For Science Park alum Laura Uzzell, returning to her alma mater as program manager for service-learning programs at National Medical Fellowships (NMF) was both professional and deeply personal. A 2009 and 2013 graduate of Science Park Middle and High School in Newark, New Jersey, Uzzell has dedicated her career to education, mentorship, and community empowerment. Her recent leadership of NMF’s K-12 Pathways: Newark Board of Education Partnership and her role as the school’s graduation keynote speaker mark her continued commitment to giving back to the city that shaped her.

The initiative – a Healthcare Pathways Workshop at Science Park High School – was designed as a pilot program introducing Newark students to healthcare and medical careers. Across two sessions, ninth and tenth graders engaged with medical students, physicians, and healthcare leaders to explore the many routes into health professions. The curriculum emphasized career exploration, leadership, goal setting, and scholarship preparation, helping students demystify medical education and envision their place in it.

“We know the nation is facing a historic shortage of physicians and healthcare professionals, especially within primary care,” Uzzell noted. “Addressing that shortage starts here, by helping students see themselves in these careers and building pathways that encourage them to return home to serve their communities.”

Guest speakers included NMF scholar Mariela Vega, a medical student at Florida State University; NMF alum Dr. Michael Enechukwu, a psychiatry resident at Cooper University Hospital; and NMF alum Dr. Caylon Pettis, a psychiatry resident at the Mayo Clinic. Students also participated in an interactive discussion with NMF President and CEO Michellene Davis and NMF Board Vice-Chair Dr. Bryan Baugh of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine.

Using KWL charts (Know, Want to Know, Learned), students tracked their understanding of healthcare careers, revealing common misconceptions about financial and academic barriers.

“We wanted to create an interactive program that not only let students speak directly with providers but also gave them local resources, professional connections, and next steps toward extracurricular engagement,” Uzzell explained.

About 40 students participated in the June sessions – and their enthusiasm was immediate, with many requesting mentorship and volunteer opportunities, including placements at University Hospital in Newark. “They want to stay engaged with NMF as a resource for their future careers,” Uzzell noted.

For Uzzell, a former educator and academic program manager, NMF’s initiative was a “full-circle moment.” She recognized the potential of early academic programming to catalyze healthcare careers and sprang into action: “Bringing NMF’s mission and resources into this early space was a no-brainer,” she said.

Additionally, Uzzell’s lessons on leadership resonated with students: “Realizing that being a leader on their sports team or the debate team already contributes to their success as an aspiring physician made the kids’ eyes light up,” she said. “They’re already developing the skills they’ll need as physicians.”

The program also offered students a road map for high school preparation – pursuing rigorous STEM courses, joining science clubs, engaging in community service, and seeking shadowing opportunities. Participants received information on scholarships and pre-college programs through NMF and its partners.

“We want students to understand what access to medical education can look like in its earliest stages,” Uzzell said.

Ultimately, the Healthcare Pathways Workshop reflected Uzzell’s belief in the power of homegrown mentorship. “Newark built me to understand the importance of community connections,” she said.

Through Uzzell’s leadership, NMF’s initiative not only opened doors for Newark’s youth but also strengthened and inspired the city’s next generation of medical professionals – ensuring that tomorrow’s doctors and nurses reflect and serve the communities they come from.