MERIT Academy helps students hooked on science advance their education

August 16, 2019 • Filed under Press Coverage Highlights

By Jennifer Franciotti, News Anchor, Reporter

BALTIMORE — It’s National Summer Learning Week, and while it may be difficult to get most teenagers out of bed, some Baltimore City students are jumping at the chance to advance their education. As they work to unlock the mysteries of genetic engineering, high school students with deep curiosity and drive are spending their summer learning through the MERIT Health Leadership Academy.

“Students come every summer and every Saturday throughout high school and they learn advanced science skills in laboratories,” said Jacob Weinfeld, the program’s executive director. “They shadow doctors, nurses and researchers, and even begin to work in the community to improve health outcomes in Baltimore.”

It’s the shadowing that junior Kanira Jones is most excited about. She wants to be an anesthesiologist.

‘That’s, like, a once-in-a-lifetime (experience). You don’t get to do that until you’re in medical school as a resident, so I was really happy about that,” Jones said.

The program is open to Baltimore City Public Schools students from low-income families who have a passion for science.

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