The University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Medical Technology
in the School of Allied Health Professions has received a three-year, $300,000
grant from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The grant, titled, Health Care Education Partners, has three goals:
to make minority and disadvantaged high school students aware of the educational
and career opportunities in the allied health professions; to develop a
network of Nebraska allied health professionals as mentors for the students;
and to offer courses for professionals who want to learn more about the
special health care needs of minority and other vulnerable populations.
The allied health professions are those which support physicians, nurses,
pharmacists and dentists. They include medical technology, physical therapy,
radiography, medical nutrition, medical sonography, physician assistant,
nuclear medicine, perfusion science, radiation therapy, and cytotechnology.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the minority population in Nebraska
has outgrown the Caucasian population over the last seven years. The Caucasian
population has grown 4 percent, while the black population has grown by
14.4 percent, American Indian, Eskimo and Aleutian Islands by 15.4 percent,
Asian and Pacific Islander, 66.6 percent, Hispanic, 83.5 percent, white,
non-Hispanic, 2.2 percent and all other categories of minorities, 9.4 percent.
In spite of significant efforts over the last five years, our school
has only achieved 5 to 6 percent overall enrollment of minorities, said
Phyllis Muellenberg, M.A., program director of the UNMC Division of Medical
Technology. We have been working on this for years and spinning our wheels.
Muellenberg and Linda Fell, M.S., education coordinator of the division,
are project director and co-project director of the grant, which will cover
the period of time from July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2002.
The grant first will concentrate on the field of medical technology
then will expand to other allied health areas. Medical technologists perform
laboratory tests necessary for diagnosis and treatment of disease. They
obtain samples of blood, tissue or other body fluids and do a wide variety
of analytical procedures using computer and laboratory technology.
Muellenberg said what makes this grant unique is the mentoring component
— the key to increasing recruitment is to make students aware of the professions
and provide access to mentors in those professions.
We have a network of professionals on which to build support for this
project. Were going to tap into that network, Muellenberg said.
If a student in North Platte wants information, we will look into our
database and hook them up with someone in the community. A lot of times,
students will hear about a career but what they need to do is visit with
a professional who can answer questions and show them what the careers
about. If we can put in place and maintain the mentoring component, I think
we will be successful.
Muellenberg and Fell will work with science classes in five Nebraska
high schools — Omaha Benson High School in Omaha, Lincoln High School,
Grand Island Senior High School, Macy Public High School, and Winnebago
Public High School. She said eventually, the recruitment program will be
expanded to include all high schools in Nebraska.
Students will have access to multimedia resources through an Internet
site to gain information about allied health professions. Students
also will be able to have conversations or chats online with allied health
professionals.
It is imperative that we increase the number of minority graduates
in health careers. We need to make these students aware of the opportunities
and encourage them to select an allied health profession, Muellenberg
said.
The allied health professions may suit someone who wants to be a part
of the health care team but who doesnt want to be a physician, nurse,
pharmacist or dentist, Muellenberg said. There are many rewards working
in an allied health profession. In many cases, it may lead to advancement
to another career.
The Nebraska Videoconferencing System and the Internet, as well as videotape
and independent study packets will be used to provide the professional
modules for practitioners.
For more information about the activities of this grant, call the UNMC
Division of Medical Technology at (402) 559-8366. Information about careers
in the allied health professions is available on the Internet at: www.unmc.edu/alliedhealth/sahp.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment and solid organ transplantation. More than
$34 million in research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists
annually. In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for
training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other
institution.