Lilian A. Nyindodo, Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Briana J. Jegier, Baptist Health Sciences University
Troy Camarata, Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Program Introduction/Background and Relevance to ASPBP
BHSU HealthCORE is a comprehensive community program that is delivered by Baptist Health Sciences University in partnership with Baptist Memorial Health Care. The program serves pre-K through college-aged students and their families. The program includes single-day events for aspiring STEM and Health professionals, youth summer camps, mentoring, tutoring, shadowing opportunities, and other support for students and adults in the Mid-South. The program’s four focus areas (Community outreach, One-on-one mentoring, Real-life experiences, Educational support) are housed under one umbrella to maximize students’ engagement with activities that support them. The program is designed to introduce many aspects of health care careers to students as well as build soft skills that are not usually taught but are needed as students enter health and stem professional programs. The program has three primary aims:
- To generate interest in healthcare STEM careers for students at all levels.
- To equip underserved students with tools needed to be successful in getting into healthcare professions.
- To increase diversity in healthcare professions.
To support the program, connections have been made with the Baptist Foundation along with community groups including local banks, businesses, other institutions of higher learning, and individuals.
Target Population
The target population of the BHSU HealthCORE Program is underrepresented students in the Mid-South. This includes women, people of color, people with disabilities, those from low-income households, or who live in rural areas. The program is open to individuals from all backgrounds.
Lessons Learned
Some of the lessons learned from this program are the critical importance of networking and trust building by following through on commitments. It has taken over a decade to build the community and institutional connections needed for HealthCORE’s success. We will share how the program was built, the keys to its success, past and current challenges, and what features could easily translate to other programs/institutions.