The funding for a community-based initiative in the university's Physician Assistant Studies graduate program will expand medically based STEM curriculum for students in the Alamance-Burlington School System and strengthen research mentorship.
Assistant Professor Alexis Moore in Elon’s Physician Assistant Studies Program has received a three-year, $177,175 grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Student STEM Enrichment Program to support the university’s Start Early in Medicine initiative.
Housed within the School of Health Sciences, Start Early in Medicine nurtures academic and career interests among children in the Alamance-Burlington School System. It is a community-based program structured to support students that are traditionally underrepresented in the health sciences.
Through immersive, hands-on learning in anatomy, physiology, 3D modeling, and research, since 2021, Start Early in Medicine has served more than 300 youth – many of whom live in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities – guided by mentorship from Elon PA students and faculty.
The new funding will expand medically based STEM curriculum, strengthen research mentorship, and deepen community partnerships. It will also foster continued collaboration among School of Health Sciences faculty, students, and other departments and programs across the university.
“We’re grateful to the Burroughs Wellcome Fund for supporting the next phase of SEIM’s development,” Moore said. “This award allows us to continue creating early pathways for young learners to imagine themselves in science and health professions.”