The AHEC Health Career Coordinator executes a variety of managerial, educational and recruitment activities to support the interest of students/adults alike who are in pursuit of a career in the health professions, with a special emphasis on workforce shortages in the areas nursing, medicine and public health. Under the direction of the Northwest AHEC Center Director, the Health Careers Coordinator will work collaboratively with other AHEC staff to enable the development, implementation, assessment and evaluation of health career education and/or promotions in the Northwest AHEC service region. As a member of the Northwest AHEC, the Health Career Coordinator functions as an employee under the auspices of the Park DuValle Community Health Center, Inc.
*** MUST HAVE YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION ***
- Develop and implement innovative in school and after school health careers exploration programs in the Northwest AHEC 8 county service region.
- Facilitate the coordination of community-based shadowing and/or voluntary experiences in clinics, hospitals, skilled care facilities, and other social and human service agencies to supplement pipeline health career and wellness exploration for Underrepresented Rural, Minority and Disadvantaged Students URMDS;
- Recruit pre-professional URMDS at the secondary and postsecondary levels to participate in AHEC structured and unstructured health careers enrichment activities;
- Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with students, parents and key personnel affiliated with local and regional school districts, colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, across AHECs, and other community-based agencies and organizations;
- Assist with the facilitation of preparation courses for standardized testing (e.g. MCAT, DAT, PCAT, ACT, SAT, NCLEX), based on the assessed needs of students;
- Manage and sustain partnerships with secondary and postsecondary schools to aid student matriculation to and from health professions schools and programs;
- Convene and attend local and regional planning and and/or standing committee meetings to strategize and evaluate health workforce development and outcomes measures;
- Plan and implement summer health careers enrichment workshops in rural/underserved areas;
- Assist in data collection, input and maintenance on programmatic activities;
- Provide written communications to include reports;
- Perform other related work as assigned.
KNOWLEDGES, ABILITIES AND SKILLS
- Knowledge of careers in the health professions and some understanding of the healthcare industry.
- Working knowledge of secondary and postsecondary school systems to access students, teachers, and administrators.
- Knowledge of the health needs of youth and adults, for the purpose of facilitating, developing, and administering needs-based health promotions and disease prevention education.
- Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
- Ability to organize, perform, and manage multiple, complex tasks and programs.
- Ability to act and make decisions quickly and independently.
- Skills in effectively working with others, including professionals from all healthcare disciplines, school systems, academic institutions, and the local community.