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The Lang Youth Medical Program for middle and high school students — the only hospital-based medical mentoring program of its kind in New York City — will welcome this year's class of students, who will be honored in a special white-coat ceremony, and celebrate the accomplishments of its first class of graduating seniors. The Oct. 29 event will be held at 6 p.m. at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian.

The intensive six-year program, which follows students from seventh grade through high school, has provided more than 50 students from the Washington Heights area of Manhattan with an education in science and medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. There, they receive the skills and support to help them realize their career aspirations in the health sciences. Working alongside doctors and researchers in a hospital setting, they learn about medical equipment, observe operations and attend medical lectures.

"I was born at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and now I am part of the Lang Youth Medical Team. It takes up most of my life and has given me experiences I never would have thought possible," says Joanne Luzon, who is in her final year of the program. "The program asked me for a commitment and in return I have received hands-on, college-level instruction in science and medicine. I am not that different from many other students my age, but being part of this program and the experiences it brings makes me unique."

Criteria for acceptance into the Lang Youth Medical Program at New-York Presbyterian and eligibility for college scholarships, opportunities for hospital internships and other college support requires that students maintain a GPA of 85 or better. Students must also stay in the program for six years and attend courses on Saturdays throughout the school year and for four weeks during the summer.

"The Lang Youth Medical Program takes me out of my regular environment into a different world. In this world of doctors, nurses and patients you see miracles happen," says Henley Vargas, who also is in his final year of the program. "The Program takes a lot of time, which means you sometimes don't get to hang out with your friends, but it is worth it. To me, life is an opportunity to accomplish something for myself, my family, my community and the world. The Lang program has given me a head start to meet all my goals."

"These students have learned directly from physicians, medical students and other hospital staff about topics like the scientific method, body functions, disease processes, medical case studies and research," says Erin Roy, director of the Lang Youth Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. "They understand the purpose and importance of education in realizing both their life and career goals. We are hopeful that these students will make their mark in health care."

The Program is entirely supported through donations and is dependent on support to continue the work first started by noted philanthropist and program founder Eugene M. Lang.

For more information, please call 866-NYP-NEWS.

Lang Youth Medical Program

The Lang Youth Medical Program is a six-year science education and mentoring program for middle school students that puts the educational resources of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to work for young people in Washington Heights by helping them realize their college and career aspirations, especially in the health sciences. The program provides experiences and an environment that supports and improves the social, personal and academic development of the Lang Scholars during their six-year enrollment, while at the same time creates new connections between the Hospital and community.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, based in New York City, is the nation's largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital, with 2,242 beds. The Hospital has nearly 2 million inpatient and outpatient visits in a year, including more than 230,000 visits to its emergency departments — more than any other area hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine at five major centers: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Allen Pavilion and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division. One of the largest and most comprehensive health-care institutions in the world, the Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service. It ranks sixth in U.S.News & World Report's guide to "America's Best Hospitals," ranks first on New York magazine's "Best Hospitals" survey, has the greatest number of physicians listed in New York magazine's "Best Doctors" issue, and is included among Solucient's top 15 major teaching hospitals. The Hospital's mortality rates are among the lowest for heart attack and heart failure in the country, according to a 2007 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report card. The Hospital has academic affiliations with two of the nation's leading medical colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.