Spring Break
Health Sciences reach out
Alexia Lang
Issue date: 6/1/09 Section: News
Hospital Hill will soon be bustling with high school and college undergraduate students with dreams of entering the medical field.
The UMKC Health Sciences departments offer summer programs that reach out to young people in this community, as well as neighboring communities, getting them one step closer to those dreams.
The School of Dentistry, the School of Medicine, the School of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing each offer a program during the summer.
The PRIMO/AHEC Dental Assisting Program, offered for a week each summer, accepts 10-12 rural students. Students then complete an internship with dentists in their communities.
In its sixth year, the purpose of the program is to train much-needed dentists to serve in rural areas, according to John Cottrell, clinical instructor and director of Minority and Special Programs.
"It gives them an idea of what it is like to be a dentist," Cottrell said. "They learn a lot."
Of the 39 students who have participated in this program, 17 are currently pre-dental/pre-dental hygiene students, nine are current dental or dental hygiene students with seven of the nine attending UMKC and one is currently working as a dental assistant.
"They are really a good group of students," Cottrell said.
The program provides free housing, meals, transportation, dental scrubs/protective eyewear and recreational activities. Students learn about infection control/personal protective equipment, cubical preparation, OSHA guidelines, HIPPA and how it pertains to dentistry, sterilization and more.
Pathways to Nursing is a year-long program that also has a week-long campus residential event during the summer.
The program reaches out to students from minority and underrepresented populations with the goal of fulfilling the need for nurses.
Students participate in learning activities, tour hospitals and are given the opportunity to interact with a community of Nursing students.
The UMKC Health Sciences departments offer summer programs that reach out to young people in this community, as well as neighboring communities, getting them one step closer to those dreams.
The School of Dentistry, the School of Medicine, the School of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing each offer a program during the summer.
The PRIMO/AHEC Dental Assisting Program, offered for a week each summer, accepts 10-12 rural students. Students then complete an internship with dentists in their communities.
In its sixth year, the purpose of the program is to train much-needed dentists to serve in rural areas, according to John Cottrell, clinical instructor and director of Minority and Special Programs.
"It gives them an idea of what it is like to be a dentist," Cottrell said. "They learn a lot."
Of the 39 students who have participated in this program, 17 are currently pre-dental/pre-dental hygiene students, nine are current dental or dental hygiene students with seven of the nine attending UMKC and one is currently working as a dental assistant.
"They are really a good group of students," Cottrell said.
The program provides free housing, meals, transportation, dental scrubs/protective eyewear and recreational activities. Students learn about infection control/personal protective equipment, cubical preparation, OSHA guidelines, HIPPA and how it pertains to dentistry, sterilization and more.
Pathways to Nursing is a year-long program that also has a week-long campus residential event during the summer.
The program reaches out to students from minority and underrepresented populations with the goal of fulfilling the need for nurses.
Students participate in learning activities, tour hospitals and are given the opportunity to interact with a community of Nursing students.
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