Winter 2025 HSIP will feature the 37th and 38th sessions of our Health Sciences Immersion Program after launching 36 sessions in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Since July 2019, over 1,195 high school students have gotten an introduction to the health sciences field through HSIP! Our program first took place in person at Cal State LA in Summer 2019 and the USC Health Sciences campus in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. The program has taken place virtually in its current 9 Saturday afternoon since Summer 2020 with the past 28 sessions of HSIP have taken place fully online on Zoom, with around 6 to 8 sessions being run each year during 9 weekend afternoon schedules during the Spring, Summer and Fall. We are looking forward to running HSIP again in Winter of 2025!
9 Saturday Afternoon Sessions: 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 3/1
Session A: 12pm – 3pm PST OR Session B: 3pm – 6pm PST
Online Location: Zoom Virtual Classroom
HST (Session A – 9am to 12pm / B – 12pm to 3pm)
CST (Session A – 2pm to 5pm / B – 5pm to 8pm)
MST (Session A – 1pm to 4pm / B – 4pm to 7pm)
EST (Session A – 3pm to 6pm / B – 6pm to 9pm)
Throughout science industry, academic research and medical practice, health science professionals are making a meaningful difference on health outcomes. This Winter, our Health Science Immersion Program (HSIP) will explore the work that these health science professionals do by giving high school students an introduction to the academic, research and professional aspects of the health sciences field. Winter 2025 HSIP students will hear lectures from science professors and research PhD graduate students from universities including UC San Francisco, UCLA, Columbia University and Cal State LA about their research. We will also hear from medical care professionals such as a dentist, medical resident physician, respiratory therapist, medical communications manager and pharmacist about their careers serving patients in differing ways. During the program, a group research project will allow students to explore college level science coursework in topics related to neuroscience, human anatomy and cancer research. During the project we will practice the active reading, critical thinking and collaborative teamwork skills that are essential to excel in higher level science. During leadership workshops, we will explore teamwork, communication and personality traits as well as how students can work to set smart goals for their education, career future as well as life outcomes. Throughout the program we will explore pathways to various college experiences and career outcomes as students learn more about their personal and professional goals. Winter 2025 HSIP will be a transformative opportunity in learning more about your potential future in the health sciences field and beyond!
All photos shown above are from HSIP Spring 2024 programs
Four Core Components of HSIP
– Health Science Speaker Talks & Discussions –
During HSIP, students will hear directly from the professors and graduate students who are researching groundbreaking developments in the health sciences as well as the health professionals who are working to improve medical care outcomes.
– Research Article Group Project –
Students will gain an early exposure to college science coursework by preparing a small group research project and presentation related to a health science topic (neuroscience, human anatomy, cancer research). We will practice active reading, critical thinking and collaborative teamwork skills that are essential to excel in science.
– Personal Development Leadership Workshops –
High school students are undergoing critical development as they prepare to enter adulthood. HSIP students will learn more about how their personality strengths and communication style can be aligned to create smart goals for education, career and life outcomes.
– College Admissions & Career Pathways –
As students learn more about their interests and personal strengths throughout HSIP, we will discuss how students can connect their personal goals to tangible outcomes. We will explore college admissions as well as how to create an enriching college experience afterward. We will also explore career pathways and outcomes related to the health sciences and beyond.
Nine Week HSIP Program Snapshot of Our Curriculum Structure
Winter 2025 HSIP Attendance – Students are encouraged to attend all nine weekly sessions, but are allowed two absences in the 9 Saturday afternoon program.
HSIP Winter 2025 Program Facilitator
Shari Webber King
HSIP Program Facilitator / Group Project Coordinator
Shari Webber King is a high school Biology teacher as well as a college instructor in Biology, Microbiology, and Anatomy. During her fifteen years of concentrated experience as a science educator she has enjoyed teaching high school, nursing and collegiate students. Shari holds a M.Ed. in Secondary Education Biology and a B.S. in Biology Pre-Med from Alabama A&M University. She has a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Certification from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in Introduction to Engineering Design and a National STEM Educator certificate from the National Institute for STEM Education. As an educator, Shari encourages critical thinking and inquiry-based learning through a hands-on approach. She believes students learn science by doing science, so she finds great joy in making the learning environment creative and engaging. Through HSIP, Shari is excited about the opportunity to educate our future STEM and healthcare professionals.