|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to Pathways!
|
Our goal is to
serve as a resource for you as you navigate the pathway through school and,
ultimately, to a health career. Each month, you'll receive career and
college planning tips, advice and resources to help you make your
health career dreams a reality.
|
News from NC-HCAP...
|
 NC-HCAP 2.0NC-HCAP now has a home on Facebook. Stay connected to NC-HCAP and all the resources and activities we offer to help you make your health career dreams a reality.
|
|
 |
About NC-HCAP
|
The North Carolina Health Careers Access Program
(NC-HCAP) is located at
UNC-Chapel Hill. Additional campus-based centers are located at Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina Central University, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Established in 1971 by Dr. Cecil G. Sheps, we work to increase the number of underrepresented minorities or
economically and/or educationally disadvantaged students who are
educated, trained and employed in the health professions.
For
more than 35 years, we have provided thousands of students with a
variety of programs and activities to raise their awareness of
opportunities available within the health professions and to increase
their competitiveness as health professional school applicants.
We're always here to assist you. Simply contact us at:
(919) 966-2264
nchcap@unc.edu
http://nchcap.unc.edu
|
|
|
| Motivational Minute |
 "I want to make it clear that having been born on the wrong side of the tracks does not mean that birthplace has to remain a permanent address. It is not where we have come from but where we are going...An individual must believe in himself and his abilities. To do his best, one needs a confidence that says 'I can do anything and if I can't do it, I know how to get help'."
- Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.
Co-Director of the John Hopkins Craniofacial Center
Professor of Neurological Surgery, Oncology, Plastic
Surgery and Pediatrics
Dr. Benjamin Carson grew up in the inner city of Detroit in the 1950s and is the first to admit that "school was a rock-bottom priority." In the 5th grade, he was constantly teased by his peers for his academic struggles but Sonya, his single mother, knew he had greater potential. She limited television watching to three shows per week and required both of her sons to read two books each week and report what they had learned.
Carson rose from the bottom of his class in the fifth grade to the top of his class in seventh grade -- and eventually became one of America's most respected doctors. As a 1973 Yale University graduate, Carson went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Michigan School of Medicine in 1977. He returned to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he had completed his surgical residency, in 1984 and quickly moved up to become director of pediatric neurosurgery. At age 33, he was the youngest director of his field in the country. In 1986, Carson became the first neurosurgeon to perform surgery on a twin while both infants were still in the womb. In 1987, he was catapulted into the international spotlight with the first-ever successful separation of Siamese twins from Germany.
At the end of the day, Dr. Carson emphasizes that one should never be defined by their environment, but instead by their plans for the future. Along this journey, you must believe in yourself and your ability to overcome challenges.
Dr. Carson was NC-HCAP's Inspirational Speakers in Science (ISIS) lecturer in 1995.
To learn more about Dr. Carson, visit his Web site or watch an excerpt of the Ben Carson story on YouTube. |
| Health Careers 101 |
 What options do you have when you want the excitement of being part of a surgery team but don't want to become a doctor or nurse? How about becoming a PERFUSIONIST?
Now is a great time to explore another option that would put you smack dab in the middle of surgery! Read on to find out more!
Perfusionist
Perfusionists are trained to keep a person alive during surgery by keeping their blood flowing with the use of specialized machinery. The demand for perfusionists will increase as the demand for open-heart surgery increases.
Salary: $97,221
Education: You will need a bachelor's degree plus one to two years of perfusionist training.
Hot Link: American Society of ExtraCorporeal Technology
Source: NC-HCAP Health Careers Information & Enrichment Workshop manual |
| Spotlight on Success |
 Once aspiring attorney now on track towards medical career
Jennifer Threatt grew up wanting to be a lawyer. In college, she majored in communications, but somehow the Charlotte native is now a first year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine.
Threatt never seriously considered a medical career until her junior year in high school after attending a program offered by the Charlotte Area Health Education Center (AHEC). After participating, Threatt was inspired to pursue an internship with a local pediatrician, which ultimately changed her career aspirations.
Once an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina, Threatt stuck with a liberal arts major but also followed up on her interest in medicine. She took advantage of the University's medical resources and participated in NC-HCAP's Science Enrichment Preparation (SEP) Program.
"If I had not participated in SEP, I might not be on the track to becoming a doctor," said Threatt, emphasizing that the program gave her the confidence to tackle her medical ambitions. "I am advocating that program as much as possible!"
Looking back on her college experiences, Threatt has great advice for students considering a health career. She cautions that majoring in chemistry or biology is not the only way to get to medical school, and that students need to find a major they truly enjoy. She also suggests taking advantage of all resources available to students. |
| Resources |
College Planning and Preparation
Kaplan is the world leader in test prep and has helped millions of students prepare to take college entrance exams. Find information and resources at www.kaptest.com. Find information on preparing for college at www.collegeboard.com.
Visit www.cfnc.org for help planning, applying, and paying for college.
Enrichment Programs
For information about additional health professions enrichment programs, activities, and summer camps in your local area, contact the NC Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) in your area.
Financial Aid
For information to help you plan, apply, and pay for college, contact The College Foundation of North Carolina.
The Carolina Covenant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a college financing commitment between the university and historically low-income youth in North Carolina. Find out more at the Carolina Covenant website.
Health Careers
Explore various health careers, read about students and professionals in the health field, and even locate information on current health-related issues and topics at nchealthcareers.com and www.explorehealthcareers.org.
North Carolina Colleges and Universities
Learn more about North Carolina's 16 public universities by visiting the UNC System Website.
Volunteer Opportunities
Looking for volunteer opportunities? Check out http://volunteerinternational.org. |
Meet Ms. Rivera
|
 As
the pre-college outreach coordinator, Koyah Rivera is responsible for
planning, developing and implementing pre-college outreach
initiatives across North Carolina.
Before
joining NC-HCAP, Rivera was employed as a college admissions
counselor
at Shaw University in Raleigh. She has served as a Language Arts
teacher for Wake County Public Schools and TV news producer/writer at
two NBC TV stations. She is also the founder/executive director/TV host
of Beyond Gifted, Inc., a non-profit organization which produces the
"Beyond Gifted" television program to assist K-12 students in
developing post-secondary plans to reach school and life success. She
received dual B.A. degrees in communications and English from the
University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
