Camp Med for Northern Borders P-TECH Students

Camp Med, a week long summer program for the Northern Borders P-TECH students, took place from July 18th through July 22nd. Camp Med is a required portion of the P-TECH summer curriculum. It involved a 1 day experience at the college (North Country Community College), 2 days at Alice Hyde Hospital, 1 day at Citizen Advocates and 1 day at the Northern Borders School itself.

Students participated in a variety of team building, leadership, and career informational opportunities as a sort of kick off to their upcoming school year. The Northern Area Health Education Center (NAHEC) in upstate New York helped to coordinate and sponsor the camp, guided the students in their first Project Based Learning assignment and team building activities, and continues to provide the management of all collaboration with industry partners.

Camp Med staff developed a slideshow of pics from Camp Med–check it out here!

L. Thomas Wolff Scholarship Winner Began Journey with MedQuest and MASH Camps

Area Health Education Centers always look to provide motivated students with exceptional opportunities to explore health careers and help them to pursue these careers with training post-high school, such as trade school and college. One student from the central New York area, Emily Kuehnle, has proved to be a brilliant student, outstanding member of the community, and a passionate individual who hopes to one day be a physician. She is attending the State University of New York at Binghamton in the fall of 2016, majoring in Biology (specifically pre-med). Kuehnle has participated in past programs, such as MASH Camp and MedQuest, through the Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC), which played a part in piquing her interest in health professions. HWapps was able to speak with Kuehnle about her accomplishments, how CNYAHEC contributed to her career decisions, and what this honor means to her.

Upon congratulating her on her award, she explained how excited she was to receive the news she had won. She originally did not realize how competitive this scholarship was, but when she did, could not believe that she had actually won it. There is no doubt that Emily was deserving of this prestigious scholarship award–she graduated as the valedictorian of her high school and has been an extremely active volunteer in her community. She is involved, well-rounded, and determined, which is what made her the top pick for the L. Thomas Wolff Scholarship.

As mentioned above, Kuehnle has participated in past MASH Camps and MedQuest programs through CNYAHEC as early as in seventh grade. She first discovered her passion for health work attending these camps. She stated that MedQuest and MASH Camp were critical to her career decisions and future success. She even mentioned how helpful and understanding the MedQuest staff was, as during her time in the program she had lost a very close family member. During this time she still managed to learn and make friends from different schools thanks to the excellent staff that works with CNYAHEC to put on MedQuest.

MedQuest and MASH Camps teach young men and women about potential careers in health work. Students with any interest in the medical field are encouraged to participate in these camps through CNYAHEC. The goal of these camps is to educate students of all the possibilities available to them and that there is more to the medical field than being a doctor, or extensive education necessary to practice. In turn, these students are encouraged to pursue careers in their community to bring health care to rural communities.

Kuehnle has been volunteering at Upstate Medical Center, which provides health care to much of the surrounding community. Through both her mother as a nurse at the center, and having spent time as a patient at the center from complications with a wisdom tooth surgery gone awry, Kuehnle hopes to one day help others in the community as a physician at the Upstate Medical Center. It is students like Emily Kuehnle that HWapps and CNYAHEC hopes to help succeed and reach their goals.

Kuehnle shared some advice for high school students with HWapps based on her continuing journey in health work. Kuehnle says to not stress and worry about what your major will be and instead channel that stress by reaching out and shadowing career options. She believes doing this will either help guide you to determine career goals or lead you to something else that would be a better fit. She also mentions to keep an open mind, especially when it comes to applying to schools. Kuehnle mentioned that she was the only valedictorian in her area that planned to attend a non-Ivy League school. She believes that the rigor of SUNY schools is underestimated and to not pick a school solely on the name or the prestige, but rather where you will feel most comfortable and happy.

Whether it is attending a college within your state, or planning on returning back to your community to pursue a career in health work, HWapps is always looking to help ambitious students to succeed. As many other AHECs would agree, providing these students with opportunities has an impact on the entire community.

New York State AHEC’s MASH Camp: Helping Young Adults Get Head Starts in Health Careers

You can never start too early, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Professionals are recommending young adults begin researching careers as early as ninth grade in high school. While this may seem premature, exploring specific careers sooner rather than later can help high school students begin working towards career goals.

New York State AHEC’s Medical Academy of Science and Health, also known as MASH, holds camps each summer for students entering 8^th and 9^th grade. The goal of these camps is to give students an outlet to discover and learn about different health careers and uncover their interests. Programs like MASH camps are extremely helpful in giving students resources that their schools usually do not provide. The field of health work is expanding as the population increases in the United States, and the need for health professionals is growing. When it comes to choosing a career, looking at job stability, income, and growth are all important factors to consider. According to Kim Brummett, senior director at the American Association for Homecare in Washington, D.C., “health care is recession proof…there is always a need.” That is why now more than ever it is important we expose young adults to potential careers in health work so that they continue to pursue these career goals. These students are the future in providing the world with health care, and MASH camps help highlight that there is a job for everyone in health care.

At MASH camp, students learn about a variety of health careers and the educational requirements/ training necessary for specific health professions, ranging from physical therapy, surgery, pathology, and even food service. Students participate in hands-on workshops through the duration of the camp to highlight the skills, technology, and equipment used by health professionals.

The next scheduled MASH camp for the Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC) and Northern AHEC (NAHEC) is June 23 & 24. To apply to MASH camp, or learn about other CNYAHEC and NAHEC programs, please visit our MASH Camp section on HWapps.

And for more health care career statistics from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics please refer to: http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/home.htm

National AHEC

Lourdes Hospital MASH Camp

We had a fantastic time at Lourdes Hospital MASH Camp this past week. We thank the hospital staff for their hospitality, and we especially thank the camp attendees for joining us.

HealthQuest at Ithaca College – July 2016

We just wrapped up a whirlwind of exciting workshops focusing on careers in allied health at Ithaca College Department of Health Promotion & Physical Education last week at HealthQuest.

From sports psychology to occupational therapy, and from physical therapy to emergency medical services, area students immersed themselves in these exciting careers and campus life. A special thank you to Ryan and Christiana, our chaperones, who helped capture these moments!

Afton Student Explores Medical Laboratory at Tri-Town

Have you ever wondered what happens after you have a blood test or biopsy? One Afton student had the chance to find out by participating in a medical laboratory science job shadowing program offered through Bassett Healthcare Network and CNYAHEC. Amber Sypniefski, a sophomore, had the unique opportunity to spend fifteen hours at Tri-Town Regional Hospital, where she explored how the role of the laboratory impacts the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

“My favorite part of the experience was being able to see the difference between if a person has cancer and if they are healthy,” said Amber about her time at Tri-Town Regional Hospital. “I recommend the job shadowing program to others. It’s a great way to learn different things that most people may not know about in the laboratory. I enjoyed it all!”

“The medical laboratory science job shadowing program is an excellent way for students to learn about the exciting opportunities in this high-demand career,” said Rebecca Brooks-White, Laboratory Manager at Tri-Town Regional Hospital. “We encourage students who are interested in science, and love doing hands-on laboratory work, to apply for the program. Amber took advantage of the opportunity and was able to get an in-depth look at the blood collection process, how blood specimens are processed, and the microscope identification involved in certain types of medical tests.”

In addition to gaining ‘real-life’ work experience in a local hospital, students also benefit from career counseling and guidance services that the program provides to those interested in pursuing medical laboratory science in college. The job outlook for careers in the medical laboratory is bright. According to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medical laboratory scientist job outlook is expected to grow 16 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

The program accepts applications from high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. If you, or your student, is interested in learning more about the program, please contact Laura Cichostepski, CNYAHEC’s Program Manager at (607) 756-1090 or info@cnyhec.org. Interested students may download an application by visiting CNYAHEC’s website.

CNYAHEC’s HealthQuest Summer Camp: Where Are They Now?

HWapps offers various opportunities for students to shadow professionals and learn about health careers through our platform. Many students have participated, which in turn has expanded their knowledge and prepared them for future endeavors. One student in particular is Sara Nelson. Nelson, now a second year graduate student working towards her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Ithaca College, participated in CNYAHEC’s summer camp, HealthQuest, back in 2009. We were able to speak with Nelson about her own personal experience with HealthQuest and how this program helped contribute to her success leading up to today.

Sara Nelson attended HealthQuest during her summer break while attending G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, NY. As an upcoming junior, she began to wonder what type of career she wanted to pursue after high school. For Nelson, this was an easy choice, as her family is heavily involved in the health field, both in nursing and pharmacy. However, narrowing down what exactly she wanted to study in the health field was a completely different story. That is when Nelson attended HealthQuest, a week long camp held during the summer months on Ithaca college’s campus. Nelson stated, “The HealthQuest camp allowed me the opportunity to get a sense of what else there was in the health field and to find where I would fit in with a career.” And through HealthQuest that is exactly what she accomplished. Not only did she determine Physical Therapy to be her health career of interest, but she also connected to the college campus, which helped contribute to her applying to and eventually attending Ithaca College two years later.

Nelson also added, “I learned a lot about health careers while I attended camp as a camper, but what has stuck with me since my time at the camp is the passion both of my chaperones had for their majors and the love they had for Ithaca. I wanted the opportunity to help someone find their passion as my chaperones were able to help me,” and that she did. Nelson became a chaperone for HealthQuest during summer 2015 before her final year of school. She felt that her experience was so impactful while she attended as a high school student that she only hoped to do the same for someone else in that spot.

HealthQuest continues this summer beginning July 11 to the 15 at Ithaca College campus. Through HealthQuest, students will explore a variety of health careers, learn important skills for success from health professionals and college instructors through interactive workshops and get to experience dorm life and campus living during their time. Visit our program page to learn more about HealthQuest.

Central New York AHEC Activities for Summer 2016

Every year Central New York AHEC holds summer programs and camps for students of all ages. Check out what is happening this summer!

Health Quest at Ithaca College July 11-15

High school students entering 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades get the chance to experience college dorm and campus living at this 5-day overnight camp at Ithaca College focused on allied health careers. Students will specifically learn about careers in physical therapy, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, and more! Health Quest chaperones and professionals will work with students to share their knowledge, skills, and advice in their studies and work in health care. Please click here to apply online or for more information.

MedQuest at SUNY Upstate Medical University June-July 2016

High school students, grades 10 through 12, and college freshman interested in pursuing careers in health care can apply to attend one of the Summer Camp Awareness Days. MedQuest is only available to New York State Residents. Unfortunately, the deadline has passed for this summer’s MedQuest; however, dates and topics are listed below.

June 28, 2016 – Nursing and Respiratory Care (9:00 am to 4:00 pm)

July 12, 2016 – Physician Assistant and Medicine (9:00 am to 4:00 pm)

July 13, 2016 – Biomedical Research, Medical Technology & Medical Biotechnology (9:00 am to 4:00 pm)

July 19, 2016 – Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (9:00 am to 4:00 pm)

July 20, 2016 – Medical Imaging Sciences and Radiation Therapy (1:00 pm to 7:00 pm) – Will include X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound and Radiation Therapy

For more information about SUNY Upstate Medical University’s MedQuest, please click here.

Medical Academy of Science and Health (M.A.S.H.) Camp June-August 2016

Students entering 8^th and 9^th grade this upcoming fall can participate in CNYAHECs summer M.A.S.H Camp programs. This two to three-day experience teaches students about careers in healthcare, exposes them to a variety of job opportunities, and their required on-the-job training or advanced college degrees needed for these careers. M.A.S.H. camps are designed to show students that there is a career for everyone in healthcare through workshops focusing on various topics specific to each healthcare facility. Workshops cover careers in physical therapy, nursing, surgery, food service, clinical laboratory sciences, cardiac care, speech language pathology, diagnostic imaging, recreational therapy, pharmacy, emergency medicine, and many more! This summer’s M.A.S.H. camps schedules are listed below. Find one near you and apply!

2016 Schedule

June 23 & 24…………..Auburn Community Hospital

June 28 & 29…………..Cayuga Medical Center

July 21 & 22…………….Lourdes Hospital

July 25 & 26……………Arnot Ogden Medical Center

July 27 & 28……………Cortland Regional Medical Center

August 3 & 4……………Oswego Hospital

August 3, 4 & 5………..Rome Memorial Hospital

August 17 & 18…………Community Memorial Hospital

For more information about M.A.S.H. camps or to apply, please click here.

MedLab Job Shadowing through Bassett Healthcare Network

High school and college students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare, particularly medical laboratory science, who enjoy solving puzzles, hands-on activities, and learning about new technological advances are encouraged to apply to MedLab Job Shadowing. CNYAHEC has partnered with Bassett Healthcare Network to give students the unique opportunity to spend a total of 15 hours shadowing professionals in medical laboratories. This program is flexible and can accommodate most students’ busy schedules. MedLab Job Shadowing offers ongoing open enrollment and job shadowing experiences in Cobleskill, Cooperstown, Delhi, Herkimer, Little Falls, Oneota, and Sidney.

To enroll, or for more information, please visit our MedLab Job Shadowing section of HWapps.

Healthcare opportunities are always available at MyHealthCareer.

For other opportunities offered through Central New York AHEC or more information about CNYAHEC, please visit their website.

MASH Camps on HWapps: A Closer Look

Currently, it is difficult to manage camp registration and data collection. Year after year, AHECs are continuously taking paper forms, filled out by the students, and entering that information into a database. Even with tight budgets, some AHECs have to pay for software to help track registration.

AHECs need an affordable solution to collect participant data and manage the application process without duplication of work.

Solution

HWapps provides program management solutions for student camps and other student programs. Students can apply for MASH camp online. Once applicants have been chosen, AHEC staff can run a report on HWapps. Instead of duplicating work by filling this information in multiple times, AHEC staff can simply use the HWapps report for HRSA and/or state requirements.

HWapps also provides greater benefits to users and AHECs alike. MASH camp applicants will have an HWapps account, which allows users to track their health career path. This allows AHECs an opportunity to track students over many years, which is something AHECs have previously been unable to accomplish. HWapps provides this game-changing opportunity.

Value to AHECs

Time saved
Track and report with ease
Longitudinal student tracking
Program management
Sustainability