In this issue:
- Serve underserved populations as a Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) Ambassador
- Apply by Oct. 15 for the Washington Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars
- Tip of the Month: Setting priorities
Help serve underserved populations
The Health Careers Opportunity Program’s (HCOP) Ambassador program is designed to help students in health professional schools develop skills in working with underserved populations. The program is seeking underrepresented students or those willing to serve in underserved areas who have about two years left in their program.
To be an ambassador, you must:
- Complete online low-stakes canvas modules (e.g. some from the Underserved Pathway).
- Mentor a high school or undergraduate student interested in a health career. You may receive mentorship as well from a faculty member, if you’d like.
- Complete a community service-learning project and present a poster or PowerPoint at a summer HCOP program.
Compensation is $1,000 for participation. The priority application deadline is Oct. 6, 2024, then rolling admission thereafter.
Questions? Email HCOP Associate Director Hoa B. Appel, PhD, MPH, at happel@uw.edu.
Apply by Oct. 15 for the Washington Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars
Applications are due by Oct. 15, 2024, to join the Washington AHEC Scholars, a free interprofessional training program that offers graduates a nationally recognized certificate that you can put on your CV.
AHEC Scholars is a two-year education and training program with the goal of supporting a diverse cohort of health professions students with an interest in working with rural and underserved communities. The team will provide you with skills and experiences to better prepare you to serve patients faced with barriers to healthcare access.
Peer to Peer: Tip of the Month from Career Advising
Congratulations on finishing your first block! You may have been thinking about getting involved in shadowing, research, and interest groups, but it is still early; take your time so you don’t overcommit. Instead, prioritize preparing for the Infections & Immunity (I&I) block. Just as before, it will be a lot of content very quickly. Planning is ideal. The micro section of Sketchy is going to be a very valuable resource. Try to map out which videos you will need to watch daily or weekly.
Some students start exploring pathways and non-clinical electives. These educational opportunities can be a great way to gain a well-rounded medical education. Check out the FAMED 525 African American Health Disparities course, which is described above. This course has been revamped by the co-founders (E19 students) of the Black Health Justice Pathway and is the first course at UWSOM to discuss various topics such as abolition, community organizing, mental health, the history of Midwifery & Ob/Gyn in the U.S., and mass incarceration — with experts from the Black community in, and outside of, academia.
- Reviewed by BIPOC MS4 Abraham Correa-Medina. Originally written by BIPOC alum Shanelle Briggs, MD.
ICYMI: Here’s the previous MS1 newsletter.