UNMC, metro school districts form health care career alliance

A future shortage of health care providers across Nebraska has prompted a community effort to prepare high school students for health care careers.

An alliance between UNMC and Omaha area school districts will give high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college-level courses to prepare for health care careers.

Bellevue West student Jabria Spencer, right, discusses the new health science alliance as, from left, College of Nursing Dean Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., Dan Sitzman, past-president of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science, and UNMC Student Senate Vice President Jeremy Peterson look on.

“A strong science background is part of a critical foundation that will prepare students for multiple health care professions,” said Bob Bartee, UNMC vice chancellor for external affairs. “In addition, the alliance will train students from diverse backgrounds to meet the long-term health care needs of our state.”

The alliance will expose students to the varied opportunities in health care-related professions through coursework, hands-on experiences and mentoring.

Students can apply now for spots in the alliance thanks to the generosity of The Sherwood Foundation, which funded a large portion of the partnership. Interested students can select from several courses that will be offered this fall.

The courses — specifically designed for high school students — will be taught by UNMC faculty at the medical center campus. Some of the topics include:

• Innovation of medical technologies;
  
• Medical decision making; and
  
• Biomedical research.

The courses allow students to gain experience in clinic settings and work in labs with world-renowned UNMC researchers, faculty and staff.

Most of the courses offered in this program will be eligible for dual enrollment credit with the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).

Alliance members Participating school districts include: Bellevue Public Schools Bennington Public Schools Council Bluffs Community School District Douglas County West Community Schools Educational Service Unit No. 3 Gretna Public Schools Omaha Public Schools (OPS) Papillion-LaVista School District Westside Community Schools

District leaders said the alliance fits students’ needs and gives them greater access to potential professions.

In addition to the coursework, students will be paired with UNMC student and faculty mentors. This mentoring component aims to bridge achievement gaps and provide one-on-one support to guarantee student success.

While students must meet eligibility requirements, the alliance is open to all students in participating districts. It will welcome its first group of 35 students this fall.

Detailed course descriptions will be available soon. Interested students should contact their guidance counselors for applications. Visit www.unmc.edu/alliance
for more information.