an authentic glimpse into the life of a healthcare professional.
“I want to give back to communities and inspire future medical students to get into the field because we are in desperate need of doctors,” Zynab Hassan, MD ’09, shared. “AUC provided me a great opportunity to do that.”
Nasato described the impact on camp attendees: “It’s not just theoretical. Students are in the room, working alongside professionals, and they begin to see this as a reality—not just a concept.”
This experience proved transformative.
At Mini Med Camp, two attendees received direct admission to AUC, while four more were admitted to MERP. Many others left energized, wearing “Future Doctor” T-shirts in the community, sparking conversations about the possibilities in medicine.
More than 4,000 students have advanced from MERP to AUC or RUSM. Read "How 15 Extra Weeks of Medical School Makes a Difference."
“It’s an a-ha moment,” Nasato remarked. “They see themselves in this role, and that changes everything.”
Special thanks to many Adtalem colleagues who are instrumental in making Mini Med Camp a possibility: Mary Muller, Londell Albury, Jenniffer Chierico, Julio Sierra, Goemmier Davis, Indira Gidharry, Debbie Gagne, Cheryl Schumacher, Kristine Lester, Sheron Lord, and Drs. Kimberly Kirkland and Heidi Chumley.
For more information, email the Adtalem Global Communications Team: adtalemmedia@adtalem.com.
