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On Tuesday, June 13, 2017, NewYork-Presbyterian held its ninth annual graduation ceremony for the Lang Youth Medical Program, a six-year college prep and science enrichment program for middle school and high school students from the Washington Heights and Inwood area of New York City.

Dr. Laura Forese, executive vice president and chief operating officer of NewYork-Presbyterian, and David Alge, senior vice president of Community and Population Health at NewYork-Presbyterian, gave remarks during the ceremony, which also included a special tribute in memory of Mr. Eugene M. Lang, who recently passed away and whose contributions and vision helped launch the program. Additional senior hospital and program leadership were in attendance to honor all the graduating students and pay tribute to Mr. Lang.

The program includes a mini-medical school, public health and college preparation curriculum, with instructors and mentors leading the Lang Scholars in work alongside professionals in a hospital setting. The only program of its kind in New York City, Lang Scholars are given the opportunity to learn about various career paths in healthcare from surgery to social work, through shadowing on clinical rotations and participating in multiple internships. Through the alumni association and alumni relations coordinator, graduates have a network and support system that extends well beyond the six years of the program.

“The vision and generosity of Mr. Lang does not only impact our amazing Scholars, it impacts NewYork-Presbyterian as a whole,” says Dr. Mara Minguez, Medical Director of the Program. “Through the Lang Youth Medical Program, we are able to provide our patients with an extra smile, an extra human encounter, an extra layer of care. As for the students, we tell them the program only lasts six years, but the truth is, it lasts a lifetime.”

Of the 13 graduates, 10 have already committed to science or health-related majors in college. All students will be attending prestigious universities in the fall, including Princeton, CUNY’s Macaulay Honors College, CUNY Hunter, SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton and more.

Nearly 200 students have participated in the Lang Youth Medical Program since 2003.

For more information on the Lang Youth Medical Program visit www.healthmatters.nyp.org/lang-youth.