About OSA

ONCOFERTILITY SATURDAY ACADEMY

Oncofertility Saturday Academy students and directors in 2009.Oncofertility Saturday Academy (OSA) is a science program designed to engage a diverse population of high school girls from Chicago to explore the basic science, clinical applications, and careers options in reproductive science, cancer biology, and oncofertility.  OSA was initiated in 2007 by the Northwestern University and Young Women's Leadership Charter School (YWLCS) of Chicago Science Partnership.  OSA consists of seven modules that navigate the high school girls to authentically experience the translational nature of science.  The first set of three modules focus on basic science research and is called the Junior Oncofertility Saturday Academy (JOSA), offered only to YWLCS 11th grade students.  The second set of three modules focus on clinical medicine and is called the Senior Oncofertility Saturday Academy (SOSA), offered only to YWLCS 12th grade students.  Students and parents/guardians participate in the final module called the Parent Oncofertility Saturday Academy (POSA) to share experiences and communicate about science, academic programs and careers in science and medicine.  Oncofertility refers to an interdisciplinary and interprofessional approach to developing and providing new fertility preservation options to  young men, women, and children who have been diagnosed with cancer or other serious disease and who must undergo potentially fertility-threatening treatment.  

ACADEMY GOALS

Goals for High School Girls:

• Learn and apply science concepts and scientific processing skills by doing hands-on laboratory and clinical activities.
• Explore and prepare for college academic programs and careers in the science and medical fields.
• Develop relationships with graduate and medical students, scientists, doctors and other professionals.
• Be empowered with women's health knowledge to make informed, authoritative decisions about personal health and to share with peers, family and communities.

Goals for Parents/Guardians of the High School Girls:

• Develop awareness, knowledge, and skills to support their daughter's interest and pursuits in science and medicine.

ACADEMY DIRECTORS AND COORDINATOR

OSA Directors

Teresa Woodruff, Ph.D.

The Thomas Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Director and Founder, The Oncofertility Consortium

Megan Faurot, M.Ed.

Director of Education Programs

Institute for Women's Health Research

Student Affairs and Partnership Coordinator

Melissa Resh, M.Ed.

Science Educator

Young Women's Leadership Charter School