Each year the Colorado AHEC hosts a Summer Health Careers Institutes for high school students throughout the state at the University of Colorado’s Health Science Center at the Anschutz Medical Campus. Students are selected by their local AHEC Center through a competitive application process to participate in one of the two week programs. There is no cost to the student to participate as the Institutes are funded by The Colorado Trust Foundation.

The goal of this program is to encourage high school students with interests in health and abilities in math and science to pursue health careers and to provide them with information and experience which will help them make intelligent career choices.

During the week these students receive a comprehensive introduction into the field of health care and requirements necessary to enter the field. In addition to speakers talking about health care they hear presentation about the importance of key subjects such as math and science as well as about the entire college experience. They also undergo personality testing to help them identify what type of health career is best suits them.

This is not a classroom only experience. During the week students visit facilities throughout the Health Science Center and tour local hospitals. They also spend a day shadowing a health care professional in a field they find of interest.

The selection process to participate in this program begins when applications and background material are provided to high school guidance counselors and other contacts throughout the region who alert students of the program opportunity. To be considered for the Institute:

• students complete a 10-part application process which is graded according to a specific number of points assigned to each part
• fill out the questionnaire portion of the application
• have a teacher fill out a recommendation portion
• secure two letters of recommendation from someone not related to them
• write an essay answering career focused questions posed in the application form

This very detailed application process is not unlike those students must later fill out as they apply for scholarships, admittance to college and for other programs. Therefore the ability and willingness to follow instructions and fill out such an application appropriately is one of the qualifications to be considered for the Summer Health Institute.

This packet of material is sent to the Colorado AHEC office which in turn reviews and organizes them by region and sends each AHEC the applications for its region. The local AHECs then select 10 students for each of the two week programs.