The Out4STEM and Teva Interns Become Crime Scene Investigators

During these next two months, students in our various youth programs are active in both the classroom, in the laboratory, and in the community. Recently, students from the Out4STEM Internship program journeyed to Arcadia University to visit the Arcadia Crime Scene House. Opened in 2015 as part of Arcadia’s Forensic Science Program, the Crime Scene House provides simulations of crime scenes for students to home their observation skills. Together, the interns examined a simulated crime scene and gathered evidence, such as fingerprints, blood spatter, and shoe prints.

Meanwhile, students in the Teva Pharmaceuticals Internship Program conducted their own crime scene investigation here at the College of Physicians. Under the guidance of Gladys “GG” Seibert, an expert in crime scene analysis, the interns examined a mock crime scene. Braving the summer heat, they meticulously gathered evidence. Endowed with their newfound investigatory experience, they will take part in other lessons in processing that information. Along the way, they will also investigate the societal impact of violent crime and mechanisms for addressing and coping with violence.

Deadlines Extended for All CEPI Youth Program Applications

Are you interested in applying to be part of the Karabots Junior Fellows Program, the Out4STEM Program, or the Teva Pharmaceuticals Internship Program? There is still time.

CEPI is proud to announce we are extended our application deadline to FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2017. For more information, check out the respective sites for each program. You can download the applications below:

Karabots Junior Fellows Program: APPLY NOW

Out4STEM Internship Program: APPLY NOW

Teva Pharmaceuticals Internship: APPLY NOW

 

Doctor Anonymous: A Play Reading at the Mütter

On May 2, 1972, Dr. John E. Fryer, a professor of psychiatry at Temple University, delivered a talk at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association calling for the organization to remove homosexuality from the list of mental disorders in the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). Fryer, a closeted homosexual who risked discrimination, harassment, and professional ostracism for speaking out on this subject, concealed his identity, delivering his talk while wearing a rubber mask and using a voice modulator under the pseudonym “Dr. H. Anonymous.”  Thanks to his efforts, the APA declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in April 1974.

On April 19, 2017, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia will be hosting a dramatic reading of Guy Frederick Glass’ play on Fryer’s speech: simply titled Doctor Anonymous. Glass’s play explores gay conversion therapy and the events leading up to the the APA’s removal of homosexuality from the DSM.  It is the first time selections from his performance have been read in Philadelphia.

Guy Glass is a psychiatrist, playwright, and Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. He attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed his residency in psychiatry at the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital. He held a private practice in New York where he specialized in treating LGBT patients and also edited the newsletter for the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists. Later in his career, he branched into performance art, earning an MFA in theater from Stony Brook University. His play first appeared in Los Angeles in 2014.

The dramatic reading will take place from 6-8 PM here at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Tickets can be purchased here. General admission is $10. Students (with valid ID) and Mütter Museum members can purchase tickets for $5. Admission is free to CPP Fellows and members of the Section on Medicine and the Arts.  The event is presented by CEPI and the Section on Medicine and the Arts of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

Philly Teens Help Raise Awareness at National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

This past Saturday, the College of Physicians hosted a day of events devoted to National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2017 (NBHAAD), and students from the Teva Pharmaceuticals Internship and Out4STEM Programs were there to provide a helping hand.

The students offered outreach to visitors and helped register people for HIV testing (provided by Bebashi Transition to Hope, Prevention Point Philadelphia, The COLOURS Organization, and Q-Spot). Gloria Harley, an intern in both the Teva and Out4STEM Programs, joined ten other artists from The New Wave in a performance attended by over thirty Philadelphia teens.

Also attending the event were Dr. Loren Robinson, Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes who delivered speeches on HIV Prevention and a demonstration on condom use.

Overall it was a great day of HIV Awareness and artistic expression thanks to our distinguished guests and our dedicated interns! Most important, 85 people received HIV/AIDS testing (and earned free admission to the Mütter Museum in the process).

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day at the Mütter: February 11, 2017

Did you know that the rate of HIV infection among African Americans is eight times that among whites, or that gay and bisexual men make up the majority of new infections among African Americans? February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), a day for spreading awareness of the impact HIV plays in the African American community. The goal is to encourage more people to get tested and dispel the social stigmas surrounding the disease.

This Saturday, February 11, 2017, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia will be observing NBHAAD with a day-long event. We will be offering FREE HIV testing courtesy of Bebashi Transition to Hope and Q-Spot. Never taken an HIV test? Fear not, as the test is painless, takes only a minute (literally 60 seconds) and entitles you to FREE admission to the Mütter Museum. There will be live performances and information about HIV/AIDS to help expand your understanding of the impact of the impact of the disease. 51% of HIV-positive people don’t know they have it; help us spread the word about the disease and take a trip to the Museum! The event will take place from 10 AM to 4 PM.

CEPI Now Accepting Applications for the 2017/2018 Out4STEM Program

Students from CEPI’s youth programs (Out4STEM, Teva Pharmaceuticals Internship, and Karabots Junior Fellows) pose with Dr. Rachel Levine (front, left), the first transgender women to hold the office of Physician General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Loren Robinson (front, center), Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Attention: Philadelphia 10th and 11th Graders! We are now accepting applications for enrollment in the Out4STEM Program. The Out4STEM Program aims to provide Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ youth with STEM-centered mentorship, academic support and career advice in an inclusive, safe space.

This one-year program will address the unique challenges facing LGBTQ+ youth while providing a safe environment to learn about careers in science and medicine. The Out4STEM Program covers the following areas:

• Introduce students to careers related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and healthcare/medicine.
• Acquire practical job skills in a healthcare field by successfully completing a Phlebotomy Technician Certification (CPT)
• Cultivate relationships between like-minded, motivated Philadelphia LGBTQ+ students.
• Develop a greater understanding of the body’s physiological response to stress.
• Facilitate stress relieving techniques.
• Address the impact of bullying and discrimination and develop responses.
• Learn to communicate, heal, and build a community.

The next cohort will start in March 2017 and continue through the 2017-2018 academic year. The program will consist of after-school sessions once a week (every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays) and summer sessions on select days in July.

10th and 11th grade students in the Philadelphia School District (including charter, private, and parochial schools) are eligible to apply. To be considered all interested candidates must complete an application, obtain one letter of recommendation from an adult affiliated with a related high school or after-school program (examples: a teacher, coach, counselor, principal, volunteer leader, or church or community leader), and submit a 1-2 page essay. Applicants must also obtain a Pennsylvania state work permit (more information on obtaining one can be found here) and receive permission from a parent or guardian. Note: There are no costs to enroll or be enrolled in the Out4STEM Program.

Completed applications can be submitted via email or standard mail to the following address:

Attn: Quincy Greene (Out4STEM Internship)
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

The deadline to apply is FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2017 (all mailed applications must be postmarked by that date to be considered). If you have any questions, please contact Quincy Greene, Youth Support Coordinator. For more information about the Out4STEM Program, please consult our website.

 

CEPI Students Take Part in MLK Day of Service

Image Source: IMDB

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes hosted a screening of Hidden Figures, the inspiring story of a group of African American women who were influential mathematicians involved in the early American space program. Over 200 students, educators, and members of the community joined Sen. Hughes at the Rave Cinemas at University City for the event, including several members of our Teva Pharmaceuticals Internship and Out4STEM Programs.

After the movie, several of our CEPI youth presented information about our various programs to the public. Participants also took part in a raffle with the chance to win an Amazon Kindle, and one of our students–Gloria–was a lucky winner.