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NJ nonprofit launches clinical exposure program for students
Mentorship and insight into healthcare careers were shared throughout the daylong program, which linked students with doctors.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 24, Mar 2026
- 16:31 EDT
- 42
Students at the JWPA “Teens With Stethoscopes” program / Courtesy: JWPA
New Jersey-based nonprofit, the Jersey Women Physician Alliance (JWPA), launched a one-day program offering high school students hands-on exposure to medical careers.
The inaugural “Teens with Stethoscopes” program was held on March 21 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, bringing together more than 100 students selected from over 300 applicants.
The free initiative aimed to provide early exposure, mentorship, and insight into healthcare professions for students across the state.
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“Teens With Stethoscopes” program in session / Courtesy: JWPAParticipants rotated through 10 clinical stations covering specialties including gastroenterology, OB-GYN, cardiology, surgery, nephrology, anesthesia, psychiatry, internal medicine, pulmonary, and dentistry.
Students attended each station, learning basic clinical skills such as listening to heart sounds, practicing CPR, analyzing patient cases, and using dental tools under the supervision of physicians and healthcare volunteers.
The program also included a welcome breakfast, lunch, and distribution of lab coats, stethoscopes, and other materials. A panel discussion featuring six physicians from different specialties and backgrounds, along with a moderator, allowed students to ask questions about medical education, stress management, and daily professional responsibilities.
New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill, along with co-chair Sudha Nahar, Sameera Maganti, David Nelson, Sap Sinha, and Gloria Bachmann, inaugurated the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Cahill addressed participants, and awards were presented to supporters.
“This newest initiative—Teens with Stethoscopes—is especially meaningful to me,” said Sudha Nahar, founder of JWPA, gastroenterologist with Gyan Gastroenterology, a division of Allied Digestive Health, and member of the program’s advisory board.
“I deeply believe in the principle ‘Learn, Earn, and Return.’ Shaping young leaders in medicine requires more than technical training; it demands mentorship, character development, and a culture of service. I began my own medical journey as a foreign medical graduate under the mentorship of Gloria Bachmann, later completing my GI fellowship at RWJUH in New Brunswick. Now, my daughter has graduated from the same medical school and joined me in practice. It feels like the perfect time to give back to the community that has given so much to us.”
The initiative was offered at no cost to students to reduce financial barriers and expand access, particularly for those from underrepresented or underserved communities. “We simply wanted to ensure that motivated students across New Jersey—especially those from underrepresented or underserved backgrounds—have access to this opportunity to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals,” Nahar said.
The program is guided by an advisory board including Sudha Nahar, Sameera Maganti, Christopher Gilligan, Gloria Bachmann, Rachna Kulkarni, Rashmi Acharya, Nidhi Goel, and Ritu Nahar. Organizers said the board ensured materials were provided at no cost and structured the program to allow time for breaks and informal interaction with mentors.
The event was sponsored by Allied Digestive Health, a gastroenterology and hepatology practice, and RWJBarnabas Health, a healthcare delivery system in New Jersey.
JWPA, founded more than 15 years ago by a small group of physicians meeting at Sudha Nahar’s home, has grown into a network of over 600 women physicians. The organization hosts annual gatherings and community initiatives focused on professional collaboration and mentorship.
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