Earlier this summer, Logan hosted its fifth – and largest – Anatomy Centered Education & Science (ACES) workshop for local high school students. The program, held Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., immersed 60 students in the field of health sciences. After completing the workshop, students earn a certificate for the hours of instruction they attended that can be sited on their college applications.
“This year, we added five new topics to the workshop in response to student interest and survey feedback from prior years,” said Dana Mercer, DC, MS, professor and director of strategic partnerships and ACES founder. “This really is a student-centered program, and we want to ensure they’re learning about things they’re interested in and passionate about.”
ACES has grown nearly eight-fold since the workshop began in 2017 and has become a campus-wide event, involving nearly every department.
“The instructors put so much work and effort into their presentations, it’s truly impressive,” Dr. Mercer said. “Everyone involved went so far above and beyond expectations, so I credit the success of the program to the instructors’ hard work and dedication.”
The students agreed, stating ACES was the best hands-on experience they’ve had in their survey responses:
“I enjoyed learning about different types of medicine. It opened my eyes to different career paths.”
“Cadaver lab and hands-on learning – wow! Just wow!”
Preparation for this program is a year-round affair, and planning for 2022 is already underway.
“We’re thrilled that we were able to host 60 students this year, but we do want to maintain the small student-to-teacher ratio our students enjoy while also keeping the program selective,” Dr. Mercer said. “Spots for 2022 are already filling up, so if you’re interested in attending, register soon!”
To learn more and register to attend the 2022 ACES workshop, visit logan.edu/ACES.