As the landscape of healthcare continuously evolves, the need for passionate medical professionals is always present. It’s with this vision in mind that the Future Physicians of America (FPA) club at PVHS has been established.
Founded two years ago by PV graduates Emily Goodpaster, Kushi Maridu and Deen Nair, FPA was started to give students the opportunity to explore the medical field. The club meets at least one time per month and is open to all students who are interested in the medical field, even if they don’t intend to become a physician.
This year, the club is led by Armaan Bhagwat, Vamsi Challa and Harjeevan Singh. They manage the meeting plans for members and create hands-on activities such as suturing bananas or dissecting a fetal pig. Other times, the meetings consist of mini-lectures, occasionally hosting medical professionals who speak to the members.
Senior club leader Bhagwat has always been interested in STEM and excels at science. After taking an internship in India during which he helped children with blindness, he decided that the medical field was right for him.
Bhagwat believes that FPA is very important for any student considering the medical field, even if they aren’t sure about what specific career route they want to take. “A large number of college students who are planning to become doctors end up switching their major and taking up a different career because they realize that the medical field isn’t right for them,” said Bhagwat. “FPA gives students the opportunity to gain medical experience and knowledge early on, which will assist them as they choose a career.”
FPA is unique in that it’s the only PVHS club related to healthcare. “PV has a ton of clubs related to various fields of work, like business or computer science. FPA lets students take a look at a unique field that helps them get a feel for what they want to do after high school,” said Bhagwat.
Unlike other clubs, FPA hosts guest speakers who are physicians. Last year, a physician from Duke University spoke to the club, and Bhagwat plans to bring back the speaker. Additionally, many of the club’s members have parents who are doctors who are willing to speak to the class.
Senior Muskan Mehta used FPA to solidify her interests in the medical field. “Listening to the guest speakers from the medical field really made me interested in becoming a doctor. Classes like anatomy and biology made me interested in the medical field, but I really decided I wanted to be a physician after joining FPA,” said Mehta.
In the face of an ever-changing healthcare environment, the Future Physicians of America club at PVHS shows the early steps that can be taken to cultivate interest and provide exposure to the medical field.
The club’s role in shaping the future of aspiring medical professionals is not just about guiding them towards a career in medicine, but also about instilling a sense of informed decision-making as they embark on their professional journeys.
