Clarion University - Venango Campus

April 27, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jane A. Mullinax, M.Ed., Health Educator/Camp Director

NW PA AHEC

(814) 453.6551 x224

Health Career Camp to be held at Clarion University – Venango Campus

Oil City, PA –– An innovative “hands on” health career camp featuring area health professionals will be held June 11-15 at Clarion University–Venango Campus in Oil City. High school students in grades 9 through 11 from northwest Pennsylvania are given this opportunity through a collaborative effort with the Northwest Healthcare Industry Partnership, Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NW PA AHEC), and Clarion University –Venango Campus. UPMC Northwest is also participating in the camp.

There is no charge for the students who are accepted to the camp. Interested students may apply online at www.nwpaahec.org, where they can also learn more about the camp and AHEC. Seats are limited and very few remain. Costs are covered by grants, AHEC, Clarion University–Venango Campus, UPMC Northwest, and local businesses. All speakers from the college and hospital are generously donating their time and talents to the camp.

The Northwest Healthcare Industry Partnership is a volunteer collaboration of organizations working to increase the number of quality workers in the healthcare workforce through employee training, promotion of healthcare careers and supporting efforts that help alleviate job shortages. The Partnership is a pivotal resource for improving the healthcare industry in our region. The AHEC is a nationwide health care workforce development, recruitment and retention agency that is funded partially by the state and federal government. As part of its mission, the AHEC encourages youth to enter health careers so that they may return to provide services to the rural and underserved communities throughout the region.

Camp attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the most needed health professions from actual health professionals in the region. J.W. Wallace, RODC from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Office of Diversity will provide a discussion on the importance of cultural sensitivity in healthcare and some of the situations healthcare personnel will encounter. Students will learn about diversity and the need to eliminate disparities in health care.

To enhance their learning, students will be exposed to 12 different health careers over the course of the week. They will also be given a job shadowing experience at UPMC Northwest. Clarion University–Venango Campus admissions staff will teach students and parents how to prepare and apply for college or other advanced education. The week will culminate in a “Grand Rounds” presentation of case studies done by the students during the week.

“We want to reach students early, to provide them with career choices before their minds are set. The career camp will allow them a wide variety of experience that will be fun and informational,” according to Jane A. Mullinax, M.Ed., Camp Director. “Our goal is to create a health professions pipeline that will help the region in its efforts to eliminate disparities in health care.”

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