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 8th and 9th 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 July 25th and 26th. 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

CNYAHEC and NAHEC’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 Sarah Nelson. Nelson, now a second year graduate student working towards her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Ithaca College, participated in CNYAHEC and NAHEC’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.

Sarah Nelson attended HealthQuest during her summer break while attending G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, NY. As an upcoming junior, she began to ponder what type of career she wanted to pursue post 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 she also connected to the college campus which she explains helped contribute to her applying decision 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 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. This competitive program is now accepting applications and spots will fill up quickly as only 32 students are accepted in order to give the best possible hands on and personal instruction. For more information about HealthQuest or to apply please visit:https://www.hwapps.org/program/healthquest-at-ithaca-college/

AHEC Helping to Build Local HOSA Representation

AHEC is working with the NYS HOSA advisor to build membership in New York.  The mission of AHEC and HOSA parallel one another and the Central and Northern AHEC offices are excited to promote this opportunity to our students.

HOSA is a national student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of ACTE. HOSA’s two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. HOSA’s goal is to encourage all health science instructors and students to join and be actively involved in the HSE-HOSA Partnership.

HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs or have interests in pursuing careers in health professions. HOSA is 100% health care!

Click here to watch the HOSA 2014-2015 Membership Video