Community

Community Initiatives

Workforce Diversity

The NW PA AHEC strives to enhance workforce diversity in the city of Erie and throughout the 15 counties we serve. Through generous support from the Pennsylvania Department of Health—Office of Health Equity, we have been able to establish a Health Career Diversity Program that introduces health careers to minority and economically underprivileged students. This Health Career Diversity Program accepts students in grades 9 through 11 from all of the high schools in the Erie School District.

The Health Career Diversity Program has multiple components to allow students to gain a constructive and unique understanding of the healthcare industry.

After School Activities
The NW PA AHEC is working along with advisors from the Erie School District to organize after school activities for students enrolled in the program.  Activities include an orientation to health careers, educational paths with application process and financial aid overview, job shadowing, college visits, connection to Career Link, hands-on activities including CPR training and certification, and field trips to local and regional healthcare institutions, clinics, centers or offices.

Health Career Explorer Camp
The NW PA AHEC, in conjunction with Mercyhurst Northeast, offers a week-long summer day camp to minority and economically underprivileged students in the Erie School District to provide extra education to those thinking about a career in healthcare.  Instructors at the camp teach students professionalism and health assessment skills and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Students learn how to take vital signs, are able to practice with real equipment, and obtain a unique job shadowing experience through hands-on work with some of the area’s best healthcare professionals. Students are supplied with scrubs, stethoscopes, and other materials. They are provided daily lunches and transportation to and from the Mercyhurst Northeast campus.

HOSA
One of the goals of the NW PA AHEC is to implement a HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Program within the Erie School District. Participation in this organization is open to all students. For more information on the Pennsylvania HOSA, please visit http://www.pahosa.org/
 

NW PA Area Health Education Center | 1913 West 8th Street | Erie, PA 16505 | P: 814-453-6551 | F: 814-455-4320