UK Health Careers Enrichment Camp Receives Award from Appalachian Innovation Collaborative

HAZARD, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2013) –  The Health Careers Enrichment Camp offered each summer by the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) and the Southeast Kentucky Area Health Education Center (AHEC) has received a 2013 Innovation Award from the Appalachian Innovation Collaborative (AIC), a group whose focus is on educational excellence and economic development in Eastern Kentucky.

The award was presented by former Gov. Paul Patton at a luncheon held at Hazard Community and Technical College.

The camp began in 2007 and is offered for two weeks each summer as a health education pipeline program geared toward incoming ninth and 10th graders in a six-county region of Appalachia Kentucky where health professions shortages are common.

To date, about 150 students have completed this unique learning opportunity that offers hands-on activities, shadowing of health professionals, plus a trip to tour the UK campus in Lexington.

“We are honored to accept this award and be recognized by the AIC for our efforts to invest in our youth and spark an interest in local students to further their education and pursue a career in rural healthcare,” said Dr. Fran Feltner, UK CERH director. “We understand that the future resides in our youth and we believe that by offering health career camps and other opportunities, then they will be motivated to choose a career in the health care arena,” said Michael Gayheart, director of the Southeast Kentucky AHEC.

The UK CERH was established in 1990 to address health disparities in rural Kentucky, including a chronic shortage of health professionals and residents’ poor health status. The Center accomplishes this through health professions education, health policy research, health care service and community engagement.

For more information about the Health Careers Enrichment Camp, visit www.kyruralhealth.org, or contact LeeAnn Helton at leeann.helton@uky.edu, (606) 439-3557, ext. 83508 or toll free (855) 859-2374.

Michael Gayheart, director of the SE Kentucky AHEC, Dr. Fran Feltner, director of the UK CERH, , of UK CERH student services.