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The Women in Medicine Program

The Women in Medicine Program in partnership with
Mercy Medical Center

The Women in Medicine Program in partnership with Mercy Medical Center provides a unique opportunity to observe medical procedures and meet with professionals in a specialized healthcare environment. The goal of this four-year program is to expose students to outstanding women leaders in health-related careers, to broaden their knowledge of medical fields, and to expand their understanding of the qualities and skills necessary to be a successful healthcare professional.

This program is open to qualified ninth-graders and will continue throughout their enrollment at Mercy High School. There are a limited number of spaces available each year in this highly prestigious program, the only one of its kind in Baltimore. For students considering a career in health care—as a physician, nurse, physical therapist, or research scientist—this program offers an unparalleled experience.
The Women in Medicine Program in partnership with Mercy Medical Center includes visits to the hospital*, interaction with medical staff, group discussions and mentor lunches with women leaders in healthcare, introduction to the latest advancements in healthcare technology, discussion of medical career paths and educational requirements, and live demonstrations and hands-on learning experiences.

*Visits to the hospital are dependent on regional health indicators.

All Mercy Girls who participate in the Women in Medicine Program are required by Mercy Medical Center to have a negative TB test and proof of vaccination for all common childhood vaccines and the most recent influenza. Vaccination requirements are subject to change.

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  • Ninth Grade Programming

    In the first year of the Women in Medicine Program, Mercy Girls participate in five visits to the hospital.
    • Visit 1: Welcome Orientation and Hospital Tour
    • Visit 2: Career Day
      • Mercy Girls participate in a Lunch & Learn with leadership from various departments at the hospital. Previous departments in attendance have included radiology and imaging; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; social work; pastoral care; phlebotomy; respiratory care; human resources; nursing; quality control (HH/ATP/Isolation); and personnel (MD/NP/PA).
    • Visit 3: Interactive scenarios by emergency management personnel and presentation by and visit to forensic nursing department
    • Visit 4: Presentations by mother & baby nurses; case managers and social workers; and various radiologists including X-Ray, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, and others
    • Visit 5: Stella Maris Visit: along with a recreation therapist, Mercy Girls visit, engage, and meet with patients in assisted living
  • Tenth Grade Programming

    In the second year of the Women in Medicine Program, Mercy Girls participate in six visits to the hospital.
    • Visit 1: Department Rotations: individual two-hour shadow with department personnel
    • Visit 2: Healthy cooking demonstration by nutritionist with focus on the effects of food on health
    • Visit 3: Casting and splinting demonstration with interactive practice
    • Visit 4: Department Rotations: individual two-hour shadow with department personnel
    • Visit 5: Department Rotations: individual two-hour shadow with department personnel
    • Visit 6: Birthing simulation and after-baby care
  • Eleventh Grade Programming

    In the third year of the Women in Medicine Program, Mercy Girls participate in five visits to the hospital.
    • Visit 1: Interactive viewing of DaVinci remote surgery with surgeon guiding Mercy Girls through technique; infection control lecture and practice session
    • Visit 2: Department Rotations: individual two-hour shadow with department personnel
    • Visit 3: Interactive Presentation and Demonstration: individual two-hour shadow with department personnel
    • Visit 4: Stop the Bleed training with Baltimore City Police Department personnel
    • Visit 5: Hands-on CPR training
  • Twelfth Grade Programming

    In the fourth year of the Women in Medicine Program, Mercy Girls participate in five visits to the hospital.
    • Visit 1: Department Rotations: individual two-house shadow with department personnel
    • Visit 2: Second viewing of DaVinci remote surgery with surgeon guiding Mercy Girls through technique; infection control lecture and practice session
    • Visit 3: Department Rotations: individual two-hour shadow with department personnel
    • Visit 4: Department Rotations: individual two-hour shadow with department personnel
    • Visit 5: Interactive presentation on suturing, IV and blood drawing, ultrasound technique
  • Additional Opportunities

    In recent years, students in the Women in Medicine Program in partnership with Mercy Medical Center have also:
    • Toured and participated in programs at University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma unit;
    • Visited Henrietta Lacks’ home in Turner Station to learn of her role regarding healthcare ethics;
    • Attended author presentations;
    • Toured Infinite Legacy, a nonprofit organ procurement organization; and
    • Attended sessions with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine admissions personnel regarding the admissions process and criteria.
  • What is evaluated in the application process?

    A supplemental application is required and acceptance is limited. Mercy Girls must have the following: 
    • Excellent mathematics and science preparation and skill level
    • Strong standardized test results
    • Strong High School Placement Test (HPST) results
    • A well-written and thoughtful application statement
    • Completed supplemental application
Two Ministries. One Mission.
~Dr. David Maine
President & CEO of Mercy Medical Center

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  • Photo of Eileen Phelps

    Ms. Eileen Phelps 

    Director of Signature Programs
    ext. 262
    Loyola University Maryland - B.A.
    Notre Dame of Maryland University - M.A.
Meeting of Medical Minds
During the 2025-26 school year, Mercy Medical Center launched Meeting of Medical Minds, a limited video series featuring four one-hour episodes that examined social and health issues from both historical and contemporary perspectives. The sessions brought together local actors who played Hippocrates, Dr. Joseph Lister, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, and Dr. Charles Richard Drew alongside Dr. Ernestine Wright, Dr. Joseph Ciotola, Dr. Ann Peters, and Dr. Ashanti Woods. Our Mercy Girls served as the live studio audience for these performances and we able to ask questions of the providers related to medicine. Check out the episodes below!
Did you know?
Each year, Mercy Girls in the Women in Medicine Program in partnership with Mercy Medical Center can apply for a selective internship available only to program participants! Three internships are available each year (one with a physician and two alongside skilled nurses), allowing our students to further explore possible career opportunities. These internships are two weeks long.

To be considered for this opportunity, a Mercy Girl must complete a supplemental application during her junior year. Applications are evaluated by Mercy High School and Mercy Medical Center staff.
Hear from our summer 2025 interns about their experiences!
    • Claire D. ’26 enters the interventional radiology department at Mercy Medical Center

    • Precious N. ’26 poses with Dr. Park after observing neurosurgery

    • Georgia S. ’26 completes an internship in pediatrics

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  • Claire D. ’26 Internship

    My internship was with two different doctors. During the first week, I was in radiation oncology with Dr. Jacobs and throughout my second week, I was in interventional radiology with Dr. Kim. 

    The most important thing I learned from my internship was there are a lot of options in the medical field and a lot of different positions and jobs, so it’s important to keep an open mind when thinking about your future. Choose something that genuinely interests you!

    During my internship, I was able to watch doctors interact with patients through consultations and procedures. It was also interesting to witness what happens when a code is called, and how the staff works together to assist a patient.

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  • Precious N. ’26 Internship

    For my internship, I focused on surgery, and I was able to shadow Dr. Maloney, Dr. Cerrato, and Dr. Campbell in the Foot and Ankle OR, and Dr. Park and Dr. McIver in Neurosurgery. During the process, I wanted to focus on each step of the various procedures I was able to observe. Noticing my curiosity, the surgeons were constantly explaining what they were doing, which was very helpful!

    Though I could list a myriad of key things to note during procedures, I would say the most important thing I took away from my internship is the importance of team work. In the OR, there were at least five medical professionals working together to care for our patients. They passed equipment and notified each other regarding changes and patient status as they worked. Each one of them played a vital role in ensuring the success of the procedure, and if one of them wasn’t there, all would fail. 

    The internship was an incredible experience. I observed countless surgeries, including resection of a malignant brain tumor with Dr. Park. Dr. McIver also tried to include me as much as possible. During a procedure, I pushed a button to stop internal bleeding on a patient when I was instructed to do so. I’ll never forget being told, “You saved a life today, Precious.”

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Mercy High School Baltimore is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and is a member of Mercy Education.

Mercy High School proudly partners with eCampus for textbooks and other materials for our Mercy Girls.

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