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South Central
Area Health Education Center SUMMER HEALTH CAREERS CAMP |
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INTRODUCTION
The Summer Health Careers Camp is a week-long, health careers-awareness program for high school seniors, teachers, and/or counselors from rural and medically underserved areas in the South Central AHEC region (Bexar and eleven surrounding counties). Camps are held every summer at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) and include visits to other health and educational facilities in the area. The Summer Health Careers Camp is sponsored by the South Central Area Health Education Center and is funded primarily by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the State of Texas, with occasional funding from the Health Education Training Centers Alliance of Texas, the San Antonio Area Foundation, and the Ford Salute to Education Fund. The Summer Health Careers Camp consists of three major components: Career Activities at UTHSCSA, Career Activities at other local health facilities, and College Preparatory Activities. PARTICIPANT SELECTION The Summer Health Careers Camp is designed primarily for students, teachers, and counselors in Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, and Wilson Counties. (Bexar County is typically excluded since its schools are closer and have easier access to San Antonio facilities). Each spring, applications are sent to high school principals, counselors, science teachers, etc. in school districts in the eleven-county area. In some years, the main focus of the Camp is on high school seniors - to make them aware of the health careers available to them upon graduation. Student applicants are asked to provide transcripts, letters of recommendation, information about their extracurricular activities, and essays. Teachers and counselors are encouraged to apply as chaperones. In other years, the focus is on teachers and counselors - to make them better prepared to advise their students. Teacher applicants submit resumes and letters of interest. Personal interviews are conducted with each teacher applicant by South Central AHEC staff. Typically, 20-30 students and/or teachers are selected for each Camp. As far as is possible, all counties of the South Central AHEC region are represented. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the Summer Health Careers Camp is to provide, in an intensive learning environment, comprehensive information on health careers to a select set of high school students, teachers, and counselors from rural and/or medically underserved areas. Activities at the Summer Health Careers Camp vary from year to year. Recent Camps have included the following: 1. An introduction to the variety of health fields available to students as potential courses of study. Morning career activities generally focus on the academic aspects of medicine, nursing, dentistry, allied health, and biomedical research. Afternoon activities are usually tours and presentations at various health care facilities around San Antonio, providing Camp participants with views of the health care workplace. a. UTHSCSA: Camp participants spend four mornings at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The Medical School, Dental School, School of Nursing, and School of Allied Health provide informational presentations, laboratory demonstrations, hands-on activities, and question and answer sessions. b. Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research: Camp participants might spend another morning at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research. The Southwest Foundation tour includes presentations on the current status of biomedical research, the types of research done at the Foundation, and the care of laboratory animals. c. University Hospital: Another morning might include stops at various University Hospital departments, including the Eye Clinic and Pediatrics. All types of eye problems and treatments are covered. Child Life Specialists discuss their responsibilities and the hospital care of children. Facilities, patient rooms, and children's playrooms are toured. d. The University of Texas at San Antonio / Texas State University at San Marcos: One afternoon is spent at a traditional university so that Camp participants can get a feel for college life and academic research. Counselors discuss the admissions process and faculty members discuss their research projects. At Texas State University, faculty and graduate students discuss speech and language therapy as well as the use of geographic information systems in epidemiology. e. Ft. Sam Houston / Wilford Hall: The U.S. Army Medical Command at Fort Sam Houston and Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Hospital showcase military medical careers, which encompass all health disciplines. Specific disciplines covered include optometry, microbiology, pathology, radiology, orthotics, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthetists. f. The Texas Diabetes Institute: Diabetes is one of the major health problems of South Texas. At the Texas Diabetes Institute, Camp participants learn how dietitians help patients manage their disease. Because circulatory complications often lead to amputations, prosthetics is also discussed. g. Oak Dell Pharmacy: Topics include the compounding of drugs, alternative health, and pharmacy education. h. Spurs Basketball Athletic Training: Camp participants are given a tour of the Spurs training facility, where they learn about the responsibilities of an athletic trainer and the education required to become one. i. Delta Society: This morning program explores the use of pets as an adjunct to patient care, covering the types of animals suited to patient visitation, the guiding principles of pet-therapy, and the research that shows it works. j. Sea World: Topics include the education and responsibilities of animal keepers. Camp participants also participate in the dissection of a shark, where the instructor compares and contrasts shark anatomy to human anatomy. k. Retama Equine Hospital: Retama Park's hospital for horses provides the best possible care for racing horses. Veterinarians and staff discuss the types of care available at the hospital and the health care personnel that give it. l. "Been there, done that...": One of the highlights of the Camp has always been the first-person account of the educational experience, given on Sunday evening by someone who's already "been there." This insight is often from a current student, or perhaps from a health professional with an interesting life story. The question and answer session that follows is especially informative. 2. The inclusion of teachers and counselors from rural and/or medically underserved areas at all Summer Health Careers Camps. Teachers and counselors who attend the Summer Health Careers Camp participate in all activities, even when students are the focus of the Camp. This provides the teachers and counselors with specific insights and demonstration activities that they can use at their own schools and makes them better prepared to counsel students about health career options. 3. An introduction to the concepts of Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and Health Professionals Shortage Areas (HPSAs). During Camp Orientation, South Central AHEC staff provide students and their parents, teachers, and counselors with selected facts and statistics about the region. This discussion covers regional demographics and poverty, the general lack of health care facilities in rural and impoverished areas, and the Federally designated MUAs and HPSAs. Other speakers at UTHSCSA and at various local health facilities later in the week reinforce this information. 4. Visits to a health science center (UTHSCSA), a private university (St. Mary's University), and a public university (either The University of Texas at San Antonio or Texas State University at San Marcos). Camp participants tour each campus, where they become acquainted with the degrees and services each one offers. Counselors discuss the admissions process. Faculty members discuss the curriculum and ongoing research. Camp participants are housed in a dormitory, either at St. Mary's University or The University of the Incarnate Word. This is especially important for the high school seniors, where they experience life away from home (with a roommate) in a university setting. Evening activities include billiards and television in the dormitory's recreation room, swimming at the University's pool, basketball, volleyball, and time to relax. 5. An overview of financial aid available to students. Financial aid information is provided to students and their parents, teachers, and counselors at Orientation on the first day of camp. Often, David Krause, Director of Financial Assistance at St. Mary's University, is the one who discusses the application process and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 6. Enrichment activities designed to assist students in submitting competitive applications to colleges and universities (not offered at every Camp). Student participants attend an entrance exam workshop. They learn how to prepare for entrance exams and how to take them on exam day. Students and teachers alike praise this workshop. Students receive copies of the SAT preparation book, Master the SAT and PSAT. 7. Science/health career encouragement. It is especially important to encourage high school students interested in health careers to select science, health, or pre-health majors in college. In addition to the information provided on potential courses of study and career choices, student Camp participants are surrounded by a multitude of role models, including college students, graduate and professional students, and professionals working in science and health-related careers. By actually living in a college dormitory and visiting several universities, students realize that college and the pursuit of a degree are attainable. PROGRAM EVALUATION Participants provide feedback about the Summer Health Careers Camp in the form of pre- and post-program surveys, daily evaluation surveys, and a final logistical survey. Follow-up surveys to student participants track their progress as they further their education after high school. Follow-up surveys to teachers and counselors seek to determine how effective they are in delivering health careers information to their students. This information is used to improve the Summer Health Careers Camp as well as to determine its overall effectiveness. In general, responses have been very positive, indicating that the Camp has had quite an impact on the career plans of area high school students. Pre-Program Survey of Students: Students indicate their future plans, their knowledge of health careers, and their familiarity with local institutions of higher education. In past years, most students had an idea of which college to attend and what to study, but few had ever attended an SAT or ACT workshop. Also, while most anticipated applying for financial aid, less than half had received any information. Daily Evaluations: Camp participants rate each activity, giving positive and negative comments about the activity. Results are used in developing future programs. For example, past students have had this to say about the Dental School: "It was really cool to experience what the career of a dentist actually involves." "I had an awesome time at the dental school. The hands-on activities made learning the facts tons more fun." "I didn't think I would like it because I haven't thought about dentistry, but it was very interesting." "Everything was hands-on and fun. We drilled and filled a cavity. We started work on making a crown, and then made a cast thing out of fake teeth. I liked everything about it. It was a great experience and something I may consider as a career." Post-Program Survey: Students indicate whether the Summer Health Careers Camp has changed their minds with respect to college or career choices. Students, teachers, and counselors also comment on the quality of the Summer Camp experience. In past years, most students reported that the Camp had led them to consider health careers they had not previously considered. When asked if they would recommend this program to their classmates and friends, almost all participants said yes. They stated overwhelmingly that the Camp was a positive experience, having provided important information for the career decisions they will have to make. Students added the following comments: "It taught me about careers that I didn't even know existed." "I learned about health occupations that were more interesting than the ones I knew existed." "I was afraid that I would not be able to reach my goals and dreams, but now I know I can make it." Final Survey: Students, teachers, and counselors comment on Camp logistics, such as meals, free time, dormitories, program length, and curfews. Overall, past participants liked the selection of restaurants and the dormitories at St. Mary's. Most students enjoyed the free time and would like to have had more. One student's comment summarized many others: "I learned so much and met so many really neat people." Follow-Up: Student Tracking: For five years after the Summer Health Careers Camp, students report their education- and career-related information. Annual surveys are sent to parent(s)/guardian(s) and/or the students, requesting initially the following information:
Of past Camp participants a year out of high school, almost all reported being in college, the vast majority in Texas. Most were receiving financial aid. A handful reported working full-time to pay their way; almost all others were working part-time. The biggest personal obstacles they had to overcome were poor study habits, poor time management, and being away from home. They also felt unprepared in science and math. Follow-Up: Teachers and Counselors: Summary information not yet available. CONCLUSION The South Central Area Health Education Center considers the Summer Health Careers Camp an important part of its ongoing efforts to reach students and teachers in rural areas of its twelve-county region. Based upon our own observations and student/teacher feedback, we feel the program has been very successful. We can only hope that it will continue to be as successful in the future. |
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