Western Regional AHEC Summer Activities 2017

Annual Trauma Informed Care Conference - "Building Trauma Informed Organizations Across Disciplines"

In May, AHEC hosted the annual Trauma Informed Care Conference, hosting the largest audience to date, with more than 100 health care providers and educators from multiple disciplines at five locations. The continuing education conference focused on traumatic events and adverse outcomes affecting people throughout the life span, while also discussing evidence based practices for providers and organizations to become more trauma informed. The 2018 conference is planned for Friday, May 18, with a focus on the ways trauma can impact the development of addictive disorders.

Health Careers Connection Program

During summer 2017, through a partnership with the College of Health and Human Services, the Western Regional Area Health Education Center launched the inaugural cohort of 12 students representing communities across the AHEC catchment area were selected via a competitive process. based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community commitment. The students successfully completed six credit hours over a three week period, living together in a residential learning community setting on main campus. In addition to earning credits toward their degrees, they also developed supportive relationships with each other, faculty and staff and built skills in study habits and time management. Our ultimate goal is for our HCC students to return to their communities (or a similar community) to serve as leaders in expanding health and human services care to under-served populations.

Health career presentations for The Hispanic Center of West Michigan's Summer Learning Academy

Nearly 60 middle and high school students from Kent County attended health career presentations on July 17 and 18 at Western Michigan University's location in downtown Grand Rapids. WMU hosted the high school students for their entire eight-week Summer Learning Academy. Health professionals and faculty gave career presentations and participated in activities on both days. Career and educational requirements were shared for public health and epidemiology (Mary Lutzke), nursing and lactation specialization (Alice Christensen) and growing opportunities in holistic health (Richard Szwaja). This is the third year AHEC has coordinated health career presentations for the Hispanic Center's Summer Learning Academy.