UAMS’ HCOP Academy Holds First Summer Session for High School Seniors
| High school students from the Delta and South Arkansas gathered in Pine Bluff during the summer for the inaugural session of the Arkansas Delta Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) Academy, a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) initiative that supports teens in their pursuit of health careers.
The effort is operated by UAMS’ Pathways Academy, a statewide community engagement program that prepares K-12 students for careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health sciences (STEM-H) disciplines.
Shanea Nelson, Ph.D., executive director of Pathways Academy, said the HCOP Academy focuses on health care specialties that are in high demand in Arkansas’ rural communities.
“Our ultimate goal is to increase the number of students pursuing careers in health care, particularly in parts of the state where we’ve seen chronic shortages in the workforce,” she said.
Thirty rising high school seniors from 11 counties took part in the program’s first summer academy, a six-week residential camp held on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff campus. The students gained exposure to a variety of health care disciplines, including dietetics, mental and behavioral health, occupational and physical therapy, physician assistant studies, radiography and respiratory therapy.
Students from the HCOP Academy build a model of an atom during a chemistry lesson.
In one presentation, Ana Miller, Au.D., a research and clinical audiologist at the UAMS Center for Hearing Health Equity, shared information about the audiology profession, her experience as a student in UAMS’ doctoral program and the admissions requirements for those who pursue a career in that field. Students had the opportunity to ask her questions and participate in hands-on demonstrations using audiology equipment.
Danielle Bobo, a Pine Bluff High School student, said the audiology lesson gave her a better understanding of a profession she previously knew little about. Although she’s primarily interested in dentistry, she noted the importance of learning about other career paths.
“This program is about expanding our mindset,” she said. “If your first plan doesn’t work out, you still have a lot of other options to fall back on.”
Students received an up-close look at some of those options during a visit to Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff. They toured several departments and observed demonstrations from health professionals in radiology, respiratory therapy and medical laboratory science.
The students also took a trip to the UAMS campus in Little Rock, where they spent an afternoon in the Culinary Medicine Kitchen. While trying their hand at cooking dishes such as cauliflower fried rice and black bean brownies, they learned about how dieticians help their patients make healthier food choices.
A student chops vegetables in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Culinary Medicine Kitchen.
Other activities helped the teens hone their leadership abilities. They received training and certification in mental health first aid through the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, learning how to recognize the signs of mental health crises and how to respond to them.
The academy concluded with a film festival where students presented a series of public service announcements that they drafted and filmed. The UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health partnered with the academy to carry out the project, which covered topics such as mental health, opioids, pollution, sexually transmitted illnesses and vaping.
Kelsey Owsley, Ph.D., MPH, assistant professor in the College of Public Health, said the project offered insight into how students think about some of the important factors that affect health outcomes, with many of them expressing concerns about health care costs and access to healthy foods.
“There are so many young people who are interested in health careers but may not realize that there are opportunities beyond a clinical setting,” she said. “Connecting with teens before they enter college may help to guide talented and passionate students to fulfilling and impactful careers in public health.”
Carlos Villamil, a student at De Queen High School, hopes to pursue a career in biomedical engineering, with a particular interest in the development of prosthetics. He said he enjoyed the opportunity to network with students who share his interest in helping others.
“We’re all planning to be in the medical field,” he said. “I think it’s good to meet like-minded people and see where we’re all going to go in our careers.”
Many of the teens described the camaraderie that developed during the six weeks they spent on the UAPB campus. In their time outside the classroom, they organized many group activities, including a Bible study and karaoke and movie nights.
Students in the HCOP Academy enjoy some time outside the classroom. The teens developed a close-knit community during their six weeks on the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff campus.
“It was amazing to see how quickly they formed a close-knit community, which provided them with peer support and encouragement,” Nelson said. “I know they’ll stay in touch with one another even after their experience in this program concludes.”
Parents and guardians were also an important factor in the program’s success, she said. The HCOP Academy held a series of “advocate sessions” that provided the students’ families with information about educational opportunities and healthy lifestyles, encouraging them to grow alongside their teens. Some of the adults chose to have a more active role, assisting the program and holding events including an ice cream social for students.
Brandy Swift, whose daughter Ayanna Polk participated in the program, said the HCOP Academy provided students with knowledge that will be vital as they move forward in the education and careers.
“Ayanna wants to become a pediatric nurse, and this was the beginning experience she needed,” Swift said.
Students will continue to receive guidance from the HCOP Academy during the 2024-25 school year, Nelson said. They’ll work with student mentors from UAMS and its academic partner institutions to narrow their career interests and ensure that they’re prepared for those pathways.
Students and staff members from the HCOP Academy are shown outside the Culinary Medicine Kitchen on the UAMS campus.
This year’s cohort will reconvene next summer for a four-week gathering that helps prepare them for the rigors of college. Additionally, Nelson said the HCOP Academy will hold another six-week academy to welcome a new class of rising seniors into the program.
Chris Carlock, a student at Pine Bluff High, has participated in UAMS community-engagement programs since elementary school. He decided to apply for the HCOP Academy as he considers a career in sports medicine or respiratory therapy. Carlock said HCOP has created new opportunities for students from small cities and communities.
“This program is very important,” he said. “It’s definitely given us a head start and opened our eyes to careers in the medical field.”