Dajon Stoudemire- The AHEC Scholars program has had an enormous influence on my career path. Coming into the program, I was a Junior Psychology major who was still questioning if I wanted to be in the health field. With the different modules about health-related issues, I began to gravitate towards an interest in rural health slowly. I am proud to say that the program has intrigued my interest in continuing my pursuit in health education, especially in rural areas. With the help of the AHEC Scholars Program, I will enter my senior year in college comfortable with my future as a Psychology student.
Antara Das-I always have wanted to work in the community. As an international student, I was unaware of the health issues that the rural population of the US faces. The AHEC Scholars Program was beneficial for me alongside my coursework and research at The University of Alabama to better understand the health challenges of the rural US. The modules go much more in-depth and, at the same time, also provide excellent training opportunities from renowned organizations like CDC. It was also beneficial to understand how the health care access challenges in the poorer part of the World and the rural US are somewhat similar. The module on cultural competency gave me the learning that would stay with me lifelong; I would say I am more culturally proficient now than last year in dealing with my surroundings and different population groups. Thank you, West Central Alabama AHEC, for giving me this enlightening learning opportunity.
Gillian Shapiro- I really enjoyed the AHEC Scholars Program. It was an invaluable supplement to my UA social work education and I learned so much. In fact, I have a job interview for a Public Health job and I feel well prepared as a result of the program! Thanks to you and everyone at AHEC that makes this training possible!
Katie Owens- In the practice of Social Work, our goal is to identify a patient’s strengths and barriers so that we can empower them to improve their quality of life. A great deal of our practice is to advocate for patients and assist them in allocating resources. Completing the AHEC program gave me the opportunity to assess systems that influence health alongside other healthcare professional students and observe the viewpoints of their practices. That interaction has better prepared me to work within an interprofessional team to improve the health of our community. The coursework challenged me, even when I did not want to be challenged. The last thing I wanted to do was look at coursework at current COVID-19 events. The reality is that my patients are dealing with the real-time consequences of a global pandemic, and I owe it to them to be knowledgeable on current events. Cultural competency continues to be important in social work and health care services, and I am thankful to have received additional resources to continue educating myself. Finally, with the practice of the AHEC coursework, I can professionally articulate the importance of evaluating social determinants of health in order to promote better quality in community health care outcomes. I am excited to share that I have accepted a position as a Mental Health Therapist for Adults, and I will continue to use the knowledge obtained in the AHEC program as I start my career.