Health CareersHelping students decide if a career in

health care is right for them.

Presented byStephanie Taylor, DirectorWest Central Missouri AHEC

Who is AHEC?Missouri Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)Mission: To enhance access to quality healthcare, particularly

primary and preventative care, by growing and supporting Missouri’s health care workforce.

Federal, state funding, local support AHECs are a national organization AHECs share a common mission. Missouri AHEC established in 1988

Our functions feed into the healthcare workforce:• Youth recruitment activities • Clinical training of medical and dental students• Recruiting/retaining healthcare providers for rural

and underserved urban areas• Continuing education for current providers

What does AHEC do?

ACES - (AHEC Career Enhancement Scholars) Designed to help provide support for students interested in health field through extra-curricular activities:

• Limited number of spots – Competitive• Career exploration workshops• Field trips to health professions schools• Science and anatomy dissection• Leadership development• Individual career planning sessions• Transition to other regions for college• Summer internships• Long-term support: high school/undergrad/post-grad

What does AHEC do?

Medical Explorer Post / Pipeline

Designed to help provide students explore health careers at a monthly activity

• Meets one night a month in the evening• Held at Hospital Hill (downtown KC)• $35 for the year• Various healthcare providers coming in• Hands-on activities• Open to anyone ages 14-20• School—year calendar

What does AHEC do?

School-based health career clubs

Designed to form partnerships between AHEC and schools to bring in presentations and activities to encourage students to go into the healthcare fields.

• East High School in Kansas City (oral health grant)• University Academy (oral health grant)• Winnetonka High School (oral health grant)• Blue Springs High School (Project Lead the Way)

Classroom presentations

AHEC can bring in presentations to speak to students about health careers, education and training pathways, becoming a competitive applicant for training programs.

What does AHEC do?

ACTIVITY

Is a Health Career right for a student?• Do they like to deal with people?• Are they comfortable with math and science?• Are they comfortable in a health care setting?• Are they a team player?• Do they work well individually?• Can they be a leader as well as follow directions from

another?• Lifelong learner

Educational Requirements

Different education pathways:• Certificate programs• Associate Degrees• Bachelor’s Degrees• Post-Bac training

Be weary of “Institutes”• Can be more expensive in the long run• Some employers prefer “college” graduates to

condensed programs• Be aware of their “pass rates”• Most courses won’t transfer to a college• Education is limited to job specifics• Many companies seek “degree” holders

Medical Careers• Medical Assistant 2 $25-40,000• Anesthesiology Assistant 6 $60-100,000• Chiropractor 6 $100,000 +• Physician Assistant 6 $60-100,000• Physician 8+ $100,000 +

Nursing• CNA >1 Less than $25,000• LPN 2 $25-40,000• RN – 2 year or 4 year BSN 2-4 $40-60,000• Master’s (CRNA, Midwife, NP, etc) 6 $60-100,000• Doctorate, PhD 8 $100,000+

Career fields – Clinical, patient based

Behavioral Health• Licensed Clinical Social Worker 6 $40-60,000• Mental Health Counselor 6 $40-60,000• Psychologist 8 $60-100,000• Psychiatrist (MD/DO) 8+ $100,000 +

Dental careers• Dental Assistant 0-1 $25-40,000• Dental Hygienist 2-4 $40-60,000

• Dentist 8 $100,000 +• Oral Surgeon, Orthodontics 8+ $100,000 +

Career fields – Clinical, patient based

Therapies and Rehab• Physical Therapy Assistant 2 $40-60,000• Physical Therapy 8 $60-100,000• Occupational Therapy Assistant 2 $40-60,000• Occupational Therapy 6 $60-100,000• Respiratory Therapist 2 $40-60,000• Recreational Therapist 4 $25–40,000• Speech-Language Pathologist 6 $60-100,000• Orthotics and Prosthetics 6 $60-100,000

Career fields – Therapy and Technology

Diagnostic Imaging• Radiologic Tech 2-4 $40-60,000• Diagnostic Medical Sonography 2 $60-100,000• Nuclear Med Tech 2 $60-100,000• Radiation Therapy 2 $60-100,000• CT Technologist 2 $60-100,000• MRI Technician 2 $60-100,000

Career fields – Therapy and Technology

Technical Instrumentation• Surgical Tech 2 $40-60,000 • Cardiovascular Technician 2 $40-60,000• Perfusionist 2 $60-100,000• Dosimetrist 4 $60-100,000• Cytotechnician 4 $40-60,000• Histotechnician 4 $40-60,000• EEG Tech 2 $40-60,000

Clinical Lab Services• Phlebotomist 0 $25-40,000• Medical Assistant 0 $25-40,000• Medical/Clinical Lab 2 $25-40,000

Career fields – Lab and Instruments

Pharmacy• Pharmacist 8 $100,000 +• Pharmacy Tech 0 $25-40,000

Nutrition and Wellness• Athletic Trainer 4 $40-60,000 • Registered Dietician 4 $40-60,000

Emergency Medicine• Ambulance Driver 0 Up to $25,000• EMT / Paramedic 2 $25-40,000

Genetics Counselor 6 $60-100,000Audiologist 8 $60-100,000

Career fields – Allied Health

Administration• CEO / CFO 4-6 $100,000 + • Medical Practice/clinic manager 4 $60-100,000• Accounting and Finance 4 $40-60,000• Marketing Manager 4 $40-60,000• HR Manager / Physician Recruiter 4 $40-60,000

Support services• Food service 0 Less than $25,000• Building maintenance 0 Less than $25,000• Groundskeeper 0 $25-40,000• Medical Equipment Repair 2 $25-40,000• Biomedical Engineer 4 $40-60,000

Career fields – Non clinical

Health Information Technology• Medical Records 0 $25-40,000• Medical Transcriptionist 2 $25-40,000 • Medical Coders 2 $25-40,000 • Medical Librarian 6 $40-60,000

• Computer Info Systems Mgr 4 $60-100,000• Network Designers 4 $60-100,000• IT Project Managers 4 $60-100,000

Career fields – Non clinical

Help them prepare now! Start investigating now – visit websites Set realistic goals and expectations Take as much math and science as possible Class Standing should be in top 20% Practice people skills: Good manners, strong hand shaking,

eye contact, explaining their interest in a health career Get involved with career exploration programs:

o VOLUNTEER at local hospital, nursing homeo Join a health-related program or start one at school

Document experiences and be prepared to discuss at an interview

Choose a major you like – doesn’t have to be a science or math degree

Competitive programs want to see well-rounded students (grades, involvement in community, part-time job in health field, etc)

Know how to write a personal statement Know how to interview Know about early admittance programs:

o KCUMB, KCOM – early matriculation with collegeso MU School of Medicine – Bryant Scholarso UMKC Dental school – early reserved seato Nursing programs – some will accept as a high school senior

Refer to AHEC!

Help them prepare now!

Medical school admissions…

• Minimum 24 on the MCAT• 3.25 Science GPA• 3.25 overall GPA

• 12 hours of Biology• 13 hours of chemistry• 3 hours of biochemistry• 8 hours of physics• 6 hours of English

• Take at University level – NOT community college level• Make sure high school “A.P. / dual credit” will count

Medical Experience/Service/Leadership •Minimum 80 hours of shadowing a physician•Volunteer in a health-care related setting•Work experience in a health-care field (EMT, nurse, etc)•Minimum two leadership roles in clubs/community organizations/work experience•Involvement with a minimum of four community service organizations•Research experience•Domestic/international mission trip•Commitment of more than two years to an organization/club/job

Medical school admissions…

William Jewell: •Anatomy with a lab •Basic Psychology •Chemistry with a lab •Math for the Liberal Arts •Microbiology with a lab •Nutrition •Physiology with a lab •Written Communication Minimum 2.7 gpa

Nursing school admissions…

UMKCHigh school direct admission •27 ACT•top 10% of class•4 units of English •4 units of mathematics•3 units of social studies•3 units of science with one being a laboratory course•1 unit of fine arts•2 units of foreign language.

• Scholarships:o National (Kohls, Love’s, etc)o Local (Greater KC foundations)o Organization-based (church, retail, civic groups) o Interest based (nursing, dental, etc)o Background based (minority, etc)o Based on effort (community service, etc)

• Federal and State Loans• Federal grants• Forgivable loans for health professions students• Hospital hiring incentives

Help to pay for training:

PLTW Involvement

Stephanie Taylor, AHEC DirectorWest Central Missouri AHECHosted by HCC of Rural Missouri825 S. Hwy 13, Lexington MO 64067 | 816-617-2353 cellstephanie@hccnetwork.org | www.wcmissouriahec.org

Sources:www.explorehealthcareers.orgwww.kchealthcareers.comwww.gacollege411.orgwww.healthresourcepartners.org

Questions?