The Idaho AHEC Scholars stands as a nationally recognized certificate initiative backed by HRSA/AHEC, designed for students within health professions programs who seek to elevate their interprofessional competencies. This program centers on eight fundamental subject domains, augmenting the expertise of each health scholar, with the goal of cultivating a versatile and capable primary care workforce, dedicated to serving rural and underserved communities. Explore eligibility, annual requirements, and watch for the application link post here and in the SW ID AHEC newsletter. We are accepting applications now through September 30, 2024.
AMPLIFY YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Enhance your understanding of access obstacles and health disparities faced by rural and underserved communities in Idaho. Idaho AHEC Scholars aims to empower you as a more proficient healthcare practitioners, equipping you with the ability to excel in collaborative, team-driven environments. Acquire fresh proficiencies, broaden your experiences, and formulate innovative strategies to enhance healthcare accessibility and provision.
BROADEN YOUR NETWORK
Establish a robust professional network spanning diverse health disciplines. Collaborate closely with a cohort of 45 (or more) peers representing various healthcare fields throughout Idaho. Additionally, become part of a larger national cohort, comprising of approximately 3,900 scholars across 49 programs nationwide. Seamlessly blend didactic courses and community-oriented learning obligations to engage alongside present-day healthcare trailblazers.
SET YOURSELF APART
Attain a nationally recognized certificate, secure a $1,000 stipend throughout your dedicated participation, and acquire a digital badge giving you access to future employment opportunities. These achievements will provide you with a distinct advantage in presenting your skills to residency programs and/or potential employers, enhancing your marketability. Furthermore, you will be featured in a publicized roster of graduating scholars, which will be shared with employers actively seeking to make new hires.
WHO'S ELIGIBLE?
To be eligible for the AHEC Scholar Program in Southwest Idaho you must:
- Be a citizen of the United States or a foreign national having in his/her possession a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States
- Be a health professions student of an approved program (see “Approved Disciplines”)
- Be in good standing in your program and have a GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Be at least two years from program or degree completion
- Commit to a two-year AHEC Scholars activity agenda
- Be going directly into a health profession when you graduate*
- Be willing to be contacted with a survey request one year after graduation from your degree program
*Pre-health programs that do not lead directly to a practicing health profession upon graduation and lab-based programs are not eligible.
As of December 2023, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognizes the following programs in Idaho. Health profession students studying in these disciplines must be graduating from their program within two years and be planning to begin practice shortly after graduation.
- Athletic Training (MS)
- Clinical Psychology (PhD)
- Dietetics/Nutrition (MS)
- Medicine (MD, DO)
- Nursing (AS, BSN, MSN, DNP, Advanced Practice)
- Nursing (DNP)
- Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Physician Assistant (MPAS)
- Social Work (BSW, MSW)
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
- Attend New Scholar Orientation (Fall)
- Complete 80 Hours Didactic Learning
- Complete 80 Hours of Clinical/Clinical Experiential Learning
- Complete all required evaluations
- Complete 40 hours of Didactic Learning
- Complete 40 Hours of Clinical/Clinical Experiential Learning
CORE TOPIC AREAS
Supports a coordinated, patient centered model of healthcare that involves an understanding of the contributions of multiple healthcare professionals.
Promotes the development of integrated primary and behavioral health services (mental health and substance use conditions).
Training healthcare providers to recognize and address the unique culture, language and health literacy of diverse individuals and communities.
Goal-setting, leadership, practice facilitation, workflow changes, measure outcomes, adapting organization tools and processes to support new team-based models of care delivery.
Examples include COVID-19, opioid abuse, geographically relevant health issues, etc.
Aims to increase training and development of CHWs and paraprofessionals to be the connectors who are able to serve as a liaison/link/intermediary between health professionals and the community to facilitate access to service and improve health equity, community/population health and social determinants of health.
Seeks to improve virtual learning and telehealth curricula and community-based experiential training. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all health care systems, hospitals and clinics to rapidly implement telehealth services, simulation-based technology and virtual trainings to continue delivering patient care.
Social Determinants of Health
Recognizes the impact of economic stability, education, social and community context, health & healthcare, neighborhood and built environments (determinants) on health.