CLEVELAND, OH (October 29, 2008) – Padua Franciscan High School’s recent introduction of “MedTrack™” has turned heads in the Northeast Ohio medical community. Designed to enhance the medical community in Northeast Ohio, MedTrack is a four-year advanced science track for students interested in pursuing further education and a career in the medical profession.
“This level of education for students before they begin their formalized medical training will improve the quality of all medical education in Northeast Ohio, and will help Padua students excel in their chosen careers,” said Dr. Maria Ramundo, an associate professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the Northeast Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy. “The MedTrack program exposes students to the full range of medical professions, and helps them develop the skills to participate in Northeast Ohio’s growing medical and biotechnology industries.”
Dr. Ramundo is also the director of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship program at Akron Children’s Hospital and a MedTrack Advisory Board member. The MedTrack program advisory board is made up of surgeons, neurologists, pediatricians, clinical researchers, pharmacists, and veterinarians, all of whom have helped shape the curriculum to offer students the most valuable learning experiences possible.
The advanced science in the curriculum offers a significant advantage when students continue on to pre-medical programs at the university level. Participation in MedTrack allows students to shadow medical professionals to experience medical careers firsthand. Whether they choose to become physicians, researchers, or clinicians, MedTrack students receive personal attention and firsthand experience.
The MedTrack program was conceived, in part, to meet the growing interest in medical-related careers among Padua students. The new curriculum was designed to provide students an exposure to the study of medicine before committing to a career path. MedTrack offers students an opportunity to explore the many options available in the medical industry and to show their commitment to the medical profession, helping them stand out as qualified candidates for advanced study programs.
Interested students can apply now for the MedTrack program which begins with the 2009 freshman school year. Application and requirements can be found on the Padua website, www.paduafranciscan.com/medtrack.
Padua Franciscan is the largest private, co-educational secondary school in northeast Ohio. It is one of the few schools officially chartered by the State of Ohio as college-preparatory. In 2004 and 2006, Padua was named one of the nation’s top 50 Catholic secondary schools by the Acton Institute. Padua is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as well as the Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Agency. For more information, visit the website at www.paduafranciscan.com.