November 2008
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Vol 1, Issue 11
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NC-HCAPnews
a monthly update from the
NC Health Careers Access Program
at Chapel Hill
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| The Director's Corner |
 The
Thanksgiving holiday is normally the time when many stop to reflect upon what
they are most "thankful" for. I feel as if I experience this holiday all year
long, because I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with outstanding
students who are dedicated to pursuing health careers and colleagues who are
committed to assisting them along their pathway.
If we
ever doubted the impact that pipeline programs can have, we only need to read
student comments like the one below. What our students don't realize is that we
are thankful to them for pursuing careers in areas in which they are greatly
needed. The concept of "giving back" is deeply rooted in many individuals'
upbringing, and so it is not surprising when one demonstrates a desire to serve
others - whether through volunteering in his/her community or working as a
practitioner in a rural or underserved area.
Let
all of us commit to giving back. Let's help these young people become our
future health care practitioners!
Patrena N. Benton, Ph.D.
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NC-HCAP News
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2008 SEP student says 'thank you'
Dear Ms. Benton and NC-HCAP staff:
It
is with great pleasure that I write this thank you note. For the
entirety of the SEP program, I was always in awe over the amount of
effort you and every staff member at the NC-HCAP office put in to
ensure we got the most out of our time at Chapel Hill. I will say that,
personally, I have never been exposed to individuals who have made it
their business to serve as resources for students like us. I say this
because I have spent the majority of life in an environment that
dictates that you can only look to family members for help. The
implications of that are simple; if your relatives are not in a
position to help you, no one will.
It
is with this in mind that I want to say a heartfelt thank you for all
you did for me and the other SEP scholars this summer. I really cannot
express with words the sense of purpose I gained from working with
everyone involved during those eight weeks. I now have a very good idea
of what is expected of me as I start gearing up for pharmacy school.
Even more importantly, I now know I can actually accomplish those
things.
Thank you once again for the opportunity.
Sincerely,
David Amadi
NC-HCAP launches new pre-college newsletterWe are pleased to announce that we are launching PATHWAYS, an e-newsletter for pre-college students, in November. Each month, we'll send out career and college planning tips, advice and resources to help students navigate the pathway through school and, ultimately, to a health career. If you are interested in forwarding this newsletter to students, please contact us at nchcap@email.unc.edu and we will add you to our mailing list.
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| Pre-college Initiatives
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 High
school students are one step closer to health careers through NC-HCAP's Health
Careers Day on 'the Hill'
On Saturday, October 18, we hosted our first Health Careers Day on 'the Hill' for pre-college students participating in NC Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) programs statewide. More than 150 high school students interested in pursuing health careers took part in the program held here on the UNC campus.
Faculty and staff members from UNC's schools of medicine and pharmacy, allied health sciences department, and admissions and diversity/multicultural affairs offices presented during the event. Topics included an overview of the pharmacy, allied health and medical professions as well as information and advice for gaining admission to UNC.
Participating students called the event beneficial and resourceful. "This event provided me with another possible career choice, so I'm very grateful to have participated," said one excited student. Another noted, "This was an excellent program and a great resource for minority students interested in health careers, and was very inspirational."
Additional disciplines will be highlighted during a future event.
Pre-college coordinator presents at national conference
Koyah
Rivera, pre-college coordinator, presented to hundreds of
health science teachers from across the country at the 2008 Biennial
National Health Science Curriculum Conference held in Raleigh October
22 - 25.
The presentation was entitled "Developing a Diverse
Health Care Work Force One Student at a Time: NC-HCAP's Proven Model
for Success." The purpose of the presentation was to increase teachers'
awareness of the shortage of health professionals across all
disciplines; to stress the importance of properly preparing students in
the sciences during high school; to highlight NC-HCAP's approach to
increasing the number of underrepresented minority health care providers and
share resources and programs available to their students; and to
brainstorm strategies and enrichment activities they can incorporate
successfully into their classrooms.
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| College Initiatives
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Eat at FIRESHOUSE SUBS on Franklin Street and help support
HEALTH ON THE BLOCK 2009
Enjoy a delicious sub at Firehouse Subs between 3 and 10 p.m. on Friday, November 21. During that time, a percentage of Firehouse Subs' sales will help fund the 2009 Health on the Block community engagement project!
Health Careers Club membership grows to eighty-fiveIn just its first semester, the NC-HCAP Health Careers Club(HCC) at UNC-Chapel Hill has reached 85 dues-paying members. The club is comprised of students who are passionate about becoming health care providers and making a difference in their communities. Senior Cerina Buchanan is serving as president of the group, which meets bi-weekly. For more information about the club and its activities, visit our Web site.  Health Careers Club members lend a helping hand to Habitat for Health
Ten members of the HCC learned the meaning of determination and perspiration first hand as they volunteered with Habitat for Health, a partnership between Orange County's Habitat for Humanity and UNC's Student Health Action Coalition. The HCC students volunteered October 4
and October 11, and were split into two groups, working on sites in
Mebane and Hillsborough.
 The goal of this partnership is for UNC students, particularly those interested in or currently pursuing health careers, to held build at least one house each year for needy families in Orange County. One group of students helped with roofing on one house, and the other group installed windows and did some interior work as well.
"This [experience] was excellent," said Kevin Gray, HCC vice president. "I saw determination in the face of small challenges and a real commitment for doing an outstanding job for the families. There was great mutual encouragement and teamwork."
2009 Science Enrichment Preparation (SEP) Program applications now availableThe NC-HCAP Web site has gone live with the 2009 SEP application. SEP will be held Saturday, May 16 - Thursday, July 9. Acceptance to the program will be on a rolling admission basis. Students can begin applying online TODAY. If you would like to support a deserving student for 2009, please contact Dr. Patrena Benton at pbenton@unc.edu. If
you are interested in hosting an SEP informational session at your school, please
contact Paula Borden at pborden@email.unc.edu.
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| Give to NC-HCAP |
 Pave the way for a future health professional by giving to NC-HCAP.
You may make a gift online or contact Dr. Patrena Benton, director, at pbenton@unc.edu or (919) 966-2264.
When using Online Giving, please be sure to choose "NC Health Careers Access Program" under the University Designation List, then select "NC Health Careers Access Program (3894) " from the Select a University Fund menu.
Or, mail Check or Money Order Payable to "UNC-CH"to:
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Office of University Development
PO Box 309
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-9931
PLEASE Write In "Designation #3894 - NC Health Careers Access Program" on the "FOR" line of your check.
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North Carolina Health Careers Access Program
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Student & Academic Services Building South, Suite 3307
CB #8010
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8010
T: 919-966-2264
F: 919-966-6109
nchcap@email.unc.edu
http://nc-hcap.unc.edu
For editorial comments or questions, contact Renee Harris at rharris@unc.edu.
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