Dr. Erkeda DeRouen talks to Alexia Childress, the CEO and co-founder of the National Pre-Health Community. They talk about the founding story of the NPHC, building connections in healthcare, and pre-med admissions.
- [00:37] Introducing Alexia Childress
- [03:20] Forming the National Pre-Health Community
- [07:53] NPHC 2023 Annual Conference
- [11:38] How to Network Online
- [14:45] What Alexia Would Change About Med School Applications
- [21:09] What Alexia Would Change About Healthcare
The National Pre-Health Community
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of opportunities for pre-meds were canceled. There was a lot of change and uncertainty, making it tough for students to prepare for med school applications. As a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Alexia Childress and Alejandra Bahena formed the National Pre-Health Community. Within two months, they organized a free virtual event for students interested in healthcare careers. Since its inaugural conference, the NPHC holds an annual symposium that connects aspiring healthcare professionals and provides resources to help them succeed.
Building an Online Network in Healthcare
Networking is not limited to face to face interactions, it can also be done virtually. One of the ways to build connection is through participating in online events. Be engaged and ask questions to resource speakers. Send them emails about what you liked in their presentation. Once you’ve built some rapport, you can try to request to shadow them if you are ever in their area. Another way to expand your network is by joining online communities. The NPHC has a Discord channel, free resources, and scholarships that you can benefit from.
Sign up for the National Pre-Health Community’s free annual conference on their website. Join their Discord community through this invite link. You can reach Alexia Childress through her LinkedIn.
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