Health Careers
Helping students decide if a career in
health care is right for them.
Presented by
Stephanie Taylor, Director
West Central Missouri AHEC
Who is AHEC?
Missouri Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)
Mission: To enhance access to quality healthcare, particularly
primary and preventative care, by growing and supporting
Missouri’s health care workforce.
Federal, state funding, local support
 AHECs are a national organization
 AHECs share a common mission.
 Missouri AHEC established in 1988

What does AHEC do?
Our functions feed into the healthcare workforce:
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Youth recruitment activities
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Clinical training of medical and dental students
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Recruiting/retaining healthcare providers for rural
and underserved urban areas
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Continuing education for current providers
What does AHEC do?
ACES - (AHEC Career Enhancement Scholars)
Designed to help provide support for students interested in
health field through extra-curricular activities:
• Limited number of spots – Competitive
• Career exploration workshops
• Field trips to health professions schools
• Science and anatomy dissection
• Leadership development
• Individual career planning sessions
• Transition to other regions for college
• Summer internships
• Long-term support: high school/undergrad/post-grad
What does AHEC do?
Medical Explorer Post / Pipeline
Designed to help provide students explore health careers at a
monthly activity
• Meets one night a month in the evening
• Held at Hospital Hill (downtown KC)
• $35 for the year
• Various healthcare providers coming in
• Hands-on activities
• Open to anyone ages 14-20
• School—year calendar
What does AHEC do?
School-based health career clubs
Designed to form partnerships between AHEC and schools to bring
in presentations and activities to encourage students to go into the
healthcare fields.
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East High School in Kansas City (oral health grant)
University Academy (oral health grant)
Winnetonka High School (oral health grant)
Blue Springs High School (Project Lead the Way)
Classroom presentations
AHEC can bring in presentations to speak to students about health
careers, education and training pathways, becoming a competitive
applicant for training programs.
ACTIVITY
Is a Health Career right for a student?
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Do they like to deal with people?
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Are they comfortable with math and science?
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Are they comfortable in a health care setting?
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Are they a team player?
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Do they work well individually?
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Can they be a leader as well as follow directions from
another?
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Lifelong learner
Educational Requirements
Different education pathways:
Certificate programs
• Associate Degrees
• Bachelor’s Degrees
• Post-Bac training
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Be weary of “Institutes”
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Can be more expensive in the long run
Some employers prefer “college” graduates to
condensed programs
Be aware of their “pass rates”
Most courses won’t transfer to a college
Education is limited to job specifics
Many companies seek “degree” holders
Career fields – Clinical, patient based
Medical Careers
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Medical Assistant
Anesthesiology Assistant
Chiropractor
Physician Assistant
Physician
2
6
6
6
8+
$25-40,000
$60-100,000
$100,000 +
$60-100,000
$100,000 +
>1
2
2-4
6
8
Less than $25,000
$25-40,000
$40-60,000
$60-100,000
$100,000+
Nursing
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CNA
LPN
RN – 2 year or 4 year BSN
Master’s (CRNA, Midwife, NP, etc)
Doctorate, PhD
Career fields – Clinical, patient based
Behavioral Health
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Mental Health Counselor
Psychologist
Psychiatrist (MD/DO)
6
6
8
8+
$40-60,000
$40-60,000
$60-100,000
$100,000 +
0-1
2-4
8
8+
$25-40,000
$40-60,000
$100,000 +
$100,000 +
Dental careers
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Dental Assistant
Dental Hygienist
Dentist
Oral Surgeon, Orthodontics
Career fields – Therapy and Technology
Therapies and Rehab
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Physical Therapy Assistant
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Occupational Therapy
Respiratory Therapist
Recreational Therapist
Speech-Language Pathologist
Orthotics and Prosthetics
2
8
2
6
2
4
6
6
$40-60,000
$60-100,000
$40-60,000
$60-100,000
$40-60,000
$25–40,000
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
Career fields – Therapy and Technology
Diagnostic Imaging
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Radiologic Tech
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Nuclear Med Tech
Radiation Therapy
CT Technologist
MRI Technician
2-4
2
2
2
2
2
$40-60,000
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
Career fields – Lab and Instruments
Technical Instrumentation
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Surgical Tech
Cardiovascular Technician
Perfusionist
Dosimetrist
Cytotechnician
Histotechnician
EEG Tech
2
2
2
4
4
4
2
$40-60,000
$40-60,000
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
$40-60,000
$40-60,000
$40-60,000
0
0
2
$25-40,000
$25-40,000
$25-40,000
Clinical Lab Services
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Phlebotomist
Medical Assistant
Medical/Clinical Lab
Career fields – Allied Health
Pharmacy
Pharmacist
• Pharmacy Tech
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8
0
$100,000 +
$25-40,000
4
4
$40-60,000
$40-60,000
0
2
6
8
Up to $25,000
$25-40,000
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
Nutrition and Wellness
Athletic Trainer
• Registered Dietician
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Emergency Medicine
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Ambulance Driver
EMT / Paramedic
Genetics Counselor
Audiologist
Career fields – Non clinical
Administration
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CEO / CFO
Medical Practice/clinic manager
Accounting and Finance
Marketing Manager
HR Manager / Physician Recruiter
4-6
4
4
4
4
$100,000 +
$60-100,000
$40-60,000
$40-60,000
$40-60,000
0
0
0
2
4
Less than $25,000
Less than $25,000
$25-40,000
$25-40,000
$40-60,000
Support services
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Food service
Building maintenance
Groundskeeper
Medical Equipment Repair
Biomedical Engineer
Career fields – Non clinical
Health Information Technology
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Medical Records
Medical Transcriptionist
Medical Coders
Medical Librarian
0
2
2
6
$25-40,000
$25-40,000
$25-40,000
$40-60,000
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Computer Info Systems Mgr
Network Designers
IT Project Managers
4
4
4
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
$60-100,000
Help them prepare now!
Start investigating now – visit websites
 Set realistic goals and expectations
 Take as much math and science as possible
 Class Standing should be in top 20%
 Practice people skills: Good manners, strong hand shaking,
eye contact, explaining their interest in a health career
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Get involved with career exploration programs:
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VOLUNTEER at local hospital, nursing home
Join a health-related program or start one at school
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Document experiences and be prepared to discuss at an
interview
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Choose a major you like – doesn’t have to be a science or
math degree
Help them prepare now!
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Competitive programs want to see well-rounded students
(grades, involvement in community, part-time job in health
field, etc)
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Know how to write a personal statement
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Know how to interview
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Know about early admittance programs:
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KCUMB, KCOM – early matriculation with colleges
MU School of Medicine – Bryant Scholars
UMKC Dental school – early reserved seat
Nursing programs – some will accept as a high school senior
Refer to AHEC!
Medical school admissions…
• Minimum 24 on the MCAT
• 3.25 Science GPA
• 3.25 overall GPA
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12 hours of Biology
13 hours of chemistry
3 hours of biochemistry
8 hours of physics
6 hours of English
• Take at University level – NOT community college level
• Make sure high school “A.P. / dual credit” will count
Medical school admissions…
Medical Experience/Service/Leadership
• Minimum 80 hours of shadowing a physician
• Volunteer in a health-care related setting
• Work experience in a health-care field (EMT, nurse, etc)
• Minimum two leadership roles in clubs/community
organizations/work experience
• Involvement with a minimum of four community service
organizations
• Research experience
• Domestic/international mission trip
• Commitment of more than two years to an
organization/club/job
Nursing school admissions…
William Jewell:
• Anatomy with a lab
• Basic Psychology
• Chemistry with a lab
• Math for the Liberal Arts
• Microbiology with a lab
• Nutrition
• Physiology with a lab
• Written Communication
Minimum 2.7 gpa
UMKC
High school direct admission
• 27 ACT
• top 10% of class
• 4 units of English
• 4 units of mathematics
• 3 units of social studies
• 3 units of science with one
being a laboratory course
• 1 unit of fine arts
• 2 units of foreign language.
Help to pay for training:
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Scholarships:
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National (Kohls, Love’s, etc)
Local (Greater KC foundations)
Organization-based (church, retail, civic groups)
Interest based (nursing, dental, etc)
Background based (minority, etc)
Based on effort (community service, etc)
Federal and State Loans
Federal grants
Forgivable loans for health professions students
Hospital hiring incentives
PLTW Involvement
Questions?
Sources:
www.explorehealthcareers.org
www.kchealthcareers.com
www.gacollege411.org
www.healthresourcepartners.org
Stephanie Taylor, AHEC Director
West Central Missouri AHEC
Hosted by HCC of Rural Missouri
825 S. Hwy 13, Lexington MO 64067 | 816-617-2353 cell
stephanie@hccnetwork.org | www.wcmissouriahec.org