Quinnipiac students gain real-world healthcare experience through Silver Scholars Program

Chad Sharpe's path toward a career in medicine became clearer with every operating room, emergency department consult and clinical encounter he experienced as a Silver Scholar at Stamford Hospital.

A rising junior, Sharpe is majoring in health science studies on the pre-medical track. Through the Silver Scholars Program, he gained valuable firsthand exposure to the practice of medicine while learning from healthcare professionals representing a wide range of specialties.

Subscribe

"As a student intern, I was allowed to shadow lots of different specialties and be in rooms I never thought I could be in at this stage in my career," Sharpe said. "I also was able to get hands-on learning from exceptional physicians and advanced practice providers while assisting in tasks alongside them like physical exams and neurologic exams."

The program was launched through philanthropic support from attorney Richard Silver, a Stamford resident and member of the Quinnipiac University Board of Trustees.

"I provided the funding for the Silver Scholars Program as an opportunity for talented undergraduate students to have direct contact with physicians, thus gaining the insight into practical aspects of the practice of medicine," Silver said. "The information gained will certainly aid in the decision to apply to medical school."

Sharpe was joined in the Silver Scholars Program by three other Quinnipiac students: Andrew Fiocco, Mio Luciani and Samantha Agudelo Argote.

The students gained exposure to clinical medicine across Stamford Hospital, observing physicians and other healthcare professionals, and learning more about patient care.

"The Silver Scholars Program is an exceptional opportunity for students to gain meaningful exposure to the medical field," said Dr. Edward H. Schuster of Stamford Hospital. "Over six weeks, the selected students shadow physicians and spend time in clinical environments including the operating room and cardiac catheterization lab. I always enjoy meeting the students and seeing their enthusiasm for medicine."

The Silver Scholars Program, a partnership between Quinnipiac and Stamford Health, provides students with clinical experiences and encourages them to pursue careers in medicine and healthcare.

"The internship gave me the opportunity to step beyond the classroom and experience healthcare from a different perspective," Agudelo Argote said. "Shadowing physicians and learning about the many roles within patient care strengthened my passion for medicine and helped me better understand the responsibility, compassion and dedication that comes with caring for others."

Dr. Lisa Coplit, dean of Quinnipiac's Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, underscored the unique impact of the program.

"Through the vision and generosity of Mr. Silver, aspiring physicians are afforded an extraordinary opportunity to experience aspects of medicine that are rarely accessible before medical school," Coplit said. "The Silver Scholars Program not only provides invaluable exposure to clinical practice, but also helps students build lasting relationships with physician role models and mentors."