KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A new program will introduce West Michigan high school students from underrepresented and minority populations to a variety of careers in health care fields, with the ultimate goal of improving primary care and increasing diversity in health care professions.
Western Michigan University’s Western Regional Area Health Education Center (AHEC), in partnership with Spectrum Health and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, will welcome the initial cohort of 25 high school students and 25 undergraduate students in February 2021 to the Health Careers Pipeline Program (HCPP).
According to officials, HCPP is a seven-week mentorship program focused on health career exploration, college readiness and leadership skills development. It matches high school students, grades nine and ten, from underserved rural and urban schools in West Michigan with undergraduate student mentors studying in health-related programs at WMU or Grand Valley State University.
Students and mentors will meet weekly, participating in activities and discussions to introduce them to various health careers. College mentors will also talk with younger students about their own experiences in pursuing their passion for health care.
“We have students who are overcoming the same challenges these high school students will face,” executive director of the Western Regional AHEC Lisa Brennan said in a statement. “First-generation college students, students from medically underserved areas, students of color; these students make our colleges stronger and, when they graduate, they’ll make our health care professions stronger, too. And their stories might be what inspires these younger students to do the same.”
Students from the MSU College of Human Medicine are also involved in the program, working on curriculum development. While they earn service-learning credit for their participation, the interprofessional and collaborative aspects of the project prepare the students for life after graduation, according to officials.
Dr. Lisa Lowery, assistant dean for diversity and cultural initiatives at MSU College of Human Medicine and section chief of adolescent and young adult medicine at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, has also released a statement on the program.
“Programs like these are so rewarding for our students, for our communities and for our professions,” Lowery said. “Our students are intentional about their participation, paying attention to different health care systems, different educational institutions and earning invaluable experience working toward change in our communities.”
There are five area health education centers in the state of Michigan, and each of them are charged with improving primary care and working toward greater diversity in health care professions. Michigan AHECs sponsor university-community partnerships statewide to engage with high school students in underserved, underrepresented and minority communities.
“We couldn’t do this without the support of community partners like Medical Staff Services of Spectrum Health,” Brennan added. “Their financial support allows us to offer this program to these students completely free, removing the greatest single barrier for programs like this one.”
More information about the program can be found here.
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