Community Outreach
UK Office of Community Advancement Launches Monthly BEAM Program for Under-Resourced Middle School Students
LEXINGTON, KY – The UK Office of Community Advancement proudly announces the launch of its monthly Building Excellence and Achievement in Medicine (BEAM) program, designed to introduce under-resourced middle school students to the world of medicine.
Held at First Bracktown Baptist Church, the BEAM program offers engaging sessions that combine hands-on activities, contextual lectures, case studies, and a unique "Food as Medicine" component. During these sessions, a chef prepares healthy meals to reinforce the connection between nutrition and health.
In October 2024, the MIMG Community Engagement and Belonging Committee hosted an enlightening BEAM session led by Dr. Radka. Students learned about regional and national public health agencies, the significance of Gram staining, the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) in laboratory settings, and essential food safety principles for home practice.
Thanks to the generous support of Ella Hamm and VWR, students donned lab coats, gloves, and goggles, immersing themselves in the experience of being scientists. Utilizing microscopes from Dr. D’Orazio’s microbiology class, they analyzed Gram stains prepared by Robert Neff. Under the guidance of Svetlana Zamakhaeva, Hamm, Neff, and D’Orazio, students focused the microscopes and interpreted their findings.
The session culminated in an interactive activity where students simulated public health agencies, reporting infection outbreak data based on their Gram stain analyses and identifying sources of food contamination.
The enthusiastic participation and genuine learning displayed by the students were evident through assessments conducted by representatives from the UK Office of Community Advancement, highlighting the program's positive impact.
The BEAM program aims to inspire and educate the next generation of health professionals while fostering a sense of community and belonging.
For more information about the BEAM program or to get involved, please contact the UK Office of Community Advancement.
Community Outreach and Programming
In continuing to uphold education as a central mission of the department, we commit to further addressing disparities within our community outreach and programming. We plan to expand our long-running high school summer internship program, continue to participate in science fair opportunities at local schools, and explore additional funding opportunities to sustain STEM training grants. In addition, we are developing informational programs to educate lay members of the community on matters related to vaccination and public health, both critically important during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The team, consisting of Drs. Subbarao Bondada (Chair), Joseph McGillis, Anthony Sinai, Jacqueline Rivas, Ms. Jamila Tucker and Ms. Tanya Myers-Morales, is a listening forum for any ideas or issues regarding community outreach and programming in the department. Please contact any member with your novel suggestions or issues.
