What a year it has been. Few of us thought that the curve would still not be flattened in all these months. Needless to say, it has been challenging and frustrating. The pandemic has been especially challenging for our youth programs, which converted to a 100% virtual model after The College shut down in-person operations in March. It has certainly been an adjustment, but we are proud of our students' resiliency and what they have accomplished under these trying circumstances.
Last month, the current cohort of the Junior Fellows program completed their intensive two-week summer program, a staple of their first two years in the program. Every year, our activities and guest speakers center around an overarching theme. This time around, given the global pandemic, the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election, and the protests over systemic racial injustice and police violence against people of color, we would be remiss if we didn't try our best to give our students the tools they need to become both the healthcare professionals and leaders of tomorrow. To that end, our theme was "civic health," addressing the intersections of health, policy, civics, and the political, social, cultural, economic, and racial factors that influence personal and public health.
Our guest speakers discussed their experiences in the healthcare and medical fields as well as the important topics facing the country today. College Fellow , an outspoken health professional and public health advocate, examined racial disparities in care during the COVID-19 pandemic. , a University of Pennsylvania doctoral candidate in anthropology, discussed scientific racism and the way racially-biased medicine helped provide scientific justification for oppression. Graduate students in Drexel University's Department of Microbiology and Immunology worked with our students to develop theoretical plans for responding for epidemics such as coronavirus. Students in Drexel's physical therapy program explained how physical therapists help patients who have experienced injuries. The students also bolstered their knowledge of civics, with lessons on the electoral college, the evolution of voting rights, defunding the police, and mass incarceration.
As our students grappled with complex and challenging subjects, we also emphasized the importance of self-care. Over the course of two "Wellness Wednesdays," we addressed ways they can help maintain their mental health in a stressful world. College Fellow discussed the importance of self-care and the challenges faced by mental health professionals. Our own Jacqui Bowman took our students on a virtual tour of the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden and introduced them to aquarium and aquatic life care, a personal passion of hers. Drexel nursing student Laura Baehr hosted a virtual yoga session. Our own Meredith Sellers guided them through a skull drawing workshop.
Our students addressed all these topics with energy and maturity, asking penetrating questions and sharing their thoughts and insights on the state of the world. We have no doubt they are ready, willing, and able to take on the challenges of the future both as healthcare experts and leaders in their communities.