Programs > Diversity > Health Careers Opportunity Program >FY 2000 Grantees: Nevada

SOUTHERN NEVADA 
AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (AHEC)
1094 East Sahara Ave.
Las Vegas, NV  89104
Natalie Mazzullo, M.P.H.
(702) 318-8452   
FAX (702) 318-8463
mazzullo@med.unr.edu
02965-02_NV
Nevada is experiencing tremendous population growth and has an increasing demand for a more diversified pool of health care professionals.  The Nevada Department of Human Resources, State health Division of Primary Care Development reports Health Profession Shortage Areas (HPSA) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUA) in every Nevada County.   Nevada has no prior history of HCOP support.

Southern Nevada AHEC has made a commitment to promote increased disadvantaged representation in science programs throughout the educational pipeline.  It takes many years of early preparation in order to graduate a competent health care professional to work in any community, especially if the student is underrepresented. Therefore, the stated key purpose of the Nevada HCOP will be to assist individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds from the high school level to enter a degree program in allopathic medicine, clinical laboratory sciences, clinical psychology, dental hygiene, health care administration, health education/promotion, health information technology, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, or social work.

Southern Nevada AHEC is recognized as a resource for local school teachers, counselors, and administrators and provides information on health careers and Nevada’s health career educational opportunities.   Clark County, now 66% of the total state population, is above the state average for indicators for educationally and economically disadvantaged, has more families living below the poverty line, equal to the state high school drop out rate, and an insignificant rate above the state average for high school graduates.   Formal agreements have been made six institutional partners who have provided faculty, support staff, classroom/laboratory space, supplies, equipment, and curriculum consultation of some kind or another as in-kind. 

In the first year of funding, a summer enrichment program will be designed and based on the existing AHEC “Summer of Discovery” program.  The “Season of Discovery” is a six-week summer science program for seventh to tenth grade students.   In years two and three the program will expand its existing “Minority High School Scholars” into the “High School Medical Scholars” a six-week residential program for students.