URBAN BRIDGES
MEDICAL MENTORING
PHYSICIAN PIPELINE PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
The Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Program, the flagship initiative of the I Am Abel Foundation, is a comprehensive, three-tiered program designed to expose underrepresented, inner-city youth to careers in medicine. The program includes the Saturday Morning Professor (SMP) Clinical Educational Series, where students learn "the language of medicine" through seminars and clinical cases, culminating in a Mock Clinical History Taking Competition at the end of the year, the 2nd Saturday in June. As students progress beyond the first year, they can choose clinical subspecialties such as Pediatrics, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology, Point of Care Ultrasound, Physical Exam and much more, taught by esteemed faculty from leading institutions.
ONE ON ONE MEDICAL MENTORING
Our first pillar is One-on-One Medical Mentoring where the program pairs students with either physician and/or medical student mentors for personalized guidance. Students are also paired with peer mentors that are mentees within I Am Abel Foundation that are very familiar with our programming and processes. These mentors provide academic support, clinical insights, and social encouragement, helping students navigate their educational path and understand the realities of a medical career. Mentorship fosters a sense of community, reduces isolation, and offers valuable networking opportunities, creating a holistic support system for students.
AFFIRMATIVE ACADEMIC ADVISING
Our second pillar is our Affirmative Academic Advising program which focuses on strengthening students' academic skills, boosting their confidence, and improving retention. It offers year-round STEM support, including tutoring, personal statement workshops, and application assistance, ensuring students are fully prepared for medical school. It also features both group and individual customized advising sessions to help students map out their path. The program’s holistic approach provides continuous academic and emotional support, helping students remain motivated and on track. The program is called Affirmative Academic Advising because our approach is always affirmational and never negative. We tell students what is possible then we point out the path towards their goal. The addition of Small Mentoring Circles fosters deeper personal and professional growth, offering well-rounded guidance throughout their journey.
SATURDAY MORNING PROFESSOR
Our 3rd pillar is Saturday Morning Professor which is where we create community while learning medicine. Classes are carefully curated for students from the intro level through the advanced. First-year students in the Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Program will participate in the Intro to History Taking and the Patient lecture series, where they will learn to conduct and write-up a complete patient history. The year will conclude the 2nd week of June with the Mock Clinical History Taking Competition where students will complete a 3 hr. Simulated Patient Clinical History taking exam. At the Mock Clinical, students become the physicians and physicians are in the role of the standardized patient. The Mock Clinical is identical in design and structure to the medical school OSCE (Observed Structured Clinical Exam). Over the course of one year, students develop strong clinical history taking skills and overwhelmingly conclude the year writing histories at the level of a medical student completing their 2nd year. Winners of the Mock Clinical History Taking Competition can earn scholarships, including study abroad and academic awards.
Mid-year, students also begin an introduction to Epidemiology, biostatistics and journal club. They complete the year with a group poster presentation at I Am Abel Foundation's Scientific Poster Session which is one of the finale events of our annual Chicago Health and Medical Careers Citywide Student Conference held at Rush University each year.
Mentees that are in their second year and beyond, move into the Advanced Curriculum lecture series, which covers different medical specialties each semester. These six-month courses provide in-depth exposure to fields like cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, physiology, point of care ultrasound, physical exam and even health policy courses. By the end of each series, students gain a comprehensive introduction to each specialty, preparing them for successful clinical shadowing and early exposure to subspecialties, healthcare policy and more. Many of the mentees’ experiences at I Am Abel Foundation exceed what is typically available to most pre-med students.
WE ARE YOUR MENTORS,
READY TO HELP YOU
NAVIGATE THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
A word from the OBAMA FOUNDATION