HEALTH CAREERS ROCK! Hot Health Career: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS!

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Occupational

therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled

patients through therapeutic practice

of everyday activities. OT

professionals also teach caregivers

how to support the patient’s ability to

develop, recover and improve the

skills needed for daily living and

working.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

Occupational therapists need a

master’s degree in occupational

therapy, with some positions

requiring a doctoral degree. OT

professionals must also be licensed

or registered by the state within

which they work.

EARNINGS: Median wages

nationally ranged between $75,000

and $100,000 depending on your

tenure, position, and place of work.

JOB FORECAST: Employment is

expected to grow 29% nationally

between 2012 and 2022, resulting in

approximately 33,000 new job

opportunities.

WR AHEC Newsletter ISSUE 2

THE WESTERN REGIONAL AHEC The WR-AHEC office began in 2013, and was the 3rd of 5 regional offices in Michigan. The AHEC program focuses on strengthening the diversity of the primary care workforce through recruitment and retention initiatives, clinical rotations, and overall improvement of health services for rural and underserved populations.

This region includes the following 19 counties: Allegan – Barry – Berrien – Branch – Calhoun – Cass – Hillsdale – Jackson – Kalamazoo – Kent – Lake – Lenawee – Mason – Muskegon – Newaygo – Oceana – Ottawa – St. Joseph – Van Buren

In this issue: Hot Health Career: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS! LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FROM NHSC VIRTUAL JOB SHADOW PROGRAM THE FIRST AHEC CME CONFERENCE AHEC’S COLLEGE INTERN – SHAYNA ANDERSON SCHOLARSHIP & FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES- PLUS AHEC CALENDAR

AHEC Center Hosted By:

616-771-9497

2

VIRTUAL JOB SHADOW PROGRAM!

LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM! THE NATIONAL HEALTH

SERVICE CORPS

If you are going to graduate as a

direct patient care clinician you

may be eligible to receive loan

repayment funding from the

National Health Service Corps

(NHSC). Choosing to work as a

clinician in a designated Health

Professional Shortage Area

(HPSA) for a minimum of two

years may give you the benefit

of $15,000 to $50,000 in loan

repayment funds depending on

your work location and full or

part-time work schedule. For

more information go to

http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholar

ships/repayment/NHSC/applicati

onguidance.pdf or google

National Health Service Corps

2015 Application & Program

Guidance.

Western AHEC recently

purchased licenses to the

new Virtual Job Shadow

online program developed

by Strivven Media LLC.

This program offers unique

and engaging job

shadowing experiences

through high-quality videos

across a large number of

health career fields.

Students can research

health career information

and learn about a job’s

education requirements,

work environment, average

salary, forecasted job

openings, and a link to a

live job search site. The

program also engages

students in goal setting,

college and career

readiness activities, soft

skills

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TREATING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY: THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION CONFERENCE! On Friday, August 21, the Western Regional Area Health Education Center, WMU's School of Social Work and the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan, combined efforts to host an integrative health conference titled, Treating the Whole Community, The Mind Body Connection. The conference focused on the integration of physical and behavioral health in a patient centered medical home.

What educational program are you currently in, and what degree are you seeking? I am currently in the Interdisciplinary Health service program with a minor in Integrated Holistic Healthcare seeking a Bachelor of Science degree. Why were you interested in this program? I was interested in this program because of the flexibility it provides. I can do a lot with this degree under the umbrella of Healthcare What type of job or career are you interested in? Well the closer I get to graduation and the experience that I am gaining from AHEC, I am considering going into public health with an emphasis in women’s healthcare. I would like to focus in on women of color in improvised communities who may not have the fundamental knowledge of Healthcare Literacy. I am also considering the career of Certified Nurse Midwife. What advice would you like to share with high school students about pursuing a health care career? I would advise any student to study hard and focus in on your math and science subjects. If you focus and understand these subjects now you will only be setting yourself up for great success in your future college courses.

AHEC IN ACTION! Students from the Hispanic Center of West Michigan’s SOL Summer Program learn about a career in exercise science while visiting Western Michigan University’s Extended University Programs in Grand Rapids!

Presenters shared information on inter-professional care, cultural competence and cultural humility, chronic pain management, secondary trauma and mental health first aid. We thank our satellite locations at Central Michigan University, Northern Michigan University and UP Health System Portage.

__________ Special thanks to Western Michigan University’s Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine for the assistance in providing the continuing medical education for the conference.

AHEC’S NEW COLLEGE INTERN – SHAYNA ANDERSON!

In collaboration with the Hispanic Center of West Michigan, Western AHEC

developed a program to introduce students from their summer SOL program to

several health care professions and career guidance skills.

AHEC provided several speakers, videos, activities, and other presentations for

the 33 students, while engaging them in career discussions and personal health

education. Western Michigan University hosted the students at their downtown

Grand Rapids Extended University Program building.

Students were engaged with information on a six health careers, college

admissions requirements and financial aid options, training for an online virtual

job shadowing program, and activities that reinforced the importance of strong

communication skills, professional behavior, and creative study skills.

Newsletter Contact: Western Regional Area Health Education Center (WR-AHEC), Melissa Ponstein, Program Manager, Melissa.Ponstein@WMich.edu; 616-771-9494

Western Regional – Area Health Education Center (WR-AHEC) 200 Ionia Avenue SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503

SCHOLARSHIP & FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES!

alleganfoundation.org oceana-foundation.org mason-foundation.org michigancenterfornursing.org jacksoncf.org michigancolleges.org www.fafsa.ed.gov www.studentaid.ed.gov www.finaid.org www.ibrinfo.org

2015 Calendar of Events

October 8 National Health Services Corp Simulcast WMU – Benton Harbor

For Social Work College Students

October 8 National Health Services Corp Simulcast WMU – Kalamazoo

For Social Work College Students

November 6 Oral Health Enrichment Program South Dental Clinic

For KISD High School Students

November 2 “High School to Health Career” Mentor Program Van Buren ISD

For Lee Honors College Students and VBISD High School Students

November 17 Health Careers “Talk and Tour” Kent County Health Dept.

For KISD High School Students

December 15 Health Careers “Talk and Tour” Mary Free Bed – GR

For KISD High School Students