(Paducah, Ky.) May 9, 2017 -- Fifteen students from seven colleges have been selected for the first Baptist Health Paducah Pre-Med Academy summer program.

The academy is designed to assist college students in their medical career development and to foster relationships with future physicians.

Students are Elliott Bickerstaff, Abigail F. Bratton, Michelle Hahn, Jeremy Latham, Maanasa Manchikanti, Emily Meredith, Cinthya Ramos, Rana Turkmani, Madeline Wooten, all of Paducah; Samantha Clymer, Mayfield; Tristan Crady, Murray; Te'a Fehrenbacher, Gilbertsville; Landon Fike, Kirksey; Remington Fisher, Grantsburg, Ill.; Brandt Marinelli, Kevil.

They represent Murray State University, West Kentucky Community & Technical College, Western Kentucky University, University of Louisville and three out-of-state schools.

"This program will give students an inside look at medical careers to help them determine what they want to do and why," said Bradley Housman, MD, chief medical officer. "Shadowing a variety of medical professionals will give them a unique perspective as they go through hospital departments, ranging from the Emergency department to Surgery."

Participation will help students network for future job opportunities and provide valuable experience for applications to graduate programs, he added.

The internship will average 24 hours a week for eight weeks.

Hospital president William A. Brown said the new academy is the latest program at Baptist Health Paducah designed to foster career development, including a for-credit health occupations class and the extracurricular Medical Explorers post, both for high schoolers.

"We are committed to helping our students explore the health field here," Brown said, "not only so they can make the right career choices for themselves, but also so they see how satisfying it can be to return to Paducah for their careers."

Applicants must have completed at least one semester of college credit. More information, including admission criteria for 2018, is available at BaptistHealthPaducah.com/Careers or from physician recruiter Connie Overstreet at connie.overstreet@bhsi.com.