 Problem
A major concern today is inadequate health care for our Nation’s minority and disadvantaged populations, as well as the under-representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the health professions. Studies have shown that minority health professionals increase access to care and quality of care to minority patients and are more likely than their non-minority colleagues to serve in minority and medically underserved communities.
Solution
Central AHEC’s Health Careers program works through community collaborations to eliminate health disparities and increase workforce diversity by providing students with educational opportunities and career exposure. Our program inspires students, providing them with the understanding, compassion, and confidence necessary to pursue a career in the health care field.
Success
- Serves students from kindergarten through the college level
- Representation from 19 different towns in the Greater Hartford area
- 72% of our students are of an origin other than White, representing Hispanic, African, Asian and other descents
- 74% of our students are in college pursuing a health care related degree
- 100% of our college graduates majored in a health career
- Our students attend over 22 different colleges and study 14 different health careers
Goals for 2008
- Initiate AHEC Summer Institute program to provide training and employability skills to 30 Hartford students residing in the Blue Hills neighborhood
- Host a Health Careers Recruitment Conference to increase the number of community health professionals serving as mentors to our students
|
