| Sumario: | Increasing the diversity of the healthcare workforce has been identified as a means of closing the current health disparity gap. The Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (EMK) aims to foster minority interest in healthcare, and its Shadow Day, in partnership with Northeastern University (NU) attempts to maintain student interest in the health sciences. Although this program has been an EMK curricular component for the past seven years, its effect on student motivation to pursue post-secondary studies in healthcare has not been measured. This study assessed the impact of NU/EMK Shadow Day on 10th-grade EMK student interest in healthcare as a college focus and motivation to pursue a healthcare career. Student reflections written from 2007-2011 and surveys implemented in 2011 were examined, and analysis revealed that 52.14 percent responded positively to the experience. The NU/EMK Shadow Day program has a positive, direct impact on developing student interest in healthcare as a college focus.
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