The Campbell University medical school is fulfilling its mission to teach and prepare osteopathic, community-based physicians who serve the underserved.
It’s also developing great leaders.
A group of students from Campbell University graduated recently from the 2025 N.C. Medical Society’s Academy for Future Healthcare Leaders, a program designed to develop those respective skills for healthcare students.
The six-month interprofessional leadership development program included four in-person sessions and four virtual learning sessions. Student group presentations May 6 were the culmination of a program that began in November 2024, said Monecia R. Thomas, vice president of Professional Growth for the NCMS.
Myriad healthcare fields were represented, including doctor of osteopathic medicine, medical doctor and doctor of physical therapy, among others.
Representing the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine were student Drs. Nesreen Abu Khalaf, Mark Bushhouse, Shiela Marie Romanick and Tamera Hutchinson, whose team project was about fostering diversity in medical education.
“I feel really passionate about this project because diversity isn’t something that only affects students, it affects patients as well, and it’s our job as future leaders in the healthcare field to educate ourselves on this topic,” she said.
Hutchinson and her team explored obstacles, such as recent changes in diversity, equity and inclusion laws, as well as possible solutions, such as mentorship and pipeline programs.
“I gained leadership skills and learned a lot about myself as a person and as a future healthcare leader,” Hutchinson said. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to participate in this program and would encourage other students to consider it.”
Joining Campbell in the recent program were medical school students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, Wake Forest University and Duke University.
Also taking part were students from the High Point University School of Dental Medicine, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Nursing, Wingate University Department of Physician Assistant studies, the ECU School of Medicine and Wake Forest School of Medicine.
“Throughout the program, the scholars … had opportunities to identify their own leadership style and their own leadership behaviors through a leadership behavioral self assessment,” Thomas said.
Project-based learning, she said, is an inquiry-based educational approach that builds on one’s capacity to think critically and to problem solve, collaborate effectively and engage deeply with our program’s content.
“(The students) got an opportunity to learn about their strengths and identify areas of improvement, and they were exposed to certain skills related to time management, communications and teamwork.”
Dr. David Tolentino, associate dean for Clinical Affairs and interim dean, watched the presentations.
“They did such a great job,” he said.