SPaRC prepares incoming WesternU students for the challenges ahead

About 35 students are enrolled in Learning Enhancement & Academic Development’s (LEAD) five-week Summer Preparedness and Readiness Course (SPaRC), which runs from June 5 to July 7, 2017.

The participants are all incoming first-year Western University of Health Sciences students in osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant education and optometry. SPaRC is designed to prepare incoming students for the rigors of their chosen program by providing an introduction to applicable courses, skills and competencies in an interprofessional, educational health care setting.

SPaRC students recently learned Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) techniques from College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Associate Professor David Redding, DO.

Incoming College of Allied Health Professions Doctor of Physical Therapy student Shannon Irwin, DPT ’20, said SPaRC is giving her a preview of the challenges ahead.

“It’s definitely giving you real experiences and helps you adjust, which you might not get coming straight into graduate school,” she said. “We’re building relationships with future colleagues, and this will give me the tools to succeed.”

For more information about SPaRC, click here: http://www.westernu.edu/lead/lead-summer-prep/