Introduction/Background

Career and Technical Education (CTE) equips students with both academic and practical skills, preparing them for success in the workforce or further education. Rhode Island's CTE programs offer a range of opportunities, including career exploration in healthcare, enhanced educational experiences through hands-on learning that complements traditional coursework, workforce development through skills and certifications relevant to healthcare professions, and networking opportunities with healthcare professionals and potential mentors through partnerships with medical schools. These partnerships play a key role in promoting healthcare careers to high school students.

The Importance of the Topic or Problem

A significant challenge to achieving health equity is the compounding effect of health disparities and the lack of diversity within the healthcare workforce. When the workforce doesn't reflect the communities it serves, communication barriers and cultural insensitivity can arise, leading to poorer patient experiences and health outcomes. Research demonstrates that patients tend to feel more comfortable and trusting with healthcare professionals who share their background. Addressing these issues is crucial for achieving health equity.

Rationale for the Panel

This panel will share experiences in developing, running, and participating in pathways programs created through a partnership between a local medical school, two high schools from two different school districts, and the communities they serve. The panelists will share valuable lessons learned for other schools interested in collaborating with professional schools on similar pathways programs.

Challenges/Concerns/Gaps in the Field Being Addressed

The panel will address ways to enhance and develop pathways programs by fostering partnerships between school districts and health professional schools.

Introduction/Background

The Emerging Health Professionals (EHP) program combines dual enrollment coursework with clinical observations for high-achieving high school seniors interested in a career in healthcare. The program, initiated in 2005 and offered through the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute (LCTI), is

comprised of partner educational institutions and health care providers in northeast Pennsylvania.

EHP provides experiential and interactive learning opportunities within a variety of healthcare Settings providing exposure to a wide array of healthcare careers. Students attend college courses, clinical observations, and participate in healthcare oriented technical curriculum. The curricula

include topics such as career readiness, ethics, and infection control.

Importance of the Topic

The EHP program promotes recruitment of youth into healthcare careers, specifically careers at the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). Annual cohorts are typically 55 students; more than 750 students have graduated the program to date. More than 100 EHP alumni have been employed in a

range of positions at LVHN and many have acted as preceptors, special presenters, and Occupational Advisory Board members.

The increased demand for health care clinicians, especially nurses, has prompted a renewed focus on youth programs as a valuable recruitment tool. LVHN has taken a closer look at positive relationship building in secondary and post-secondary settings as a factor in recruitment. Do youth programs create positive experiences with a health network that carries into employment? Do additional touchpoints and programming during post-secondary education years build upon the positive attitudes and increase the likelihood that students will seek employment with the organization?

Rationale for the Panel

This panel will discuss the Emerging Health Program and its role as a recruitment tool. Additionally, we will explore the impact of post-secondary programming like the nurse externship on recruitment and retention. Panelists include instructors from the Emerging Health Program, program alumni, and college admissions representatives.

Challenges

A longer-term challenge for the program is increasing the diversity of the applicant pool and representation within the cohort and providing support to socioeconomically disadvantaged students and those historically underrepresented in health care careers. The EHP program is not without costs; students must pay for incidentals and tuition. While partner colleges offer discounted tuition rates, the cost of tuition remains an impediment and may serve to dampen potential student interest. The program requires independent transportation which serves as another barrier. To help address these needs, LVHN has partnered with LCTI to establish scholarships with the goal of removing the cost impediment and supporting students.

Introduction/Background

Pre-matriculation programs are increasing in number across health professions education and training programs. This panel will focus on pre-matriculation programs in U.S. medical schools. Panelists will share 3 examples of different programs/program models currently in existence. Panelists will share about different target audiences, desired outcomes, evaluation methods.

Importance of the Topic or Problem

Understanding the different pre-matriculation models currently in existence – as well as those in development – is important for any educators/administrators currently engaged in pre-matriculation programming or seeking to establish a pre-matriculation program at their own institution.

Rationale for the Panel

Pre-matriculation programs – defined as programs offered to entering pre-health students who have been accepted but have not yet formally matriculated/begun their health education program - are increasing in popularity in medical education. With the increase in pre-matriculation programs offered, there is increase in the diversity of program models, as well as heterogeneity in target audiences, desired outcomes, strategies, and methods of evaluation.

Challenges/Concerns/Gaps in the Field Being Addressed

One challenge in the pre-matriculation space is the plethora of program models available. It is essential for medical schools to adapt them to the unique circumstances of each medical school. This panel will address these challenges as panelists share first-hand experience with developing and implementing pre-matriculation programs that meet the particular needs of their institution.