A Health Professions Pipeline for Underrepresented Students: Middle and High School Initiatives.

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Pipeline Programs
• Diversity in Healthcare

Background:

• Underrepresented and first-generation students face barriers in pursuing health careers.
• A diverse health workforce is crucial for equitable patient care.
• Targeted interventions are needed to build a strong applicant pool for medicine and dental medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative (Aetna HPPI).
• To assess the impact of pipeline programs on diversifying the health professions workforce.
• To examine the achievements of middle and high school students in the program.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of students from underrepresented backgrounds in the greater Hartford, CT area.
• Implementation of a 30-week Saturday Academy and a 6-week summer enrichment program.
• Inclusion of academic preparation, college readiness activities, mentoring, and parental support.

Main Results:

• All participating seniors graduated from high school.
• Academy students' SAT scores consistently exceeded the Hartford School District average.
• Graduating seniors demonstrated a high rate of college matriculation.

Conclusions:

• The Aetna HPPI effectively prepares underrepresented students for health professions.
• Pipeline programs are vital for increasing diversity in medicine and dental medicine.
• The initiative shows significant positive outcomes in academic achievement and higher education access.