Health careers opportunity program - western michigan university (WMU) health career opportunity program (hcop) academy will provide support to educationally and economically disadvantaged students…

Health careers opportunity program - western michigan university (WMU) health career opportunity program (hcop) academy will provide support to educationally and economically disadvantaged students with the purpose of developing a diverse and competent occupational therapy (OT) workforce. Considered one of the key allied health professions, involves the use of assessments and interventions to support individuals who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. Occupational therapists (OTS) seek to promote optimal functioning and independence, working throughout various healthcare settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation clinics and home health agencies. The U.S. Bureau of labor statistics projects employment of OTS to increase 14 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. The profession, however, is seriously lacking in racial, ethnic and gender diversity. Approximately 89.3% of practitioners are female and 87.1% are caucasian demonstrating inadequate representation of the U.S. Population. Although the median salary for OTS in 2022 was $93,801, a graduate degree is required for practice, thus presenting serious challenges for economically disadvantaged individuals. Moreover, the financial burden associated with allied health education includingis a major deterrent limiting racial and ethnic diversity within these programs. Research indicates that recruitment and retention ofstudents of color are hampered by additional factors including lack of knowledge about the profession, poor minority representation, and "feeling like an outsider," all of which will be addressed in the WMU hcop academy. This 5-year project will annually recruit disadvantaged students from a) local high schools; b) WMU undergraduate programs; and c) WMU graduate students currently enrolled in OT. Students will engage in both structured and unstructured activities propelling them toward a successful career in OT. These include ongoing men toring, clinical experiences, coursework and service opportunities with historically underrepresented populations. The hcop national ambassador program will recruit 32 students from the various educational levels and offer: 1) an introduction tofor high school students through mentoring and exposure to patient populations commonly treated such as spinal cord injury; 2) supervised job shadowing for undergraduate students at WMU-run clinics serving pediatric through geriatric patients, representing mostly underinsured individuals; 3) mentorship for both WMU undergraduate and graduate students matched with a clinicians from local and national networks; 4) intensive coursework for undergraduate and graduate students using a newly released textbook, didactics and hands-on learning focusing on functional anatomy; knowledge application during monthly discussions of underlying anatomy related to specific cases from students' clinical placements; 4) substantial assistance for wmugraduate students to prepare for the national board for certification, a requirement for practice. Other structured programs the WMU hcop academy include a summer clinical training course introducing coreprinciples to 25 undergraduate students interested in health professions. Students will gain real-life experiences conductingassessments with community-dwelling black elders. A year-long exploration of justice, diversity, equity and inclusion inusing evidence-based models will be provided to students at the prematriculation level, preceding their entry into the wmugraduate program. Unstructured activities will include participation in local and stateconferences and service days with homeless populations modifying adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs. Overall, the WMU hcop program has tremendous potential to strengthen the academic trajectory for deserving, disadvantaged students, thereby creating a critical new blueprint to change the demographic profile of thefuture workforce.