High Sierra Area Health Education Center
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High Sierra Area Health Education Center is a federally and state funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to serving under-served and rural population of Northwestern Nevada in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Office of Statewide Initiatives. High Sierra AHEC serves the following counties: Carson, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe
The purpose of the Nevada AHEC Program is to meet the needs of the communities they serve through robust community-academic partnerships, with a focus on recruiting, developing, and cultivating our health care workforce pipeline. Through a variety of valuable partnerships they develop future leaders in health care.
Healthcare Heroes Camp curriculum can be modified to suit either 3rd-5th grade or 5th-8th grade. It broadly covers all body systems, homeostasis, and different roles and responsibilities in healthcare. Students are exposed to several career paths, from skilled to professional, and engage in hands-on activities and active learning with local professionals. Camper activities include hospital tours, audiology screenings, orthopedic casting, nutrition education, suturing, dissection, and group games. Partner organizations have included local hospitals, FQHCs, volunteer UNR Med students, and leading local professionals representing academics and the healthcare industry.
CSI Camp is tailored for a 5th-8th grade audience. Campers exercise their critical thinking skills, problem-solving, teamwork, and scientific analysis and application. Beginning with a fictitious death, students must identify the cause of death and/or catch the criminal responsible using a variety of standard laboratory techniques. These techniques and experiments introduce basic biology, chemistry, and medical ethics. At the end of the week, students present their findings in court. Partner organizations have included the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab, Reno Justice Court, and local volunteer attorneys.
ROARR is similar to Project Prevent, this outreach initiative specifically targets rural students. AHEC’s goal is to provide them with hands-on experiential activities to assist them in further exploring careers in healthcare. Through the mentorship of their Student Ambassadors, rural students gain knowledge on the importance of IPE and gain access to local healthcare leaders and professionals. Students are provided with insight on the healthcare needs specific to their communities and learn the potential impact they have to revitalize and improve the health of rural Nevada.
Certifications Program, is a CHW I certification program for high school students (ages 16 and older). For the CHW I portion of this after-school program, participants will receive a comprehensive and engaging curriculum that reflects the importance and versatility of Community Health Workers. Additionally, participants will be provided with CE/CME opportunities and other trainings/workshops to supplement their coursework. Since this is the next step in the pipeline, this program is open to both rural and Title I students. The Level Up participants will be mentored and linked to additional opportunities and like-minded partners to advance their careers and be provided with a pathway towards higher-skilled and/or more specialized healthcare careers.
For more information on High Sierra AHEC
and their current program initiatives please visit https://www.highsierraahec.org