M*A*S*H (Medical Applications of Science
for Health)
AHEC-NW annually hosts this two-week summer
camp which is designed to expose local high school students to hands-on
experiences in the medical field. Each spring students entering the 10th, 11th,
and 12th grades the following fall apply for acceptance into this enrichment
program. There is much competition for acceptance into the program as more
students apply than can be accepted. MASH students complete many activities and
rotations, learning selected medical skills and observing a variety of medical
professionals at AHEC-NW and in area hospitals and offices.
MASH is funded by UAMS AHECs, Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Arkansas Farm
Bureau, Baptist Health System, and others. Through their generous support
AHEC-NW has continued to offer this program for twenty deserving high school
students each year.
For more information contact , MSN, RN, Director of Education,
(479) 684-5183,
CHAMPS (Community Health Applied in Medical Public
Service)
CHAMPS is a free, one-week enrichment program
for eligible junior high school students that provides hands-on experiences in
health careers, health education, and community service. The CHAMPS program at
UAMS AHEC-NW targets minority junior high school students. The goal of our
CHAMPS program is to expose these students to health care careers in hopes that
they will be encouraged to pursue this type of career in the future and thus
increase the number of Latino health care professionals in Arkansas.
Through a variety of experiences, students
interact with health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, medical
technologists, respiratory therapists, radiologic technologists, physical
therapists, pharmacists, etc. Exposure to different areas of medicine and other
health-related professions is an integral part of the CHAMPS experience.
Students learn to identify some of the various healthcare disciplines, see what
they do, how they relate to one another, and discover how the fundamentals of
biology, anatomy, and other sciences are used in real life practice. Other
activities offered during the one-week day program include training in first
aid, and presentations on organ donation, healthy lifestyle presentations, and a
community service project.
This program is for students entering grades
8, 9, and 10. To participate in a CHAMPS program, students must demonstrate
above average scholastic ability as reported by school transcripts. Additional
selection criteria are based on the recommendations of science or health
teachers or a school counselor, the application prepared by the student, and
evaluation by the CHAMPS Selection Committee.