Leslin Adopts AAMC’s First Steps Career Skills Curriculum

NYU High School Academy Students with Lin Lombardi and Marcia Peters

We are pleased to share a major milestone in our journey to prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders: our organization has officially joined the AAMC community and adopted the First Step Career Skills curriculum in our programming.

The First Step Career Skills curriculum, developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), provides a competency-based foundation designed to introduce learners—especially those in earlier educational stages—to the essential abilities that support

success in medical and health professions pathways. These career skills are grounded in the AAMC’s broader competency framework for aspiring medical learners and align with the principles of competency-based education that prepare students to thrive in rigorous academic and clinical environments..

This curriculum focuses on developing key skills such as empathy and compassion, resilience and adaptability, relationship building and interpersonal communication, and cultural awareness and humility—all vital attributes for future healthcare professionals. By introducing these competencies early, we aim to support learners in building the confidence, skills, and mindset necessary to pursue careers in medicine and allied health.

Our adoption of First Step Career Skills strengthens our commitment to equitable access to high-quality preparation resources and aligns with AAMC’s mission to improve health through education, research, and patient care. As part of the AAMC community, we look forward to collaborating with clinicians, educators, and administrators to integrate these competencies into our pathways and expand opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.

Thank you to our partners and supporters—we are excited about the impact this alignment will have on learners and the future of healthcare leadership

Leslin Receives Special Recognition from NYU College of Dentistry.

A group of students and faculty members at a graduation or awards ceremony, holding certificates from New York University School of Professional Studies, posing in front of a purple backdrop with text related to dental hygiene and dental assisting.

Four women standing together at an event with a blue NYU Dentistry backdrop. They are smiling and dressed in professional attire.

We are pleased to share that The Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation (Leslin) was recognized by the NYU College of Dentistry, Department of Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting, at a special reception on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The event was in appreciation of Leslin’s scholarships supporting students in the NYU High School Academy’s Exploring Careers in Dentistry course. The event brought together clinicians, partners, educators, and students to celebrate this shared commitment to expanding pathways into oral healthcare.

We offer our deepest gratitude to the NYU College of Dentistry, the Department of Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting, for hosting such a thoughtful and meaningful gathering. The warm atmosphere and collegial spirit in the room reflected the strength of this collaboration among the NYU High School Academy, the NYU College of Dentistry, and Leslin.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Dianne Sefo, RDH, MEd, FNYAM, FADHA—Clinical Associate Professor, Chair—and her exceptional team for their dedication to creating an inspiring event and for their continuous support of student development. We are also deeply grateful to Citllali Castro, Director of Educational Pathways and Alternative Programs at NYU SPS High School Academy, whose leadership has been instrumental in shaping this important educational pathway.

Present at the reception were: President/CEO Linda C. Lombardi and Board Members Mei Kong and Marcia Peters. Our dedication, involvement, and support reflect Leslin’s mission to uplift young people as they explore futures in healthcare.

We are truly grateful for this partnership with the NYU High School Academy and the NYU College of Dentistry. Together, we are opening doors, inspiring confidence, and supporting students as they take their first meaningful steps toward careers in dentistry.

Leslin has been accepted to participate in the curriculum First Steps Career Skills Curriculum pilot. Members of the Leslin Board, Lesmah Fraser, MPS, D.Litt (Hon), Mei Kong, RN, D.Sc., Lin Lombardi, PhD, and Leslin collaborators, Kim Mendez, EdD. and Aaron Hultgren, MD will offer curriculum to NYU High School students beginning Fall 2025. Leslin will be an active participant in the AAMC community.

Announcement: Collaboration With American Association of Medical Schools

The Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation Supports the New York Academy of Medicine Library

A vintage pocket watch with a chain and a bracelet inside a box with an orange velvet lining, placed on a wooden table alongside other boxes.

Wooden bookshelf with a plaque that reads 'The Drs. Barry and Bobbi Collier Rare Book Reading Room' in a library, with bookshelves and books in the background.

“Discovering the Past to Inform the Future”

The Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation is dedicated to supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders and emphasizes the importance of history in leadership development. Recently, as part of the NYU High School Academy course titled “Exploring Careers in Medicine” Professor Lin Lombardi took NYU High School Academy students on a visit to the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) and its historic library. The NYAM Library’s work is to “Discover the Past and Inform the Future.”

During the visit, participants discovered NYAM’s impressive collection of rare texts, artifacts, and treasures within the library. As a gesture of appreciation for NYAM and the NYAM Library, the Leslin Healthcare Leadership Foundation donated $1,000 to support the preservation of history and education.

Group of children and adults posing in a room with wooden cabinetry, some holding bags or backpacks, standing on a checkered wooden floor.

NYU High School Academy Students Visit the NYAM Library

Connecting Mission to Practice: A Collaborative Site Visit to NYU College of Dentistry

Leslin recently had the pleasure of coordinating a site visit to NYU College of Dentistry, hosted by Dianne L Sefo, Chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene & Dental Assisting. We are especially grateful to Dean Bertolami, and Executive Vice Dean O’Connor for their time, thoughtful discussion, support, and for sharing NYU Dentistry’s mission of student growth and patient-centered care.

This visit strongly aligned with Leslin’s mission as an educational non-profit to expand access, exposure, and pathways into health professions through meaningful institutional partnerships, particularly with A. Li Song, MD (China), L.Ac., President of the New York College of Health Profession, whose collaboration with Mr. Yao Yichun, Chairman of the Industry-Education Committee of the UN World Federation, CEO and Owner of China POCY Group, and his esteemed delegation, made the site visit possible.

During the visit, Professor Sefo provided an overview of NYU College of Dentistry, with a focus on the Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs. Discussions highlighted curriculum design, professional development, accreditation, and career pathways, followed by a tour of training labs, classrooms, and specialized facilities, including the NYU Dentistry Oral Health Center for People with Disabilities. Conversations also explored advanced technologies, evolving roles in the field and dental hygiene, the global need for oral health services, and the vital connection between oral health and overall well-being.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to China POCY Group and the delegation for sharing compelling films that illuminated their educational vision and the transformative institutional development underway in China. Their presentations reflected a deep commitment to excellence in healthcare and vocational education, as well as a shared enthusiasm for skills-based careers and future-focused opportunities for collaboration.

Our heartfelt thanks to NYU College of Dentistry for graciously hosting this meaningful exchange, and to Dean Bertolami and Executive Vice Dean O’Connor for their leadership and insight. Special appreciation to Prof. Sefo for thoughtfully arranging and guiding this visit, and for her hospitality and dedication to advancing Dental Hygiene, oral health education, and global collaboration. We are grateful to Dr. Song, President of NY College of Health Professions; Mr. Yao Yichun, CEO and owner of China POCY Group; and all who participated in this visit.