UofL partnership with Central High School cultivates next generation of health professionals

An idea planted in 2016 by Dwayne Compton, CIEHS Community Engagement Core advisor, is now transforming the future of health care in Louisville through a groundbreaking partnership between the University of Louisville School of Medicine and Central High School. Officially launched in 2022, the program guides pre-med magnet students through a four-year, hands-on experience that includes medical vocabulary, clinical shadowing, and mentorship from UofL faculty and students. Co-led by Compton and his wife, Central High School Principal Tamela Compton, the initiative supports students—many of whom face economic challenges—with academic resources, career guidance, and exposure to real-world medical scenarios. The program’s success has inspired similar collaborations across UofL’s health sciences schools and drawn national interest from other institutions seeking to replicate the model. “We’re proud that UofL is becoming a blueprint for this kind of work,” said Compton. Read the full UofL News article here.