Health screenings performed by medical and nursing students for stable workers at Tampa Bay Downs.

Health Careers & Recruitment

University of South Florida AHEC Showcases Its Pipeline Programs for HRSA Administrator

The University of South Florida Area Health Education Center took its opportunity to shine recently when the program hosted a visit by Elizabeth Duke, PhD, administrator for the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. HRSA oversees the nation’s AHEC programs, including the one at USF and four other medical schools across Florida.  

Dr. Duke was in Tampa to present the keynote address at the National Health Service Corps Scholars Conference. She and her senior advisor Steve Smith spent the morning of Aug. 1 with USF AHEC Program Director Cynthia S. Selleck, DSN, ARNP; Gulfcoast North AHEC Executive Director Jody Lazzara, LMHC; and Gulfcoast South AHEC Chief Executive Officer Edna Apostol, MPH. “It was an honor for us to have Dr. Duke visit our program,” Dr. Selleck said.

 

Dr. Duke’s visit was the opportunity to showcase for the HRSA guests two of AHEC’s “pipeline” programs that target promising underrepresented and disadvantaged youth interested in pursuing careers in health. Students participating in Interdisciplinary Community Health Scholars (ICHS) and Pre-Medical Summer Enrichment Program (PSEP) shared with Dr. Duke the impact of their AHEC experiences.

 

ICHS brings teams of students from various health professions together for the summer to help tackle real-life public health issues. Public health graduate students and ICHS participants Renee Clarke and LaShanta Rice showed Dr. Duke an educational toolkit their team created for Clean Start, a Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County initiative to help women have substance abuse-free pregnancies. “Within the team setting, we were exposed to social workers, nurses, physicians and saw how everyone has an important piece of trying to solve a particular problem,” said team member Alyssa Brown, a second-year medical student. “We learned all the steps that need to be taken to get a community program off the ground.”

 

L-r: pre-med students D.J. Quinones and Harold Paul; Dr. Elizabeth Duke; second year medical student Alyssa Brown; public health graduate students LaShanta Rice and Renee Clarke.

PSEP participants Harold Paul, a USF senior, and Daniel Quinones, a USF junior, shared their experiences as part of this intensive six-week summer program for highly motivated underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students preparing for medical or physical therapy school. Participants shadow community physicians, review for the MCAT (medical college entrance examination), work with patient simulators and standardized patients in the Center for Advanced Clinical Learning, and attend clinical seminars on such topics as health disparities, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Mr. Quinones shadowed the chief of orthopedic surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital and observed several surgeries as well as physician interactions with patients. “I would say about 80 percent of his patients spoke only Spanish,” said Quinones, who hopes to one day be an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon. “I learned a lot about the cultural aspects of medicine and barriers to care. It makes me want to be a better doctor…. Even if I become a specialist, I’d want to give back to the community.”

 

AHEC introduces PSEP and ICHS students to community partners such as Premier Community Healthcare Group, a federally qualified health center that cares for medically underserved and uninsured patients in East Pasco County. Dr. Marlene Hart, medical director of Premier, along with Tampa Community Health Center CEO Charlie Bottoms and Suncoast Community Health Center CEO Brantz Roszel, also attended the meeting with Dr. Duke. The three FQHC executives spoke highly of their regard for AHEC. “It seems as if the best of the best come to us through you,” Mr. Roszel told Dr. Selleck. “I’m glad we could add some insights into how important you are.”

 

Dr. Duke commended the students on their interest in AHEC and was particularly impressed with the FQHC collaboration. “We desperately need diverse health professionals who understand patients who speak different languages and come from different cultural backgrounds,” she said. “I hope to meet you in the near future in your new roles.”

 

For more information contact Anne Maynard, amaynard@health.usf.edu.

 

Northeast Minnesota AHEC Launches Health Career Enrichment Program

At the conclusion of a regional K-12 needs assessment, the Northeast Minnesota AHEC realized that health workforce development was lacking at the elementary school level in Northeast Minnesota. Moreover, alarming rates of pediatric obesity and lack of proper nutrition knowledge were a significant concern for residents in our region.  Brittany Morgan, Health Career Specialist, who is also a licensed health teacher in Minnesota, decided to address these glaring needs by envisioning and developing an innovative program to make the Northeast Minnesota AHEC’s K-12 pipeline more inclusive. The Northeast Minnesota AHEC’s Health Career Enrichment Program (H.C.E.P.) is a compete kit for 1^st-6^th grade students that focuses on healthy habits and health careers. 

Each kit contains an in-depth curriculum, hands-on activities, videos, and worksheets. This program has been enthusiastically embraced by over 960 elementary students in Northeast Minnesota in only nine months. The H.C.E.P. kit is delivered to a classroom and left with a teacher for two weeks. The H.C.E.P. is a comprehensive flexible program that lets the teacher utilize the kit that meets the educational needs and objectives of the students in their classroom.  

The H.C.E.P. has met with rave reviews from instructors throughout Minnesota and was adopted by the Minnesota 4-H program. When evaluated a 1^st grade teacher said, “It was a great learning opportunity for our students!” A 3^rd grade teacher stated, “Thank you for providing this wonderful resource; our funds don’t allow for health resources.” This program is also available in a 4-H version. Minnesota 4-H has purchased 28 kits and will be using them for statewide 4-H groups. This original kit is available for purchase. For more information, please contact Brittany Morgan at bmorgan2@range.fairview.org or 218-362-6460.
 

CLAHEC collaborates with Our Lady of the Lake College for Health Career Enticement Opportunity 

“Wow, what things we learn from our blood!”

Central Louisiana AHEC collaborated with Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to initiate a health career enticement opportunity called “CI:Healthcare” for high school juniors and seniors in CLAHEC’s seventeen-parish region. The one-day program offered sixty students who have an interest in health careers an opportunity to explore Nursing and Allied Health careers, to gain hands-on learning experiences, and to learn OLOLC admissions requirements and scholarship opportunities. Sixty participants and four alternates were chosen from one hundred twenty-five applications. Applications included a copy of the student’s grade transcript, letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor, and a written essay. 

2008 CI:Healthcare group picture

Participants were divided into groups and rotated during the day through the college’s departments of clinical lab science, forensic science, gerontology, nursing, other sciences, phlebotomy, physical therapy, surgical technology, therapeutic massage, radiology technology, and respiratory therapy. Our Lady of the Lake College’s Student Ambassadors and Student Government Association volunteered their time to act as guides for each of the groups. There was a “student panel” session during the lunch break that included representatives from each of the departments as well as representatives from the Student Government Association. The participants were able to ask questions about student life, adjusting to the college experience, individual departments, or anything else.   

The program was marketed through health career presentations in high schools, pre- and post- program press releases in all seventeen parishes, a mailing to schools in the Fall, emails to guidance counselors and science teachers, and public service announcements with local radio stations. Three television stations were contacted, and one sent a reporter to do a segment during one of the rotations, and it was aired locally in the Baton Rouge area. 

Participants completed an evaluation survey at the end of the day which enabled CLAHEC to have measurable outcomes for the program itself. Student comments were extremely positive. One student summed up the program: “I really enjoyed getting a closer look at these professions.  It gave me a better idea of what each career actually does. This experience will definitely hold weight in my future career decisions.” A Feedback Luncheon was held for OLOLC faculty and staff who participated in organization or implementation of the program. The meeting provided CLAHEC an opportunity to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats enabling us to make future programs even better.   

For further information, contact Nan Ewing, Program Coordinator for Central Louisiana AHEC, 5220 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70809, phone (225-757-9845) or email (nan@clahec.org).

Have you thought about volunteering some of your “extra” time to NAO, but weren’t sure where your skills could fit NAO needs? We now have a brief description of the standing committees within the NAO framework. Please take a look at these at these committee descriptions at http://www.nationalahec.org/About/Committees.asp. If you have an interest, email NAO Headquarters (info@nationalahec.org) indicating your area of interest.
 

CORE (Committee on Research and Evaluation)

Nine outcome measures were identified as “critical” to show the impact of AHECs nationally, based a survey conducted by the NAO Committee on Research and Evaluation (CORE).  Once finalized, these potential national outcome measures will be incorporated into a data request to all AHECs, including definitions and data collection instructions, by CORE.  Summaries of the outcome measures from the AHECs will be included in the NAO Annual Report, along with the critical process data and success stories currently reported.  

The AHEC Outcomes Measures survey was conducted in one of the CORE-sponsored sessions at the NAO 2008 Conference and supplemented by an e-mail administered survey of past CORE Technical Assistance session participants.   Respondents were asked to indicate the level of importance of each of 57 potential outcome measures from their perspectives as well as whether they currently have or could collect the data needed to document each outcome.  A total of 56 individuals completed and submitted the questionnaire.  Most of the respondents were Center and Program Directors.  Two-thirds were based in rural areas.   

Wording suggestions were incorporated into the measures shown in the table.  One item (Retention of health providers in underserved areas), which was marked as “critical” by about one-half of the respondents was removed because the majority thought they could not get the data. Two very similar items were combined into a single measure in the table.  

CORE would appreciate feedback on these measures.  Please contact either Terry Zollinger (tzolling@iupui.edu; 317-278-0307) or Mary Wainwright (mewainwr@utmb.edu; 409-772-7884) with your suggestions and concerns.

AHEC's Top 9 Critical Outcome Measures*
Item	Marked as "Critical"	Have or Can Get Data
1. Number of former AHEC sponsored training rotation participants who practice in state and in underserved areas	73.6%	75.0%
2. Number of community-specific needed health professionals added to the workforce from AHEC programs	68.1%	73.3%
3. Number of AHEC enrichment participants who matriculated into health training programs	62.0%	81.3%
4.Number of medical student participants in AHEC training/rotations who chose/matched to primary care residencies	60.4%	81.6%
5. Number of AHEC continuing education program participants who remained in practice in underserved areas	58.8%	53.2%
6. Number of AHEC enrichment program participants who practice in state and in underserved areas	57.4%	86.5%
7. Number of students participating in AHEC sponsored rotations in underserved areas	53.8%	94.0%
8. Number of individuals who complete health training programs	52.9%	68.7%
9. Number of AHEC sponsored training rotation participants who intend to practice in underserved areas	52.0%	70.8%
*Measures would be reported by race/disadvantaged status, where possible.

Communications Committee Update

In July, the committee added a new member, Dwain Harris, Director of Southern Kentucky AHEC.  The committee is always looking for new members.  If you are interested in joining this fun committee, contact Ragan DuBose-Morris at duboser@musc.edu or Marty Schaller at martys@newahec.org. 

The committee’s current project is updating the content and structure of the NAO web site.  A page-by-page review and revision of the site is underway to promote a clearer understanding of the NAO mission.  If you have any suggestions for updates to the web site, please contact Ragan or Marty.   

Over the remaining months in this year, the committee will be working on revisions to the NAO brochure and development of the NAO Annual Report.  Look for updated versions of both in early 2009.

Education Committee

The NAO Board of Directors voted in June to delegate the planning of Spring Policy Days to the Education Committee.  The Education Committee will work hand in hand with the Policy Committee to insure Spring Policy Days provide members with the necessary information to keep our federal representatives informed about the status of Title VII legislation.  Spring Policy Days has become an annual event each spring in Washington D.C. for program directors and center directors.  Until we have re-authorization of Title VII funding it is critical that every state works with its representatives in Washington to move forward in funding AHEC on the national level.

The Education Committee is also moving forward in providing members with information on the latest K-12 programs as well as developing a leadership institute for members.  For more information contact Jim Ballard, jball0@email.uky.edu, or Sarah Cunningham, sarah@cn-ahec.org.

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