Students to follow physicians

LAKEWOOD - Kimball Medical Center has announced that its physician shadowing program - Project Medicine - is now accepting junior and senior students from Lakewood, Jackson, Howell and Freehold high schools who wish to pursue a career in medicine.

Launched in the spring of 2004, Project Medicine is a mentoring program for students and physicians. The objective of the program, developed by Dr. Richard Sacks, an orthopedic surgeon and president of Kimball Medical Center's medical staff, is to introduce students to careers in health care by providing firsthand experience with physicians and allied medical professionals using a mentoring system.

Sacks explained that students who join Project Medicine are asked to spend one hour of time per week for six weeks "shadowing" a physician from Kimball Medical Center in their office.

"The student will gain direct experience with the physician - from seeing patients to learning how the office runs," Sacks said. "This is an excellent opportunity for students to receive a unique, structured and meaningful experience and help them gain a better understanding of the practice of medicine."

Students interested in joining Project Medicine are asked to call Lisa at (732) 914-8401 to receive an application. Students will then be assigned to a physician on staff at Kimball Medical Center. The student and the physician will arrange a mutually beneficial schedule, preferably after school hours, to implement the mentoring program. The program will begin in mid-October.