Local high school students take part in Jefferson's first Summer Science Camp

With the popularity of TV programs like CSI, Law & Order, and Cold Case, not to mention high-profile celebrity trials featuring DNA or paternity testing, forensics science is suddenly a hot topic. Thomas Jefferson University took advantage of the interest in science by attracting high school students to its first Summer Science Camp. This past summer season, seven students opted to participate in the science program. The camp was held from June 28 through July 23.

Commuting to the Edison Building in Center City Philadelphia from other parts of the city, New Jersey and the surrounding areas, students came to learn about a variety of scientific techniques and principles. The camp was a joint venture between Jefferson Medical College and Jefferson College of Health Professions brought together by the Department of General Studies of Jefferson College of Health Professions. Most heard about the camp from family, friends or school and applied as if they were trying to get into college. They submitted applications, essays, transcripts and recommendations.

Dr. Hazem Hallak, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Jefferson Medical College, and principal instructor for the science camp, said the selected students were of very high quality. “These seven students were very interested in and already very knowledgeable about the subject matter. They were extremely mature and intelligent and they took the program seriously,” Dr. Hallak said.

The beginning of each week introduced a new topic of focus including cell biology, molecular biology, cellular pathology and cancer biology. Dr. Hallak set the curriculum. He intended for the program to be 100 percent hands-on, for the students to be very involved and for the lectures to be set at a minimum. Every morning and afternoon brought a new lab with breaks and lunch in between. The students toured the cadaver lab, used the bioscience equipment and dissected animals at a college level.

“I tried to make the classes informal so I could get to know the students and explain as much as possible,” Dr. Hallak stated. “I taught them many of the same concepts I teach my graduate students and they were able to understand. I was very impressed by what they knew at their age.”

“The Summer Science Camp is a great stepping stone for college. I was able to find out more about my areas of interest and decide which aspects of medicine I enjoy,” one student, Khevna Shukla, of Upper Merion High School shared. “I thought I would have a hard time being 15 and the youngest, but the professors were very understanding and made the students feel comfortable. Dr. Hallak was very patient and explained everything. We were able to handle very expensive equipment that most of our high schools can't afford, so not only did we learn scientific techniques and skills, but we learned responsibility.”

“The Summer Science Camp was a tremendous success!” stated Lee Bryant, the Science Camp's Director and the Academic Coordinator for the Jefferson College of Health Professions Department of General Studies. “We couldn't have asked for a better group of students!” Mr. Bryant, along with the Dr. Hallak, hopes to increase the number of students for next summer's program and to expand the curriculum to other fields of medicine in the future.

Students included:

• Nathan Bloom, Wynnewood, PA from Akiba Hebrew Academy
• Aynsley Duncan, Oreland PA from Upper Dublin High School
• Danielle Herlund, Medford, NJ from Shawnee High School
• Emily Kish, Weatherford, OK from The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
• Catherine Ryan, Philadelphia, PA from John W. Hallahan Girls' High School
• Khevna Shukla, King of Prussia, PA from Upper Merion High School
• Hajing (Max) Xiao, Exton, PA from Great Valley High School

Other faculty who participated in the Summer Science Camp included:

• Esther Biswas, PhD from JCHP
• Shirley Greening, JD, CT (ASCP), CFIAC from JCHP
• Christopher Marcucci, BS from JCHP
• Bruce Fenderson, PhD from JMC
• Eleni Anni, PhD from JMC
• Hector Lopez, MD from JMC

The 2005 Summer Science Camp will be held June 27 to July 22. For more information contact the JCHP Department of General Studies at 215-503-8414 or visit www.Jefferson.edu/sciencecamp.

Please click here for a high resolution JPG of the Summer Science Camp
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Media Contact:
Kelly Carlucci
PR/Publications Associate
Jefferson College of Health Professions
215-503-1918
kelly.carlucci@jefferson.edu

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