HealthPath Horizons
There are numerous barriers to joining the healthcare workforce for students, especially those coming from low-income backgrounds. From MCAT preparation to research experience and volunteering, there are a plethora of requirements for medical school which can be difficult or even impossible to satisfy. Established in 2024, HealthPath Horizons aims to arm students from low-income backgrounds with the information and resources needed to navigate the pre-health journey. Through curated educational content, informational sessions and workshops, and cooperation with similar community organizations, we seek to provide a comprehensive introduction into the medical field for low-income students.
The Problem
The road to working in the healthcare industry is tough. For those aiming to be a doctor, medical school acceptance poses an enormous challenge. Volunteer hours, course requirements, shadowing, research, and more can all be difficult to fulfill for many students.
MCAT & Courses
The MCAT is notoriously difficult, necessitating students to study for months with the singular focus of attaining a high score. For students who may not be able to dedicate the necessary time to studying or who may not have been able to build up the requisite academic background for the exam, it can pose an enormous barrier to medical school. In a related fashion, the necessary coursework for medical school can be ambiguous at times. Balancing class difficulty, GPA, and prerequisites can be a daunting challenge.
HealthPath Horizons is dedicated to providing students with the resources they need to succeed. We will be publishing guides on best test taking strategies, the content covered in the exam, and the classes students may take to succeed on the MCAT, as well as connect students to a variety of accessible study resources. ​In addition, we will be providing comprehensive guides on the coursework necessary for the vast majority of medical schools, as well as student-to-student advice on how to navigate choosing classes in college.
Volunteer and Shadowing
Volunteering is a major part of the med school application process. Many applicants may volunteer for hundreds of hours over the four years of high school—hours which may also need to be used for taking care of family, working at a job, etc. Shadowing takes up another large part of the application process. But finding physicians to shadow, getting onboarded for shadowing, and having the time and ability to commute to and stay at a hospital for hours can be challenging.
HealthPath Horizons understands the challenges associated with obtaining volunteer and shadowing experience. We are dedicated to providing open-access informational guides on how to obtain shadowing experience, from email templates to how to find the right physician. For volunteering, we will share a variety of clinics located close to different communities, as well as how to navigate the onboarding process.
Research
Although it's not required, research is another major component of the medical school application process that the majority of applicants have experience in. However, getting a position in a lab can be challenging, as many labs have long onboarding processes and may require relevant background coursework or experience. On top of that, lab requires extensive time commitments, oftentimes for no pay. Because of these factors, it can be difficult for many to maintain a lab position.
We are keenly aware of the importance of research in helping further a student's medical passions. We publish guides on how to look for nearby labs, as well as what to look for in a lab. Also, we provide information on a large swath of research programs and scholarships available for students to apply to, particularly ones which are friendly or geared toward those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. W
Meet Our Team
David An
Co-President, Co-Founder
Zainab Zarnish
Director of Multimedia
Aneesh Mazumder
Co-President, Co-Founder
Tina Chen
Director of Finance
Amav Khambete
Director of Operations
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