GAPS PROGAM (Gratiot Area Physicians and Students)
The GAPS program offers pre-medical and pre-physician assistant students experience with Gratiot Community Hospital and local doctors. In this arrangement, Alma College students gain exposure to medical experiences, while the Hospital hopes to encourage participants to return to Gratiot County as young doctors. The GAPS program is a multi-layered program consisting of three phases:
Phase 1: Information, lectures and visits
This phase consists of lectures by area doctors, admissions visits by schools, lectures of various interest groups or speakers. Phase 1 does not require any screening or immunizations to participate. Students should prepare themselves during this phase for eventual volunteer work by filling out paperwork and checking immunizations (see volunteering below).
Phase 2: Volunteer experience (sophomores and above)
This phase begins with hospitality desk staffing at the hospital and advances through doctor office shadowing and emergency room service. You must be cleared to work at the hospital (forms, Hepatitis B shots, tuberculosis-free) and participate in the hospital orientation sessions (offered near the start of each term). This is a serious commitment and should not be undertaken during a busy term.
Students may also call area doctors who have agreed to participate in the GAPS program in order to shadow them or participate in their office visits as patients allow. A list of doctors participating in the program is posted in the pre-med board outside the Dow Science Office. You will also find volunteer log pages to log your service activity hours.
Phase 3: Spring term option
Phase 3 consists of an intensive opportunity for a limited number of students (3-4 per year, usually juniors) to do a practicum (HSS 385) during spring term. This experience will involve extensive participation several days a week with different doctors, emergency room rotations and additional experience as available. In addition, participants will write a paper and keep a journal, as well as other requirements. Students will be selected from applications solicited at the start of Winter Term. In order to compete for these slots, a student must have had substantial volunteer experience in the GAPS program.
Additional Information
Ongoing updates and notices of activities will be sent over the pre-med mailing list, which is maintained by Susan Dinwoody in the Dow Science Office. Interested students should declare an actively checked email address with that office.
Specific questions can be addressed to Dr. Kay Grimnes (grimnes@alma.edu) or the current student coordinator (see the pre-med broad for information). Dr. Bill Thiemkey is the founder of this program. Assistance is provided by Joe Gelina (gelina@alma.edu) in the community and Piper Probst at Gratiot Community Hospital.
