AHN is creating a national model for the recruitment of underrepresented minority medical students to ensure the diversity of future generations of health care leaders. We pledge to meet the needs of the underserved and underrepresented ethnic communities with the strongly held belief that a diverse clinical workforce is necessary to achieve health equity.
The AHN Clerkship hosts 4 minority medical students (US citizens only) annually, offering them hands-on exposure to career opportunities in our academic medical center. As an integral part of the residency recruitment initiative, this program is focused on the inclusion of a diverse generation of future health care leaders. Clerkships are offered for a maximum of 4-weeks, available July through October only. Block times may be flexible if necessary. Allegheny is a tertiary care hospital for the Drexel University College of Medicine.
Dr. George Magovern, Sr., a world renowned pioneering heart surgeon, joined the staff of Allegheny General Hospital in 1957 to direct what was then the emerging field of cardiovascular surgery. At the time, most of the leading surgeons and hospitals in Pittsburgh and throughout the country felt that cardiac surgery, as a surgical subspecialty, would enjoy limited success at best. The mortality at most of the major centers throughout the country was approaching 50%. The operations were lengthy and often associated with significant blood loss, leading to poor outcomes. In an effort to improve the surgical outcomes of cardiac surgery procedures, Dr. Magovern developed a sutureless prosthetic valve. The sutureless implantation method saved valuable operative time over traditional suturing. The valve was first implanted in 1962 in a 43 year-old woman with severe aortic insufficiency due to rheumatic fever. The early results of the Magovern valve procedures were first reported in 1963 in Circulation. The surgical outcomes with the Magovern valve were exceptional and Allegheny rapidly became known as a regional center of excellence in heart surgery. The Magovern valve was widely used throughout the United States well into the 1970s.
Because of his pioneering and innovative work in open heart procedures, Dr. Magovern was appointed Chief of Surgery at AGH in 1970. Over the next 25 years, the program grew exponentially and at the time of his retirement, Allegheny’s open heart surgery program was the 10th largest program in the United States.
Dr. Magovern was the Program Director for the cardiothoracic surgical residency for over 25 years. The program offered training to many under-represented minority general surgery residents training from diverse backgrounds within North America and throughout Europe, the Middle East, India and Asia. Dr. Magovern had an infectious enthusiasm for the field of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. His residents were always given an intimate exposure to his hardworking, innovative and bold clinical decision-making in day-to-day patient care. During his lifetime, Pittsburgh Magazine ranked Dr. Magovern one of the “100 Most Influential Pittsburghers of the Century” in 1999. In 2003, Dr. Magovern received the American Heart Association “Pulse of Pittsburgh Award”. In 2008, the Senator John Heinz History Center awarded Dr. Magovern the “Medal of Innovation Award”.
The George J. Magovern Clerkship for under-represented minority medical students will instill in these individuals professional attitudes for overcoming adversity and committing to innovative solutions in treating patients. His life-long commitment to excellence in patient care will serve as an inspiration to the students throughout their career. As a result, the Magovern Clerkship recipients will be challenged to practice medicine with a focus on developing a dynamic, thriving and diverse team of physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals and management staff.
Benefits of the AHN Clerkship include:
Features of the AHN Clerkship include:
Expectations for the clerkship include:
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
AHN requires all visiting medical students to have valid personal health insurance, whether through their medical school or via personal coverage. AHN does not provide personal health insurance for visiting medical students.
Malpractice and/or general liability insurance is not provided to visiting medical students. This must be provided by the student or his/her medical school. Documented proof of health insurance, malpractice coverage and a record of immunizations are part of the VSLO application. Documentation of student-purchased liability coverage must be confirmed 30 days prior to the start of the elective(s). If your school does not provide such coverage please contact our medical student office immediately.
The Allegheny Health Network uses the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) portal for accepting and processing clerkship applications. Visit the AAMC - Visiting Student Learning Opportunities webpage for additional information on our program and to complete an application.
If you are experiencing any technical issues in completing or submitting your application, contact AAMC's VSLO support for assistance.
