{"id":214418,"date":"2024-05-17T13:33:20","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T17:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=214418"},"modified":"2025-09-19T11:52:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T15:52:53","slug":"doctors-academy-at-uconn-health-graduates-high-school-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2024\/05\/doctors-academy-at-uconn-health-graduates-high-school-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Doctors Academy\u2019 at UConn Health Graduates High School Seniors"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Neha
UConn bound Neha Shanavas, 17, of Bloomfield, graduated from The Doctors Academy on May 15 (Photo by John Atashian).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Neha Shanavas of Bloomfield is only seventeen, but she knows she wants to be a UConn-trained physician committed to serving the underserved.<\/p>\n

Her inspiration since middle school has been The Doctors Academy at UConn Health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Health Career Opportunity Programs has served as a beacon of hope, providing access and support to those who are underrepresented in the STEM and health care fields,\u201d said Shanavas.<\/p>\n

The Doctors Academy is part of the longstanding Health Career Opportunity Programs<\/a> (HCOP) founded over two decades ago by physician-scientist Dr. Marja Hurley, where middle school and high school students receive in-depth education in the health sciences and career path mentorship on Saturdays and in the summer. The Doctors Academy is one of 14 Health Career Opportunity Programs that are part of the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative (HPPI).<\/p>\n

Shanavas, a soon-to-be graduate of the Sport and Medical Sciences Academy in Hartford, is UConn bound. Excitedly, Shanavas has been accepted into UConn\u2019s Special Program in Medicine to pursue both her bachelor of science degree in molecular and cellular biology and a medical degree over the next eight years to become a doctor.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
High School Senior Neha Shanavas accepting her white coat from HCOP founder Associate Dean and Professor Dr. Marja Hurley on May 15. Shanavas has been accepted to UConn’s Special Program in Medicine (Photo by John Atashian).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cUConn was always my top choice,\u201d Shanavas exclaims. \u201cThe exposure to UConn Health via the HCOP programs really sparked my interest in UConn\u2019s Special Program in Medicine. The team-based learning system and collaborative community also drew me in. I\u2019m extremely grateful for Dr. Hurley and the HCOP team. Without their support, none of this would have been possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shanavas added, \u201cA lot of students at my school did the HCOP program throughout middle and high school. Since at the time, I was interested in STEM, I decided to apply. Years later, I\u2019m very happy that I did, as it was interacting with different health care professionals and doing enrichment trips that made me interested in going into the medical field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her favorite part of the Doctors Academy was the High School Student Research Apprentice Program\u2019s exposure to the research field, \u201cI even got to present a poster on methods of analyzing pain models for osteoarthritis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Impressively, during high school, Shanavas worked with the Governor\u2019s Prevention Partnership to help advocate for substance use prevention among youth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really realized how important a health care worker\u2019s role is in advocating for our patients and their best interests. I hope to stay involved in doing research and advocacy during my tenure at UConn. Having grown up in a city with avid health disparities, I hope to become a physician who is committed to serving underserved communities,\u201d stresses Shanavas who has a strong message to the youth of Connecticut.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake every opportunity you can find out there. If you know you want something, don\u2019t wait around – go out there, explore, network, and get yourself involved in programs that could help you achieve your goals,\u201d says Shanavas.<\/p>\n

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UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Health - Doctors Academy - Academic Year Closing Ceremony - May 15, 2024<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>