Dr. Klair Lubonja's Journey to Becoming a Surgeon: The Power of Health Career Opportunity Programs

Dr. Klair Lubonja, a third-year surgery resident physician in training at the UMass Chan Medical School, has credited the Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) with helping him achieve his dreams of becoming a surgeon. As a beneficiary of the program, Lubonja participated in multiple HCOP initiatives, including the High School Student Research Apprentice Program in 2010, the Pre-College Research Program in 2011, and the Medical/Dental MCAT Preparatory Program in 2014. He eventually went on to attend the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where he received several awards for his research and community outreach. Lubonja's journey is a testament to the impact that HCOP can have on students' lives, providing them with the support and resources needed to pursue careers in healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr. Klair Lubonja, a third-year surgery resident physician, participated in multiple Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) initiatives, including the High School Student Research Apprentice Program, the Pre-College Research Program, and the Medical/Dental MCAT Preparatory Program.
• Lubonja credits HCOP with helping him achieve his dreams of becoming a surgeon and solidifying his decision to enter medical school and medicine.
• He received several awards for his research and community outreach while attending the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
• Lubonja's involvement with HCOP spans over a decade, from his first year in high school to his current residency program at UMass Chan Medical School.
• He attributes his success to the HCOP team, led by Dr. Marja Hurley, who he describes as a "second family" to most students who participate in the programs.
• Lubonja advises youth pursuing a career in healthcare or science to "treat obstacles as opportunities for growth rather than burdens" and emphasizes the importance of HCOP in diversifying the healthcare workforce.

Statistics:

• Over seven HCOP programs
• Seven years of participation in HCOP initiatives
• 2010: First year in the High School Student Research Apprentice Program
• 2011: Participated in the Pre-College Research Program
• 2012: Participated in the College Enrichment Program
• 2014: Participated in the Medical/Dental MCAT Preparatory Program
• 7 percent of students who participate in HCOP are from underrepresented groups

Sources:

• UConn Health
• HCOP team, led by Dr. Marja Hurley
• University of Massachusetts General Surgery program
• National Institutes of Health
• Yale School of Medicine
• Contify.com