RFU appointed two faculty members to leadership positions for the Pre-Matriculation Program (PMP), which aims to produce a more diverse health professions workforce that will address health disparities in disadvantaged populations.
Christina R. Overstreet, MBA, was named PMP director in April following a national search. Associate Professor Amy Swift-Johnson, MD ’06, FAAFP, will serve as medical director of the Pre-Professional Health Sciences Department. The appointments reflect expanded student support and academic options for the PMP.
“The new direction of the PMP redoubles its focus on student success,” Ms. Overstreet said. “We are committed to offering a suite of fully integrated support services, including proactive weekly advising, seminar-style dialogue and resources for health and wellness.”
Dr. Swift-Johnson, who will lead the department’s “Foundations of Clinical Medicine” class, brings valuable insight and experience of pathway programs into higher education. She participated in the RFU-partner Chicago Area Health and Medical Careers Program (CAHMCP), a PMP predecessor.
“As a former CAHMCP student and CMS alum, I am delighted to impact the next generation of pre-medical students and potential future physicians,” Dr. Swift-Johnson said. “My goal is to elevate the Biomedical Science (BMS) and PMP student experience through teaching and mentoring.”
PMP is an intensive, multi-track academic enrichment program that invites post-baccalaureate students from disadvantaged backgrounds to enroll at no cost in a nondegree curriculum track that gives participants a chance to experience graduate health professions-level coursework.