New York State Area Health Education Center (AHEC) System
Progress Report to the New York State Department of Health
Status of Activities/Accomplishments and Barriers
(January 1, 2006 – March 31, 2006)
Project Objective
Status of Activities/Accomplishments
Activities planned and conducted during the period and outcomes of those activities.
Objective 1. Expand and support faculty development and community-based training experiences for medical and other health professions students in Medically
Underserved Areas.
1a. AHECs (centers) and regional
offices will collaborate with
medical and health professions
schools to facilitate clinical
placements for medical and health
professions students in
underserved areas via such
community-specific strategies as:
 developing relationships
with clinical coordinators
in training programs
 offering residential
housing and/or travel
incentive reimbursement
policies for students who
will train in remote
AHEC-sponsored sites.
 identifying, developing and
expanding new health
profession practice sites
 developing training sites
that incorporate
interdisciplinary
educational methods to
train students
 utilizing
electronic/distance
learning to connect
academic institutions with
remote teaching sites and
students with library and
research resources
 providing faculty
1a. A total of 738 medical students received 61,282 hours of community-based training with 350 preceptors. Seventy (70)
health professions students received 10,063 hours of community based training with 45 preceptors.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office/Western Region Office/Western New York Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
Three hundred ninety-four (394) medical students received 27,810 hours of community-based training with 164 preceptors. Two
hundred thirty-two (232) of these students, received 15,710 hours of training with 87 preceptors in medically underserved
communities.
The Deputy Director and Director of Nursing have established quarterly meetings with the Acting Dean of the University at Buffalo
School of Nursing. The Director of Nursing initiated contacts for placements of three graduate nursing students from Buffalo with the
New York Metropolitan Region AHECs. The Director of Nursing provided suggestions to the R-AHEC regarding possible nursing
rural residency programs, and potential faculty liaisons, at the University at Buffalo Nursing PhD program.
The Medical Director and the University at Buffalo (UB)/AHEC Student Group on the Underserved met on January 24. Twelve (12)
students attended representing the medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, public health and health professions schools. Some visits to
the schools by high school students were planned. The group discussed another screening/educational outreach and decided to wait
until it could be coordinated with an already existing event. In March, the group learned of an outreach effort sponsored by
Independent Health to underserved communities that could involve student volunteers from multiple disciplines.
The Interdisciplinary Elective on the Underserved course was approved to be offered in the fall. The course has already reached
capacity. The Medical Director is continuing to arrange speakers, define the readings and prepare for the course in the fall.
The R-AHEC Summer Interdisciplinary Experience is in the planning stages; dates have been established and recruitment of students
is underway. The curriculum will be similar to that in 2005. The Medical Director’s co-facilitator has left the hospital so there was
communication by phone with the new Nursing Director at the nursing home who agreed to help with the teaching and arranging the
interviews. The Medical Director will meet with the Nursing Director in May to finalize plans.
The Medical Director continued as faculty advisor of the Family Medicine Student Association (FMSA). FMSA met on January 19,
to discuss end of life issues. The Medical Director met with the Medical Education Specialist and the student president of FMSA on
February 23, to plan events. FMSA met again on March 16, to discuss psychiatric issues in primary care.
The Medical Director joined two colleagues in presenting a Cultural Competency Education session to at the Society of Teachers of
Family Medicine Pre-Doctoral conference in Charleston, South Carolina on February 3. The Medical Director and colleagues also
presented the information to the faculty development meeting in the University at Buffalo Department of Family Medicine.
development activities to
ensure that education
needs of faculty will be met
to improve the clinical
quality of instruction;
provide incentives and
recognize preceptor
contributions
The Medical Director was asked to give a lecture in the Physical Therapy Program, PT 606, UB School of Public Health and Health
Professions. The topic was the communication and interaction between family physicians and physical therapists. The Medical
Director met with the instructor of the class to define learning objectives. The class will be held on April 18.
The Medical Director precepted on February 22, at the Lighthouse Free Clinic run by medical students.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
ENAHEC has contracted with the Lifetime Health Centers to provide cultural competency training for its employees using
ENAHEC’s Alafia Theatre Component. ENAHEC will hold focus groups with selected clinics in Buffalo (two) and Rochester (two)
to get employee feedback on what issues exist regarding cultural sensitivity at the clinics. The outcome of the focus groups will be a
play written and presented to the Lifetime Health Centers, with a talkback.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
Two medical students received 240 hours of community-based training with two preceptors in the communities of Ripley and
Westfield.
Thirteen (13) health professions students completed approximately 1,720 hours of training with nine preceptors within the
communities of Hornell, Jamestown, Warsaw, Wayland and Westfield.
“I had so much fun on this rotation—working with Dr. Robshaw is definitely a memorable experience...I would recommend this
rotation to anyone!”
--Natalie Ough, George Washington University PA Program.
R-AHEC made the following clinical coordinator collaborations:
Daemen College Physician Assistant Program (Buffalo), Daemen College Physical Therapy Program (Buffalo), Rochester Institute of
Technology Physician Assistant Program, Rochester Institute of Technology Ultrasound Program, D’Youville College (Buffalo),
D’Youville College Physical Therapy Program (Buffalo), University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences,
University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, Ithaca College Physical Therapy Program, George Washington
University Physician Assistant Program (Washington, DC), University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine Advanced Dental
Assisting Program Track (ADAPT) Program, Monroe Community College Dental Assistant Program (Rochester), and Gannon
University Physician Assistant Program (Erie, PA).
Twenty-one (21) students utilized the following R-AHEC housing locations: Hornell – five, Jamestown – eight, Warsaw – four and
Westfield – four. The clinical rotations or affiliations include family medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant and physical therapy
students.
The North Chautauqua Dental Group (Dunkirk) and Dr. Joseph McCormick (Hornell) were developed as preceptor sites.
A regional telehealth/telemedicine survey tool was developed to be administered throughout the R-AHEC catchment area in May.
Planning for another year of a Summer Interdisciplinary Program is in process. Approximately 10 students will be invited from
medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and other disciplines to participate in a six week program from June 26 – August 4. The
program will again have a geriatric focus and staff from the Skilled Nursing Facility from the Wyoming County Health System will
be involved in program facilitation.
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Central Region Office/Northern AHEC/CNYAHEC
A total of 29 Family Medicine Clerkship students received 4,640 hours of community-based training with 54 preceptors in the
communities of Syracuse (10 sites), Liverpool, Bronx, Fulton, Skaneateles, Baldwinsville (two sites), Oswego, North Syracuse, Utica
and Marcellus. SUNY Upstate Medical University Family Medicine Clerkship students evaluated instructional quality through
Courseval, a medical school-wide instrument and through MedEd IQ. Students rated the clerkship overall as excellent and one of the
highest rated courses in the curriculum.
A total of 12 Rural Medical Education Program (RMED) students received 1,920 hours of community-based training with 22
preceptors in the communities of Potsdam, Lowville, Pulaski, Oswego, Cortland, Hamilton, Oneida, Canandaigua, Geneva, Watkins
Glen, Ithaca and Glens Falls. Twelve (12) RMED teaching sites provided housing for one month each, access to the Internet and the
SUNY Upstate Medical University campus network and Health Sciences Library and distance learning activities through the
Blackboard Learning Systems program at Upstate Medical University, for 12 RMED students.
The office of Dr. Christine Liepke (Oswego) was developed as a preceptor site.
All preceptors are offered clinical faculty appointments at the University. Clinical faculty are eligible for accounts which give them
access to all the digital resources of the Health Sciences Library. All active preceptors are also offered free registration for the annual
Family Medicine refresher course, a $475 value. Seventy-five (75) preceptors have received incentives.
The Central Region Office assisted in a presentation of a two-hour faculty development workshop for preceptors during the Family
Medicine Refresher course offered by St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center; topics included “The Five Minute Preceptor” and
“Problem Solving: Educational Problems With Students.” There were a total of 16 participants.
The Director of the Central Region Office continued to serve on the New York State Association for Rural Health Board of Directors
and Conference Planning Committee. The Central Region Office assisted with developing the ‘call for presentations’ process.
The Director of the Central Region Office co-presented, with the Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, a seminar and discussion
for faculty at Upstate Medical University on admissions policies of the institution and the need to address workforce needs of the
central and northern New York regions. Fifty (50) people attended, including the President of Upstate Medical University and the
Dean of the College of Medicine. Approximately 40% of incoming students originate in upstate, 40% in the NYC metropolitan area
and 20% from out of state.
The Director of the Central Region Office organized and participated in an information meeting about the RMED Program, held
January 24, for first and second year medical students at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
The Director of the Central Region Office made a presentation to the Board of Directors of the Family Health Network of Central
New York, a federally qualified rural Community Health Center, regarding plans to significantly expand the participation of that
organization in the medical student teaching program at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
Twelve (12) medical students completed 8,960 hours of training with 12 preceptors at the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown.
Six health professions students completed 2,172 hours of training in five preceptor sites. The following sites hosted health
professions students: Jefferson-Lewis BOCES in Watertown, St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg, EJ Noble Hospital in
Gouverneur, Health Services of Northern New York in Canton and Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg.
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Working relationships exist with clinical coordinators at North Country Community College (nursing, radiology technician
programs); St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES (Practical Nursing Program); Clinton Community College (Medical Laboratory Tech
Pogram); The State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh (telenursing and speech/language pathology programs); Le
Moyne College (Physician Assistant Program); SUNY at Upstate Medical University-College of Health Professions (Respiratory
Therapy, Medical Technology, Medical Imaging, et al.); Clarkson University (Physical Therapy Program); SUNY at Canton (medical
coding, health services management and medical transcription programs); SUNY at Potsdam (Community Health Program); Albany
School of Pharmacy; University of Vermont School of Medicine; and St. Lawrence University (pre-medicine, pre-dental, pre-physical
therapy).
NAHEC has leased two dorm rooms located on the SUNY Potsdam Campus for students to reside in during their clinical rotations in
the NAHEC service area. A maximum of four students can be housed at one time. NAHEC has also established a lodging agreement
with Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg to provide lodging for students performing their clinical rotations at ClaxtonHepburn Medical Center or in the Ogdensburg area. Up to six students can be housed at one time. NAHEC provides assistance with
travel reimbursement to health professions and medical students performing their clinical rotations in the NAHEC service region, as
funding allows.
A total of six students received travel reimbursement. One student from the SUNY Canton Physical Therapy Assistant Program
performed their clinical rotation at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES in Watertown. One student from the SUNY Canton Physical Therapy
Assistant Program performed their clinical rotation at EJ Noble Hospital in Gouverneur. One student from the Albany College of
Pharmacy performed their pharmacy rotation at the Ogdensburg Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg. One student from the Clarkson
University Physical Therapy program performed their clinical rotation at Health Services of Northern New York in Canton. One
nursing student from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES performed their clinical rotation at EJ Noble Hospital in Gouverneur. One nursing
student from St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES performed their clinical rotation at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg.
A preceptor survey was distributed and the results are currently being compiled.
The following faculty development programs were provided:
 “Teambuilding for Hospital Managers,” held at Clarkson University in Potsdam (36 attendees);
 “Leadership Training,” held at Clarkson University in Potsdam for the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Emergency Room department
staff (six attendees);
 “Kersey Bates Temperament Sorter for Health Care Managers,” held at Clarkson University in Potsdam (five attendees).
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
Eight health professions students received 1,630 hours of community based training with nine preceptors. Eight students began their
clinical rotations (all utilizing the mileage subsidy), three were physical therapy students from Utica College, Nazareth College and
College of Misercordia and five were radiation therapy students from SUNY Upstate Medical University. Students trained with nine
different preceptors in one of the following counties Chemung, Madison, Herkimer, Oneida, Schuyler, Onondaga and Oswego.
A meeting was held on February 8 with the President of Community Memorial Hospital, the President of Bassett Health Care, the
Director of the Upstate Institute at Colgate University and key CNYAHEC board members to discuss next steps in the planning
process and to determine a date for the workforce summit. It was decided that a letter be sent to Eliot Spitzer inviting him to be the
Summit’s keynote speaker. Panel speakers were also identified. The Health Workforce Summit workgroup met again on March 7.
An outline was drafted for the white paper that will set the stage for the Summit. The paper will provide participants with an
overview of major health workforce issues, and it will be given to participants prior to the Summit. The draft was submitted to
Colgate University’s Upstate Institute, which has identified four students to assist in the research and preparation of the draft paper.
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A panel of representatives from a variety of health workforce perspectives will be assembled. The panel will be charged with
responding to the keynote speaker and white paper, as a significant component of the Summit. Several individuals have been
identified as potential panel members; requests for their participation will be made after confirmation of the keynote speaker.
Attendance at the Summit will be by invitation only. Invitations will be sent to the presidents and deans of health professions
programs of all higher education institutions in central New York, CEOs of all hospitals in central New York, the CNYAHEC Board
of Directors, representatives from the NYS AHEC System, elected state and federal representatives of the central New York region
and other key state elected officials.
Breakout groups for the Summit will be organized around core health workforce development concepts, and each group will be
charged with exploring its assigned concept. Several concept themes were identified, including: a) strategic planning for the future
health workforce (centralized vs. decentralized), b) shifting the health workforce paradigm, c) the impact of technology and distance
learning on health workforce development, and d) collaboration and consortium development as a health workforce strategy.
Eastern Region Office/Hudson Mohawk AHEC
Forty-three (43) Albany Medical College students received 6,520 hours of training from 38 preceptors at AHEC supported sites in the
Eastern Region.
The Eastern Region Office survey of family medicine physicians conducted last year resulted in over 40 physicians expressing
interest in serving as preceptors for Albany Medical College students. Approximately 20 physicians have committed to participating
in one of the two orientation sessions that have been scheduled.
Hudson Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
A total of nine third-year internal medicine students from Albany Medical College received 756 hours of community-based training
with 15 preceptors at eight different clinical sites: Hudson Headwaters Health clinics in Warrensburg, North Creek, Queensbury,
Glens Falls, Moreau, Stanton Nursing Facility; and two other clinics, Evergreen Health Center and Granville Health Center.
Some student responses were:
Student 1: “Terrific experience”; “lots of hands on experience with patients in doing H&Ps and establishing your own treatment
plans”; Student 2: Noted that she was involved to a high degree in taking patient histories; Student 3: “Friendly environment, staff is
very amiable to students, patients receptive to students”, “This rotation was a great learning experience in both medicine and patient
care relationships. It is a rotation I will highly recommend to other students”; Student 4: Noted that he saw a wide variety of
interesting cases and that the clinical instructors made every patient encounter a learning experience; Student 5: “All of my
preceptors had different styles, but all encouraged me to develop my own style of practice. I had a great time”; and Student 6: “All
four of my preceptors were outstanding. They were eager to teach and enthusiastically incorporated me into their practices. I enjoyed
having a variety of doctors to learn from and was able to foster good working relationships with each one.”
Five of the nine medical students utilized HM AHEC provided housing (one site in Lake George and one site in Warrensburg) during
their four week rotation.
Plans are underway to hold cultural competency training before June 30, in the Albany area. The training will be conducted by the
Institute for Urban Family Health. It is a three-hour course given to health care providers and health professional students.
Work is currently on going for a chronic care model curriculum to be utilized by preceptors in the training of the clerkship students.
In conjunction with work that has been done by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in chronic care, a curriculum with anticipated
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outcomes and evaluation methods is being prepared. It is anticipated that this curriculum will be in place for the 2006-07 school year.
HM AHEC has begun populating the MyHealthCareers software and will link that site from its home page. The homepage/website is
currently being upgraded to reflect the mission and vision of AHEC.
In January, Wilton Emergency Squad, Inc., in Saratoga county, began using the HM AHEC provided video conferencing equipment
and the Adirondack Area Network connection to receive content of interest for their squad members.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
Twenty (20) medical students received 4,800 hours of training with 13 preceptors in the communities of New Paltz, Kingston,
Ellenville and New Windsor.
Nineteen (19) health professions students received 285 hours of training with 10 preceptors in the communities of Kingston and New
Paltz.
Housing for medical students is provided by Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute (Institute) in Kingston. Students from various
medical schools rotate through the Mid-Hudson Family Practice Residency and housing during those rotations is provided free of
charge. Sixteen (16) students received housing.
In collaboration with the Eastern Region Office and Albany Medical College, 12 new preceptors have been recruited within the
CHAHEC region. Preceptor training sessions are being scheduled for spring.
CHAHEC co-sponsored a nurse mentoring program with the Institute. The program is designed to improve staff training and
retention. The goal of the program is to provide continuing in-house education and professional support to all current and new
nursing personnel of the Institute. This program involved approximately 35 staff members. In addition, nursing students of all levels,
i.e. medical assistants, CNAs, LPNs and RNs, who rotate through the Institute’s seven clinical sites, are assigned a mentor during the
student’s rotation. Eighteen (18) medical assistant students, six LPN and four RN students received clinical training through the
Institute, and as a result three medical assistants and two LPNs were hired.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
Two hundred seventeen (217) medical students received 5,636 hours of training with 30 preceptors. The medical students are from
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York University, Hunter College, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Erie College of
Osteopathic Medicine, Emory University, St. Georges University, University of Southern California and the University of Virginia.
Twenty-four (24) health professions students received 4,256 hours of training with 12 preceptors. The health professional students
come from New York University, Fordham University, Columbia University and the College of New Rochelle.
The New York Metropolitan Region office works in collaboration with the Institute for Urban Family Health (Institute) at Sidney
Hillman Health Center, Mount Hope Family Practice, Walton Family Health Center and Bronx Health REACH. At these training
sites the New York Metropolitan Region office places various students, including social work students, public health students, public
administration students and Vista/Americorps volunteers.
The NYC and Walton Free Clinic projects, which are co-sponsored by the Institute and student groups from New York University
School of Medicine and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine respectively, continue to be successful. The proposed third free
clinic in collaboration with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University students did not succeed.
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Institute staff provided the following faculty development programs:
 January 5, Grant Writing for Health Related Programs, 31 participants;
 February 2, Group Process and Dialogue, 11 participants;
 March 2, Reproductive Health - Review of Contraceptive Method, 11 participants.
The participants at the above trainings were from: The Institute, Continuum Health Center, Hudson Mohawk AHEC, Jacobi Medical
Center, St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center, Mt. Sinai Health Center, Brooklyn Hospital, Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC, Sara
Lawrence College, Visiting Nurse Services of New York, New York City Health and Hospital Corporation, Bon Secours New York
Health System, Mt. Hope Family Practice, Phillips Family Practice, NYC Hotel Traders Council, St. Joseph’s Family Medical Center
– Clifton, Caledonian Health Center – Brooklyn and Mountainside Family Practice – New Jersey.
Institute Staff provided three Cultural Competency Trainings:
 February 3, Soundshore Medical Center, New Rochelle, 20 participants;
 February 10, Soundshore Medical Center, New Rochelle, 18 participants;
 March 30, St. Vincent Medical Center, Queens, 14 participants.
A presentation of findings regarding the pricing and feasibility for production of statewide website production of workshops was
made at the Executive Council meeting in Albany on March 21. CD-ROMs can be made for use by the primary care practitioners for
$10,000.
The Leadership Academy curriculum developed through the efforts of the Institute, Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC and the Faculty
Development Program is available to all AHEC offices. State representatives and all AHECs were urged to schedule participants for
free workshops.
It was determined that one workshop would be delivered in each centers’ area at the request of center staff. All workshop participants
are to be arranged by the requesting party.
Workshops available to all AHECs are e-mailed at regular intervals. The 2005-2006 academic year has eight one-day workshops and
a two-day Leadership Academy available for AHECs. Monthly conference calls are held by the Faculty Development Committee.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
BWAHEC distributed faculty development schedules to professional organizations throughout Bronx and Westchester counties, for
programs which are to be held at the Institute for Urban Family Health. Marketing of the faculty development programs occurred
thorough emails, list serves, mailings, networking, meetings and conferences.
BWAHEC collaborated with Dorthea Hopfer School of Nursing (DHSON) regarding their Mentoring Future Leaders to Enhance the
Diversity in their Nursing Program. The program provided current DHSON students with mentoring to encourage them to continue
their education beyond an Associate Degree. Another collaboration with the DHSON was to decrease attrition rate of students in the
daytime program by providing eight hours per week of open lab time for skills practice and remediation.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLI AHEC)
BQLI AHEC continues to work with Long Island University’s (LIU) initiative to increase the number of minority students who pass
the nursing licensure program. BQLI AHEC collaborated with LIU on submission of a HRSA grant to increase the number of
minority students in the nursing professions. LIU was the lead applicant, but if funded they will subcontract with BQLI AHEC for
development of pre-nursing and enrichment activities for high school students interested in nursing.
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Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC continues to market faculty development programs to site supervisors and preceptors of the Summer Health Internship
Program and Community Health Experience Program. The topics are “Precepting in a Primary Care Setting,” “Diversity Training:
Defeating Sexism and Racism in the Workplace” and “HIV/AIDS: An Update for Primary Care Providers.”
MSI AHEC collaborated with the New York Metropolitan Region AHECs on planning for the summer program with the New York
College of Osteopathic Medicine.
1b. Regional offices via
instructional advisory committees
or an alternative liaison will
develop/enhance interdisciplinary
and community-based training
sites and incentives for preceptors
(e.g. academic appointments,
information access, faculty
development, CE, and library
assistance).
Project Objective
MSI AHEC developed a workshop abstract for the New York Metropolitan Region AHECs to submit for the NAO Conference. The
abstract was approved and accepted.
1b.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Medical Director, the Nursing Director and the UB/AHEC Faculty Instructional Advisory Group met on March 2. The
interdisciplinary elective, the Warsaw rural experience and other ideas to involve more students and faculty in issues of the
underserved were discussed.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
 January 20, New York Metropolitan Region Office Director and the NYS AHEC System Statewide Office Deputy Director met
with the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) Executive Director and Director of Policy.
 February 15, New York Metropolitan Region Office Director and the NYS AHEC System Statewide Office Deputy Director met
with Association of Medical Schools Executive Director.
 March 6, New York Metropolitan Region Office Director and all NY Metropolitan Region AHECs’ executive directors met with
the City University of New York (CUNY) Central Office.
Status of Activities/Accomplishments
Activities planned and conducted during the period and outcomes of those activities.
Objective 2: Increase the number of students enrolled in primary care and other health professions programs by promoting health professions as a viable option for
elementary, secondary, community college and college students, particularly those who are from disadvantaged and underrepresented minority backgrounds.
2a. Interactive experiences and
multi-media approaches will be
utilized to expose students to
medicine and health professions
and health professionals.
2a.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
There were five trainings held at East High School, Porter Elementary School, and Grover Cleveland High School (described in
Objective 2, section 2b.) that used computer technology to demonstrate procedures in order to promote and understand how
technology is changing the nature of the health professions.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
The My Health Career program is a database-driven website offering regional health career information to high school students and
local programs that high school students are eligible for. In the classroom, NAHEC staff guide students through the registration
process on the website and show them how to do career exploration. The students are also introduced to the NAHEC programs
available to them and are shown how to sign up for the programs. Nine percent of the high school population in the NAHEC region
has been reached to date.
Thirty-six (36) students performed assessments using the My Health Career learning management system (KeyTrain®). Through this
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system students are able to assess their foundational skills in relation to their career choice. Once the student’s skill is determined
they have 12 months to complete any skill gap training necessary.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
Steady progress is being made on preparation of the My Health Career website. It is currently on target for the amended release date
of April 28. A specific work plan is being developed to market and populate the site.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC is co-sponsoring 12 pipeline programs, targeting middle and high school students, throughout the 2005-06 year. Many of
these programs are MASH Camps and Health Exploration Programs which will be conducted during the summer. CHAHEC is also
the co-sponsor of the newly establish Orange-Ulster BOCES Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA). The total number of
anticipated participants in these programs is 3,600.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLI AHEC)
BQLI AHEC met with the Executive Director of the National Association of Health Education Centers, David Midland, on March 28.
Mr. Midland provided information about the Association members which include health education centers that use high-tech and life
sized exhibits, advanced technology, audio-visuals and specialized programs to reach students with a variety of instructional
techniques not generally found in conventional classrooms. Mr. Midland suggested that BQLI AHEC partner with the Brooklyn
Children’s Museum and the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. BQLI AHEC will contact the Liberty Science Center about
organizing field trips to their telemedicine program that allows students to watch and ask questions about a live surgery. BQLI
AHEC staff may also attend the Association conference in August to meet vendors and speak with health education centers about how
to incorporate interactive exhibits and technology into BQLI AHEC workshops.
BQLI AHEC has a Youth Advisory Board that provides feedback on programs and services. The Youth Advisory Board is primarily
composed of former Summer Health Internship Program students and meets monthly to share their ideas for new and existing
programs. The Youth Advisory Board helped create an interactive health game for first and second grade students.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC continues to implement internet based learning opportunities for student in the Mentor Connection program. Students
receive assignments and mentor/mentee messages via postings.
2b. AHEC curricula will be utilized
and/or existing curricula will be
enhanced to feature medical and
other health professions careers
options via grades K-12 programs
in keeping with NYS Education
Department Standards for Career
Development
MSI AHEC collaborated and participated with the NY Metropolitan AHECs to convene a Winter Reunion Program for former and
potential Summer Health Internship Program students. This event was held at the SUNY College of Optometry. Approximately 70
people were in attendance, including students and some parents. Students updated their contact information and received valuable
internship and scholarship information. A health professions admissions panel was coordinated and presented including
representatives from nursing, optometry, physician assistants and medical schools. They each presented on their specialty, and
responded to questions from students and parents in attendance.
2b.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
There were seven trainings: the first had 20 students from East High School and Porter Elementary School; the second had 18
students from Grover Cleveland High School; the third had 18 students from East High School and Porter Elementary School ; the
fourth had seven Special Education students from Grover Cleveland; fifth had 20 students from Grover Cleveland High School; the
sixth had five students from various Buffalo Public High Schools; and finally the seventh had 15 students from various Buffalo Public
High Schools. Each training session contained a classroom session, prior to the training session, using a health curriculum created by
the coordinator to conform to the state standards for career development. There was time devoted to learning health terminology that
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would be encountered in the trainings as well as in-depth information about each profession that would be highlighted as far as
essential academic and professional requirements. In the last two training sessions an Infectious Disease (ID) fellow and student
pharmacists from University of Buffalo described the realm of medicine known as ID within internal medicine and pharmacy, and
discussed the career path of a medical doctor and pharmacists respectively.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
NAHEC presented to 1,438 students in 18 schools (as listed below). Of these students 1,413 of them registered on the My Health
Career website during the guided registration.
 Peru Central School in Peru – 109 students;
 Belleville-Henderson Central School in Belleville – 97 students;
 Lake Placid Central School in Lake Placid – 48 students;
 Indian River Central School in Philadelphia – 66 students;
 Gouverneur Central School in Gouverneur – 56 students;
 Franklin Academy in Malone – 103 students;
 Tupper Lake Central School in Tupper Lake – 44 students;
 Beaver River Central School in Beaver Falls– 68 students;
 Plattsburgh High School in Plattsburgh – 68 students;
 Watertown High School in Watertown – 165 students;
 Saranac Lake High School in Saranac Lake – 68 students;
 South Jefferson Central School in Adams Center – 116 students;
 Hermon Dekalb Central School in Hermon – 38 students;
 Morristown Central School in Morristown – 83 students;
 Saranac High School in Saranac – 71 students;
 Lafargeville Central School in Lafargeville – 49 students;
 Ausable Valley Central School in Keeseville – 35 students;
 Beekmantown Central School in Beekmantown – 140 students.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
Catskill Hudson AHEC’s (CHAHEC) Board approved working with CNYAHEC to offer two workshops (April 7 and May 12) for
teachers in its region. CHAHEC has committed to training 50 teachers at each workshop. CNYAHEC’s Director of Development
and Communication, and Andrea Wade, Chairperson of the Med-Tech and Medical Assistant Department of Broome Community
College, will conduct the training and all materials will be purchased from CNYAHEC.
CNYAHEC has been aggressively pursuing all goals set forth in its Health Career Opportunities Program (HCOP). HCOP is a
comprehensive approach to a health careers educational pipeline in Broome and Tioga counties. The program facilitates the
education and entry of economically and educationally disadvantage students into health professions school.
Pre-and post-Scrubs Club assessments were designed by the Evaluation Director in the New York State AHEC System Statewide
office. Two sets of assessments were developed. The assessments for grades nine and 10 mainly focus on health career identification
and awareness. The assessments for grades 11 and 12 have additional focus on career skill development as well as college
preparation.
To recruit Scrubs Club participants, several presentations were made including one presentation to 29 members of Binghamton High
School’s Sister To Sister Club (December 14), 15 presentations to 250 Family and Consumer Science students at Binghamton High
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School (January 5) and 13 presentations to 195 Newark Valley High School biology students (January 20). A total of 88 students
signed up for Scrubs Club from HCOP Partner Schools.
Scrubs Club Coordinator positions were filled. Five applications were received. Four candidates were interviewed for the two
positions. Scrubs Club Coordinator orientation took place January 11. Coordinators were given Scrubs Club curriculum and
supplies. Each activity was reviewed and demonstrated where necessary.
Scrubs Club meetings began on January 19. Each group has participated in the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as a first
step in meeting HCOP cultural competency requirements. Health Professionals in the areas of Medical Assisting and Medical
Laboratory Technology have visited Scrubs Club. The students have responded with great interest to the presentations. Future
Scrubs Club career exploration activities include visits from radiologic technologists and dental hygienists as well as presentations
from Broome-Tioga BOCES Career Development department.
The Summer Institute curriculum development team has been recruited and is meeting regularly. The curriculum will target the
academic areas of college writing, math, chemistry, biology and medical terminology. Curriculum developers are working to infuse
these subject areas into hands-on learning experiences relating to the five HCOP career focuses: medical assisting, physical therapist
assisting, medical laboratory technology, radiologic technology and dental hygiene. The target date for completion of Summer
Institute curriculum is June 1. CNYAHEC staff are currently working with Broome Community College (BCC) to offer Summer
Institute participants college credit for completing Intro to Health Careers (HST 100), a one credit course, at a reduced rate.
Registration in a BCC course will allow Summer Institute students access to BCC facilities like the library and computer lab which
will enhance their overall learning experience. Summer Institute Teaching Assistant applications were designed and distributed. Two
positions are available.
To to increase school administrator and guidance counselor awareness of the health care workforce needs, CNYAHEC and United
Health Services (UHS) will co-sponsor Partners In Pathways: Building Tomorrow’s Health Care Workforce Together on April 4.
The agenda will include presentations on diversifying the health care workforce, BCC’s new competitive admissions process, UHS’s
incentive programs and HCOP’s new career exploration programs. A brochure including a registration form was designed and mailed
to approximately 200 school administrators and guidance counselors in Broome and Tioga counties the first week of March.
Pre- and post-assessments for SAT Prep Courses were designed by the Evaluation Director in the New York State AHEC System
Statewide office and distributed to the three HCOP partner schools for use.
CNYAHEC will offer Math Camp to HCOP partner schools in the summer. Staff is currently researching available curriculum.
CNYAHEC staff met with public relations staff from UHS and Lourdes Hospitals to discuss how the organizations may work
together to get the most media attention for the HCOP partnership. An HCOP brochure was professionally designed and printed. The
brochure will be used for the extent of the grant to promote and introduce HCOP programs to the community.
CNYAHEC staff are currently working to schedule tapings of health professionals to appear in the “Success In the World of Work”
video. Broome-Tioga BOCES is working along with CNYAHEC, UHS and Lourdes to tape health professionals and produce the
video for future use in schools. A dental hygienist and medical assistant from Lourdes were taped on February 22. UHS is currently
scheduling a physical therapist assistant, medical laboratory technician and radiologic technologist for taping.
Hudson Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
HM AHEC staff met with the District Superintendent of the Warren, Saratoga, Washington, Hamilton and Essex (WSWHE) BOCES
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to discuss listing HM AHEC programs (Great Hospital Adventure, Teacher Triage, Exploring Health Professions, MASH Camps, My
Health Career and Summer Scholars) through pre-existing BOCES contract service agreements. This would enable HM AHEC
programs to be listed in the BOCES program catalog going out to all schools in the WSWHE district. As a result, schools would have
the option to purchase HM AHEC programs and services through BOCES. The District Superintendent was extremely supportive and
agreed to pass HM AHEC information on to other district’s superintendents in the HM AHEC service region. At this time HM
AHEC staff is in the process of scheduling meetings with the other BOCES districts superintendents and working with the WSWHE
BOCES to list the HM AHEC programs.
Plans for the development of career awareness unit plans for grades one, two and three are in process. Programs will be available for
school year 2006-07.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
BWAHEC is preparing an educational trunk that can be used in classrooms for grades Pre-K through second. The trunk has materials
to educate students about health careers and to stimulate interest in science and math. BWAHEC will be working with P.S. 23 on the
campus of Bronx Community College.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLI AHEC)
BQLI AHEC conducted a workshop for Maxwell High School’s Career Week on February 16. BQLI AHEC staff provided an
interactive presentation on the health career shortage areas, the variety of health careers and how entering into a health career can
alleviate health disparities. The presentation was well received by the students. Since it was Black History Month, BQLI AHEC
created and disseminated a booklet entitled “African American Achievements in Health and Science” that provided information on
notable African American nurses, doctors, dentists and scientists. BQLI AHEC conducted two presentations to 50 students in grades
10 and 11, from the Health Careers class.
BQLI AHEC also conducted a workshop for St. Paul’s Community Christian School in East New York, Brooklyn. The presentation
introduced 40 students, in grades six and eight, to a variety of health professions, highlighting careers in dentistry, medical technology
and radiology. BQLI AHEC gave a presentation to Medgar Evers College Jobs for Youth Program on March 10, which provided an
overview of AHEC and Health Careers. Eight, African-American, 16 and 17 year olds attended the workshop.
BQLI AHEC also provided a three-hour workshop for the Saturday Academy program at P.S. 172 in Brooklyn on March 18. BQLI
AHEC staff and Youth Advisory Board Members played Health Lingo Bingo with 25 six through eight year old students. They
taught the children about body parts and healthy behaviors. The activity was very well received and the director asked BQLI AHEC
to conduct more workshops on a monthly basis.
BQLI AHEC provides Health Career Workshops to schools and community organizations that highlight the variety of health
professions, educational requirements and job duties. BQLI AHEC tailors the presentations based on the grade, students’
interests/knowledge of health professions, time, facilities and group size. BQLI AHEC created a template for workshops that can be
adapted based on the teacher’s or administrator’s needs. BQLI AHEC has advertised this service at career fairs, conferences and
community meetings. Schools and organizations can download a workshop request form from the BQLI AHEC website.
2c. Career fairs, sequenced school
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC collaborated with representatives from NY Hospital/Cornell Weil Campus to develop curriculum for students from
Central Park East Middle School to participate in a MASH Camp. Activity is planned to occur in May. This will be the first MASH
Camp Program for MSI AHEC.
2c.
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enrichment programs, health
career awareness, local mentoring
and skill improvement programs,
internship and academy programs,
speakers’ bureaus, and Med STEP
(Medical Science and Technology
Entry Program)
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
Based on the 2005 pipeline evaluation results, a formative assessment of the pipeline evaluation instruments and process is underway.
The Evaluation Director is contacting each AHEC to discuss which evaluation questions should be retained, eliminated or added.
Suggested improvements will be disseminated and implemented.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
There were two career fairs held: GEAR UP Career Fair, Buffalo Public School #45, March 14; and Niagara Wheatfield Career Day,
Niagara Wheatfield School, March 30.
There were five MASH camps held: Elmwood Health Center with North Park Academy (Middle School), February 2; Mercy
Hospital with Harvey Austin Middle school students, February 16; ECMC with Grover Cleveland High School Students, February 10;
and Elmwood Health Center with East High School Students, March 10.
There was a Health Internship Program for Special Education students held at Elmwood Health Center with one student starting in
January with mentors provided by People Inc.,
Classroom speaking always occurs before and after each MASH camp. The first presentations were made at Buffalo Public Schools North Park Academy, 20 students; Harvey Austin Middle School, 20 students; East High School, 18 students; and Grover Cleveland
High School, 20 students; the second occurred at Grover Cleveland High School speaking to five separate classes with 25-30 students
in each. Niagara Falls High School classroom presentations were held March 21 – 24 for a total of eight sessions to groups of juniors,
20 in each group for a total of 160 students. The Niagara Wheatfield Career Day and Health Fair held on March 30, included
classroom presentations to 100 students.
ENAHEC presented to Tech Prep teachers at the WNY Tech-Prep Conference in Batavia on March 28.
Exploring Health Professions programs were held for elementary and junior high students who met at the Niagara Arts and Cultural
Center for after school programs held on the following dates: February 9, 12 students; February 11, seven students; February 16, 14
students; February 18, six students; February 23, 13 students; February 25, 5 students; March 9, 12 students; March 11, six students;
March 16, 18 students; March 18, nine students; March 23, 17 students; March 25, eight students; and March 30, 17 students.
Alafia Theatre Puppet Program presented at Niagara County Head Start to 40 students each on February 21 and 22.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
An AKA (All Kids are Scientists) Science training was held on January 24, for 14 teachers from Wyoming Central School and
Warsaw Central School respectively. Both schools purchased the kits for the winter session. The remaining attendees for the AKA
training were team leaders from the Honeycomb Program. A total of 84 students participated in the Honeycomb AKA Science
program.
On January 18, a total of nine students from Hornell High School Advanced Placement Biology class attended a DNA Fingerprinting
health career exploration workshop at the University of Rochester Life Sciences Learning Center. During this workshop, the students
learned how to use gel electrophoresis and DNA technology to solve a mock crime. The registration fee ($12/student) was paid for by
the Allegany/Western Steuben Rural Health Network, and the R-AHEC paid for lunch and beverages for the students.
On March 15 and 16, a MedQuest Camp was held at Soldiers and Sailors Hospital in Penn Yan. Eighteen (18) students, grades nine
to 12, participated from Penn Yan Academy High School.
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R-AHEC facilitated seven different presentations as part of the Advantage Honeycomb After School program located at Perry Central
School. These presentations focused on health care careers. A total of over 80 students in grades K - six attended each presentation.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
Thirty-three (33) high school students attended Brittany’s Knee in Potsdam on March 26. The 33 students that participated in the
Brittany’s Knee program completed a pre and post assessment. The students’ scores increased from an average of 66.6% to 72.9%.
Seven students participated in the job shadowing program. One student each was placed at Lewis County General Hospital in
Lowville, Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg, Dr. Perkins chiropractic clinic in
Plattsburgh, Dr. Randy Stollof’s allergy and immunology clinic in Plattsburgh; and two students were placed at Clinton County
Nursing Home in Plattsburgh. All student participants are still enrolled in high school classes
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
Two New Visions programs were contacted to discuss the idea of a ‘traveling’ puppet presentation (Great Hospital Adventure). Each
student in the New Visions program must complete a certain number of community service hours. The Great Hospital Adventure
program ties into the New Visions program while giving each student a chance to interact with individuals in their communities.
Utilizing these students will greatly increase outreach efforts.
Newark Valley, Franklin and Harpursville Elementary Schools completed the fall AKA Science offering. A facilitator training was
held January 19 at Broome Community College. This project will reach an estimated 286 students by June.
The Onondaga schools project (Onondaga Road, Seymour, Split Rock and Tully) completed the fall AKA Science offering. A
facilitator training was held January 24. Twelve (12) facilitators attended the training. This project will reach an estimated 264
students by June.
CNYAHEC has partnered with the Equal Opportunity Program to offer AKA Science in Chemung County. The winter AKA Science
offering has been completed. A facilitator training was held March 16. This project will reach an estimated 176 students by June.
Natalie’s Knee, a program targeted to high school students to introduce them to the field of physical therapy, was scheduled to be held
on March 25 at Utica College. Unfortunately, registration was low and the program was postponed. A high school in the Utica area
learned of the program and asked if they could put an entire class through the program. That program will take place in May.
Fifteen (15) MASH camps will be held this year. MASH camps target students entering grades eight and nine. Three of the 15 are
new camps, St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in Utica, Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton and Rome Memorial Hospital in Rome. All
camps have confirmed their dates.
Community General Hospital offered camp on February 23 and 24. Twenty-Eight (28) students registered for the program exceeding
the maximum capacity of 18 for the camp. Twenty (20) students attended both days of camp.
MASH Camp at Lourdes Hospital took place on February 23 and 24. Twelve (12) students attended and visited 12 hospital
departments. Lourdes President and CEO, John O’Neil, spoke to the students on the first day about the importance of “caring” for
patients in addition to providing medical treatment. Students also participated in a cultural competency workshop focusing on
understanding the importance of communicating cross-culturally in a fast-paced health care environment.
CNYAHEC prepared and distributed press packets for the Community General Hospital and Lourdes Hospital MASH camps. Camps
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received excellent coverage in both print and television coverage. Legislative aides from Senator Clinton’s and New York State
Assemblywoman Christenson’s office attended. Promotion and direct mailings for the remaining 13 camps began in mid-March.
HealthQuest, offered in partnership with Ithaca College, is scheduled for July 10 – 14. MedQuest, offered in partnership with SUNY
Upstate Medical University, is scheduled for July 17 – 21. Promotion/direct mailings for the residential camps began in mid-March.
The fourth New Visions Day will be held in October at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center at the Marx in Syracuse. This
program targeting students in their senior year is offered in partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical University. Attendance is
expected to be 144 students.
To recruit Scrubs Club participants, several presentations were made including: 15 presentations to 250 Family and Consumer
Science students at Binghamton High School (January 5) and 13 presentations to 195 Newark Valley High School Biology students
(January 20). A total of 88 students signed up for Scrubs Club from HCOP Partner Schools, the goal was 90.
Submitted article on CNYAHEC curriculum resources and the spring CHAHEC training to New York State Association of Family
and Consumer Sciences Educators (NYSAFCSE) for publication in News Capsule, its statewide newsletter. A proposal was
submitted to present on Exploring the Health Professions© and My Health Career to NYSAFCSE Annual Conference Planning
Committee for the upcoming conference to be held in Binghamton.
CNYAHEC will participate in Cornell University’s Expanding Your Horizons conference scheduled for Spring. CNYAHEC staff
will conduct three breakout sessions utilizing activities from its Exploring the Health Professions curriculum.
Hudson Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
HM AHEC Participated in the following career fairs:
 Career Fair, Berlin Central School, January 20, four classes, 72 students, six Career Guides distributed;
 Job Discovery, Adirondack Community College, March 16, 350 Attendees, 368 Career Guides distributed;
 W.K. Doyle Middle School, March 16, three classes, 39 students, 15 Career Guides distributed.
The following Great Hospital Adventure programs were offered:
 Grade One, PS #18 Albany, January 10, one class, 21 students;
 Grade One, Troy School #2, January 19, two classes, 50 students;
 Pre-K , Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery BOCES, March 7, one class, 30 students;
 Grade Four, Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery BOCES, March 13, one class, 39 students;
 Grade Four, Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery BOCES, March 14, one class, 36 students;
 Grade Four, Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery BOCES, March 20, one class, 23 students;
 Mixed Special Education, Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery BOCES, March 28, one class, 39 students;
 Mixed Special Education, Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery BOCES, March 29, one class, 35 students.
HM AHEC issued a curriculum development RFP for grades K – two teachers to develop three separate units (one targeting each
grade) that further explore the topics discussed in the Great Hospital Adventure. The goal of the curriculum development project is to
have units that meet New York State Learning Standards and can be integrated into the classroom. The curricula should be completed
by the end of August.
HM AHEC developed an RFP and mini-grant application procedure and correlating documents/forms. One hundred and two (102)
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MASH Camp Mini-Grant RFPs were sent out in March to area schools, with the goal of paying the school to administer the MASH
Camp. The mini-grant applications are due back by June 1.
HM AHEC sent Summer Scholars applications to area schools in March, the due date for Summer Scholars applications is April 21.
H-M AEHC collaborated with the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center to promote Teacher Triage. As a result Teacher Triage is
listed in the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center’s “Core Connection Summer 2006” Professional Development Catalog. Teacher
Triage introduction sessions are planned for August 1 and 2, with the entire training being offered in late September to early October.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC participated in the CDO Workforce 2006 Career Expo and Job Fair sponsored by CDO Workforce, A.O. Fox Hospital and
SUNY College at Oneonta, and held at the FoxCare Center, Oneonta on January 25.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
On Saturday, February 4, BWAHEC collaborated on the New York University School of Medicine Office of Diversity Affairs
“Conference on the Health of the African Diaspora.”
On Thursday, March 9, BWAHEC attended the Bronx Community College Career Fair, attended by approximately 200 students.
Fifty (50) registrants received the New York State Careers in Health Care Book and career guide. Approximately 25 students picked
up an application for our Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP). While there, BWAHEC gave a presentation for the students.
BWAHEC prepared for the upcoming SHIP by creating and mailing out the applications to juniors and seniors in high school, and
college students. Applications were also mailed to guidance counselors at high schools throughout Bronx and Westchester counties.
Students were also able to download the application from the BWAHEC website.
BWAHEC’s educational event for all of the student interns and parents was held on January 11, at the SUNY State College of
Optometry. All three New York Metropolitan Region AHECs collaborated on the opportunity for the students and parents to hear
from health professionals and to receive information on internship and scholarship opportunities. There were 30 students in
attendance.
A meeting was held with all three New York Metropolitan Region AHECs and CUNY representatives to discuss how AHEC and
CUNY could collaborate in the future.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLI AHEC)
BQLI AHEC attended the Gateway Summer Opportunities Fair on January 31, and participated in a health panel discussion. BQLI
AHEC’s Program Associate talked about the Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP), disseminated 50 SHIP applications and 100
brochures, and collected 50 names of interested students. Over 300 students attended the Gateway Fair. BQLI AHEC also
participated in the Venture Scholars career fair - “Recognizing our Future: Brooklyn’s Venture Scholars at Polytechnic University” on
March 16. The Ventures Scholars Program identifies high achieving underrepresented and first-generation college-bound students
interested in pursuing math- and science-based careers and provides academic recognition, information and resources needed to help
them successfully pursue their career goals. BQLI AHEC’s Program Coordinator tabled for the event at a booth entitled “Develop
Your Health Career Pathway” and disseminated 25 SHIP applications and 50 brochures. Fifty (50) students in grades 10, 11 and 12,
and their parents, attended the event. BQLI AHEC is organizing presentations and tabling for three upcoming career fairs in
Brooklyn and Long Island.
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BQLI AHEC conducted two Medical Academy of Science and Health (MASH) Camps for 15 middle school students at Wyckoff
Heights Medical Center with students from Intermediate School 318. The first MASH Camp held on March 3, focused on the
emergency medicine, physical therapy, nutrition and credentialing departments. During the second MASH Camp, held on March 22,
students visited the respiratory therapy and radiology departments.
BQLI AHEC’s deadline to receive applications for the SHIP was March 28. BQLI AHEC received 170 applications for 60 program
slots. BQLI AHEC staff are currently revising the SHIP curriculum to include speakers representing a variety of health professions,
skill building (activities such as interviewing, resume writing and business attire), and critical analysis of health-related articles and
biographies. BQLI AHEC has made several contacts and has six new potential preceptor sites for the program.
BQLI AHEC created a speaker series with Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development High School’s Doctors of
Tomorrow Club entitled “Connecting Today’s and Tomorrow’s Health Professionals.” About 30 students, in grades 10 and 11,
attended each presentation. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions with the various health
professionals from Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. Questions that were asked included the length of time it takes to complete a
professional degree, how to balance work and social life, range of salary, what courses to take in high school and college, and benefits
and disadvantages of the career. Dr. Aloysius Cuyjet, a cardiologist and Vice President for Clinical Effectiveness and Minority
Health Initiative at Nassau University Medical Center, spoke with the students on February 7. Dr. Monique Jones, a private practice
gynecologist, spoke with the students on March 17. Essence magazine readers nominated Dr. Jones as one of their favorite African
American gynecologists. Dr. Jones is a clinical instructor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University School of Medicine.
BQLI AHEC is planning focus groups with the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club at Maxwell High School, the
BQLI AHEC Youth Advisory Board and the Doctors of Tomorrow Club at Banneker High School to identify barriers minority youth
face in pursuing health careers and how to attract more youth into health professions.
BQLI AHEC provided funding for Maxwell High School HOSA students to attend the New York HOSA Spring Conference. BQLI
AHEC’s Program Coordinator and Program Associate attended the New York HOSA Spring Conference on March 30 – 31, and
served as judges. The Program Coordinator judged the three-hour, intensive HOSA Bowl and served as moderator for the
competition. The Program Associate judged the bio-medical debate. BQLI AHEC staff spoke with the HOSA advisors at John
Adams High School in Queens and John Dewey High School in Brooklyn about SHIP, MASH Camp and the Speakers’ Bureau.
BQLI AHEC will attend a Liberty Partnership Program staff meeting on April 26 to provide an overview of AHEC. BQLI AHEC
will provide a health career workshop in May to the middle school students who attend the Liberty Partnership Program Saturday
Learning Academy.
The cost for the Standard Aptitude Test (SAT) course has increased tremendously because of the new requirements. BQLI AHEC is
exploring ways to offer this course to BQLI AHEC students at a low cost. BQLI AHEC has partnered with Kaemanje Thomas, the
coordinator for the Tech-Prep program at Medgar Evers College. Tech-Prep is federally funded and provides free SAT prep for high
school students from underserved areas. BQLI AHEC will refer students to the Tech-Prep Program. BQLI AHEC has attended two
Central Brooklyn Tech-Prep meetings.
Project curriculum for BQLI AHEC’s Peer Health Educator (PHE) program is being finalized. Twelve (12) students from WATCH
high school have submitted applications and several students from the BQLI AHEC Youth Advisory Committee and Banneker High
School have expressed interest in the program. BQLI AHEC will pilot the program with four Youth Advisory Board members during
the summer. The PHE program will be an opportunity for students to learn presentation and communication skills, learn about health
care disparities and health careers, gain some community service experience and in some cases gain high school or college credits.
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Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC presented AHEC programs, opportunities and activities to 30 students from Gregorio Luperon Preparatory School in
Washington Heights (March 3).
MSI AHEC delivered a presentation for 25 students at Hunter College who are part of the Medical Interpretation Service club, gave
an overview on HIPPA laws, shared information about MSI AHEC and SHIP, as well as gave advice/strategies for this newly formed
club. The club was founded during the fall 2005 semester by two MSI AHEC SHIP 2005 students (March 15).
MSI AHEC Mentor Connection students attended School Based Health Center Advocacy Day in Albany, where they met with
Senator Martin Dilan, Senator Thomas Duane, Assemblywoman Diane Gordon and Assemblyman Keith Wright. Students learned
how individuals advocate for change through the legislative process.
Mentor Connection:
 MSI AHEC led 13 weekly two-hour class sessions (26 total hours) for seven students participating in the Mentor Connection
Program at Washington Irving High School.
 The MSI AHEC program coordinator conducted 13 weekly one-hour individual guidance meetings with mentorship students (91
total hours).
 MSI AHEC students each spent 78 hours (546 total hours) working at five different placement sites over seven weeks. Students
worked at: Phillips Family Practice, Sidney Hillman, Asthma Free School Zone, East Harlem HIV Care Network, and Valley
Lodge Homeless Health Clinic.
 MSI AHEC collaborated with Beth Israel/Institute of Urban Family Health Residency in Urban Family Practice Residents to
provide weekly seminars for the program. Residents lectured on different health topics each week. Six different residents
assisted with the program’s seminars.
 MSI AHEC seminars focused on health problems that are particular to New York, or potentially will have consequences in New
York City in the future. Topics included: contraception, cancer, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, epilepsy and global health issues
(polio, guinea worm).
 MSI AHEC students learned how to write research papers, and wrote a paper on a health topic of their choice. Students wrote on:
Broken Heart Syndrome, Treatments for Parkinson’s disease, The Embryonic Stem Cell Debate, Why Crestor Should Be
Removed from the Market, Polio in Nigeria and India, Problems with Gastric Bypass Surgery and the Health Benefits of
Laughter. Students also learned how to, and gave, formal PowerPoint presentations of their research projects.
 MSI AHEC students read and discussed “Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.” Issues that were discussed in the book
include epilepsy, cultural competency and medical ethics.
 MSI AHEC students were tutored for the SAT using Kaplan materials.
 Students were shown the training video on cultural competency given to medical staff working at the Institute.
 Every two weeks students complete memos detailing their program experiences for their program coordinator and mentors.
 Applications for the 2006-2007 academic year have been distributed.
The following speaker’s bureau presentations were made:
 The MSI AHEC Executive Director presented AHEC programs and activities, and gave an overview of Save Our Safety-net
Campaign (SOS-C) principals encouraging those in attendance to get involved, at East Harlem Community Board 11. There
were approximately 60 people in attendance.
 The MSI AHEC Executive Director presented AHEC programs and activities, and gave an overview of SOS-C principles
encouraging those in attendance to get involved, at Washington Heights Community Board 12. There were approximately 80
people in attendance.
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The MSI AHEC Program Director presented AHEC programs and activities and SOS-C principals at the Health Committee of
Harlem’s Community Board 10. MSI AHEC was invited to present at a full board meeting.
The MSI AHEC Executive Director presented to a full board meeting of Harlem’s Community Board 10.
The MSI AHEC Program Director Presented at a CB 9 Health Committee meeting. The Program Director spoke to attendees
about MSI AHEC as well as the efforts of SOS-C.
MSI AHEC prepared and presented testimony at the New York City Regional Advisory Council Public Hearing. Testimony
focused on the need of assessment diversification of the health care workforce and the impact this has on our communities.
MSI AHEC completed two Summer Health Internship Program manuals. One is designed to inform as to how to establish a health
careers exploration program with community based partners, and the other is designed to inform potential placement site
coordinators/preceptors of roles and responsibilities for such a collaboration.
MSI AHEC has provided information on 16 educational scholarship and funding resources and materials to parents of 50 former
SHIP students. This information is also being catalogued in the Resource Center.
2d. Disseminate career guide in
print and CD-ROM formats as
companion materials to health
careers web sites to assist with the
promotion of and recruitment of
students into health careers.
Students and parents have been informed about Career Zone and many other health career sites at every speaking engagement.
2d.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
ENAHEC distributed 115 New York State AHEC System career guides to students at Niagara Falls High School, Harvey Austin
Middle School, Grover Cleveland and East High, and at the health career fair at Niagara Wheatfield.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
The New York State AHEC System career guides are distributed at all career fairs, exhibits and Job Skills Trainings.
NAHEC uses the My Health Career website as a career guide. All students are introduced to the My Health Career website
during classroom presentations. When available students are guided through the registration process in the schools computer lab.
The following schools were involved with guided registration:
 Peru Central School in Peru – 109 students;
 Belleville-Henderson Central School in Belleville – 97 students;
 Lake Placid Central School in Lake Placid – 48 students;
 Indian River Central School in Philadelphia – 66 students;
 Gouverneur Central School in Gouverneur – 56 students;
 Franklin Academy in Malone – 103 students;
 Tupper Lake Central School in Tupper Lake – 44 students;
 Beaver River Central School in Beaver Falls– 68 students;
 Plattsburgh High School in Plattsburgh – 68 students;
 Watertown High School in Watertown – 165 students;
 Saranac Lake High School in Saranac Lake – 68 students; 71 students
 South Jefferson Central School in Adams Center – 116 students;
 Hermon Dekalb Central School in Hermon – 38 students;
 Morristown Central School in Morristown – 83 students;
 Lafargeville Central School in Lafargeville – 49 students;
 Ausable Valley Central School in Keeseville – 35 students;
 Beekmantown Central School in Beekmantown – 140 students.
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Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
A total of 50 New York State AHEC System career guides were distributed to Monroe Community College.
Hudson Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
New York State AHEC System career guides were distributed to: Adirondack Community College Job Discovery, 368 career guides;
W.K. Doyle Middle School Teachers, 15 career guides; and a Berlin Middle School Teacher, six career guides.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
On March 9, the BWAHEC attended the Bronx Community College Career Fair. Fifty (50) registrants received the New York State
AHEC System Career Guide.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLI AHEC)
BQLI AHEC distributed 45 New York State AHEC System career guides to a health career teacher at Maxwell High School in
Brooklyn. BQLI HEC distributed five career guides to students at the Ventures Scholars Career Fair.
BQLI AHEC distributed 40 BQLI AHEC health career booklets to middle school students at St. Paul’s Community Christian School,
entitled “Have you considered a health career?” that highlight radiology, medical technology and dental careers. BQLI AHEC
distributed 60 “African American Achievements in Health and Science” booklets to students at Maxwell High School.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC distributed five career guides to Gregorio Luperon Prep School.
Project Objective
Status of Activities/Accomplishments
Activities planned and conducted during the period and outcomes of those activities.
Objective 3. Implement a plan to assess and respond to the health workforce needs of New York State at the regional, county, and where possible, at the sub-county
level.
3a. Communicate with public
health commissioners, and hospital,
community health center, and long
term care facility CEOs regarding
employers’ perspectives of the
region’s health workforce needs
3a.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
The R-AHEC Program Development Coordinator participated in meetings with the Senior Health Alliance (representing the major
long-term care facilities in Greater Rochester), Nicholas Noyes Memorial Hospital, Livingston County Skilled Nursing Facility,
Strong Health and Crouse Hospital regarding their nursing workforce needs.
R-AHEC Regional Coordinator attended planning meetings for the Wellness Council of the Southern Tier, the Livingston County
Business Education Alliance, Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York, Health Literacy of the Southern Tier, Allegany County
Business Education Community Coalition (BECC) and Healthcare Workforce Initiative (HWRI) Recruitment meetings.
R-AHEC Regional Coordinator and the HWRI Projects Manager met with representatives from Monroe Community College (MCC)
Dental Assisting Program, University at Buffalo (UB) Advanced Dental Assisting Program Track (ADAPT) Program and the Eighth
District Dental Society to discuss recruitment efforts for currently employed dental assistants to enroll at the MCC and UB programs
respectively with the objective of each assistant to obtain their dental assisting licensure. R-AHEC received a Healthcare Workforce
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Retraining Initiative (HWRI) grant and one of the projects funded includes the recruitment of these dental assistants to obtain licenses
through on-line courses offered through both of these colleges. Both dental districts have assisted in the recruitment of those dental
assistants that have been/will be selected to participate in the on-line licensure programs. As part of the HWRI project, R-AHEC staff
also met with representatives from Thompson Health in Canandaigua to discuss recruitment for the nurse refresher program, and
representatives from Strong Health and Highland Hospital in Rochester, Jones Hospital in Wellsville, Soldiers and Sailors Hospital in
Penn Yan, Monroe #1 BOCES in Fairport and Blossom View Nursing Home in Sodus, to discuss recruitment for nursing projects.
R-AHEC’s HWRI project meetings were held with the following facilities: Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester (nursing), Crouse
Hospital in Syracuse, Thompson Health in Canandaigua (nurse refresher), Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES in Rochester, Jones
Memorial Hospital in Wellsville (nursing and medical coding) and Fairport BOCES (coding and nurse refresher training and
instruction).
R-AHEC facilitated a health literacy training for 16 students in Warsaw on March 3. This training will allow physician assistant
students, from partner universities, the opportunity to present topics relating to health literacy at local meal sites throughout the
Southern Tier as well as at the three R-AHEC housing sites located in Warsaw, Hornell and Westfield. Fifteen (15) of the students
were from the Daemen College Physician Assistant Program and one student was from the George Washington University Physician
Assistant Program. Funds for this program were granted to R-AHEC by the American Association of Physician Assistants.
The R-AHEC CEO presented the ACT/WorkKeys program to Genesee County Business School Interaction Committee on January 9.
On Wednesday, February 15, two Genesee County MASH Camp students from Alexander presented the MASH program to the
Alexander School Board on behalf of R-AHEC.
The R-AHEC Program Assistant attended a Genesee County Tech-Prep Advisory Board Meeting at the Attica Correctional Facility to
discuss future programs for the Tech-Prep program. The original MASH Camps held in Wyoming County have led to additional
career camps (engineering, etc.) in Monroe County. An R-AHEC board member who works for the Monroe 1 BOCES has been
invited to present to the Tech-Prep Committee on the evolution of these additional camps, modeled after the MASH camp programs.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
NAHEC’s Executive Director met with the following Hospital CEOs and staff to discuss NAHEC services and potential formal
partnership to provide workforce services:
 CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh (five attendees);
 St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center in Ogdensburg (three attendees);
 River Hospital in Alexandria Bay (four attendees).
Hudson Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
Face to face meetings were held with representatives of county public health offices for Essex, Hamilton, Warren and Washington
counties; Hometown Health Centers, Schenectady; Hudson Headwaters Health Network; Glens Falls Hospital; Eden Park Health
Services; Stanton Nursing Center; Pleasant Valley Infirmary; Greater Adirondack Home Health Aides; West Mount Infirmary; TriCounty Nursing Center; and Elizabethtown Community Hospital. Telephone conversations were held with Adirondack Medical
Center and Nathan Littauer Hospital to review current health care workforce needs. Telephone contact was made with human
resource managers throughout the region to plan a Health Care Summit for late spring or early summer.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC provided presentations to a number of rural health networks and county leadership groups. Group meetings were held,
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providing a PowerPoint presentation on CHAHEC and open discussion on areas of collaboration, with the following: Rural Health
Education Network of Delaware, Otsego, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties; Rural Health Network of South Central New York
(encompassing Delaware County); Delaware County Healthcare Alliance; Dutchess County Medical Society; Orange County
Community College; Greene County Rural Health Network; Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium; Mid-Hudson
Teachers Association (including Orange, Sullivan, Greene, Columbia, Schoharie and Ulster Counties); Columbia County Community
College; and the Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie Guidance Counselor Association.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
BWAHEC has set up a meeting with the Bronx Overall Economic Development Center to discuss future collaborations on workforce
development.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLI AHEC)
The Executive Director continues to participate in the Health Access work group of the Nassau County Minority Health Task Force.
The group is charged with developing broad based comprehensive and sustainable action plans to address access issues related to
health care disparities in Nassau County. The next meeting will be held in April.
The Executive Director is also actively involved with the Commission on the Public Health System and is working with the group on
the Save our Safety-net Campaign, an advocacy group that is looking at the impact of planned hospital closures on underserved
communities in New York City. The Executive Director attended a meeting on March 1. The Executive Director helped prepare
testimony for various borough hearings.
BQLI AHEC has become a member of the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership. The Executive Director has attended three meetings to
discuss the shortage of nursing faculty and nurses in Brooklyn.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
The Executive Director continued active membership of the Steering Committee of the Save Our Safety-net Campaign (SOS-C). MSI
AHEC collaborated on correspondence to the Governor’s Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21 st Century. The SOS-C is a
public health advocacy group whose mission is to ensure that the health care safety net is kept intact while hospitals and nursing
homes are being reviewed for potential closing or “rightsizing” by the governor appointed Commission.
3b. Work with public health
departments in the development of
regional needs assessments
3c. Collaborate with community,
business, government, civic, rural
health networks, workforce
investment boards, academic
institutions, health care leaders and
others on health workforce issues
MSI AHEC participated with SOS-C and other community based organization partners in a legislative press conference to increase
attention to concerns regarding the Hospital Closing Commission.
3b.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC has an ongoing relationship with the Ulster County Department of Health and has collaborated on many needs assessment
and data collection projects.
3c.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Director for Nursing and Deputy Director continued to monitor the legislative progress of a series of proposals presented to the
state legislature to develop pipeline activities, faculty and internship/externship opportunities.
The Director for Nursing attended and advised a grant proposal meeting with the Community Health Foundation and Central New
York AHEC for a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Partners in Health grant.
The Director of Nursing is developing an analysis plan for the as yet unreleased 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses
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data with the Director for Evaluation and a staff data analyst.
The Director of Nursing continued to convene the Nursing Council. Planning began for the New York State AHEC System Nurse
Essay Contest to be concluded during Nurses’ Week in early May
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The ENAHEC continued to work in conjunction with Parent Network, Buffalo Public School’s Special Education division, Grover
Cleveland, People Inc., and the Elmwood Health Center to create an internship in the health sector for special education students from
Grover Cleveland High School.
ENAHEC has also become very active in a city wide literacy effort lead by a group called Good Schools for All. It is ENAHECs
objective to bring focus to the issue of health literacy specifically and make that a component of the city wide effort.
The Community Collaboration Summit is now called ENAHECs LifeBeat “Challenge Yourself” Summit which will be held at East
High School and is scheduled for April 20. The headliners are The Three Doctors and Sister Souljah. The individuals are nationally
recognized motivational speakers and New York Times best-selling authors.
The Near East Side Community Health Taskforce is a collaboration of community based organizations and hospital systems and
insurance providers serving the eastside community. Current ENAHEC projects include working on two subcommittees concerned
with improving primary care and another on joining with the West Side of Buffalo to put in place one taskforce serving both the East
Side and West Side.
Western New York Rural AHEC
Four projects were developed by the R-AHEC Regional Coordinator and resulted in the funding of the following:
1) Health Careers Academy (featuring MASH Camp and MedQuest Camp) planned for August in collaboration with Alfred State
College (Alfred), 2) DNA Fingerprinting MedStep trip to University of Rochester in partnership with the Allegany/Western Steuben
Rural Health Network (Wellsville) held on January 18, 3) nurse refresher recruitment for Healthcare Workforce Retraining Initiative
projects in collaboration with FF Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben Workforce Development in
Corning, and 4) MASH Camps in Livingston County, Monroe County and Ontario County.
R-AHEC CEO, Dr. Kenneth Oakley, completed the following tasks: 1) Developed concept paper for the WNY Health Care
Information Coordinating Council regarding “Rural Health Care Provider Technology Capacity Building”; 2) Fostered rural physician
participation in a University at Buffalo, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, research study of barriers to physician adoption
of electronic medical records; 3) Prepared continuing medical education overview module on current health information technology
trends and activities on a national, statewide and regional basis; 4) Assisted three acute care facilities in completing an IPRO
telehealth/telemedicine readiness assessment; and5) Developed a regional telehealth/telemedicine survey tool to be administered
throughout the R-AHEC area in May.
Central Region Office
The Director of the Central Region Office participated in a half-day workshop sponsored by the Cornell University Rural Issues
Visioning Project to explore, among others, rural health care and health workforce issues facing rural communities.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
NAHEC has formed the following partnerships:
 Northern New York Community Foundation is funding health care career outreach using the My Health Career system to reach
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
high school students in Jefferson and Lewis counties.
Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield is funding the NAHEC Pipeline to Practice Initiative.
CVPH Medical Center is supporting student assessments throughout the region.
The NAHEC Board has added a Program Committee to evaluate existing programming and recommend new programs. The NAHEC
Board has also added the Philanthropy Committee to promote and oversee efforts regarding fundraising, donations, grants and startup
capital. A Business Initiatives Committee was added to oversee efforts regarding regional workforce development and self-funding of
the core mission.
The following people have joined the NAHEC Board:
 Eve VanderWal – Excellus BlueCross/BlueSheild Utica region;
 Linda McClarragin – Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
CNYAHEC has been contracted by the WorkKeys Center of Syracuse University to develop a health care career ladder focusing on
high demand jobs in Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties. On February 15, CNYAHEC Executive
Director presented the project to an audience of 80 key stake holders in Utica. The project was well received and is already being
used as reference for a grant that is being pursued in the region. As a result of the presentation, CNYAHEC was approached to
participate in another career ladder project in Oswego County.
One major factor in securing HRSA funding for HCOP is CNYAHEC’s collaboration with academic institutions and health care
leaders. Along with CNYAHEC, 10 other organizations make up the HCOP partnership. Those organizations include Broome
Community College, Binghamton University’s Gear Up/Upward Bound program, Binghamton University’s Multicultural Resource
Center, Binghamton City School District, Harpursville Central School District, Newark Valley Central School District, Broome-Tioga
BOCES, Tech-Prep of Broome and Tioga Counties, Lourdes Hospital and United Health Services Hospitals.
CNYAHEC collaborated with the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (CHFWCNY) and
Excellus/BlueCross BlueShield to submit a brief in response to the call for proposals by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
(RWJF). CNYAHEC and the CHFWCNY coordinated two planning meetings with nursing leaders in the CNY region on January 17
and 26; designed a survey on nursing faculty issues and sent via email to nursing leaders to solicit feedback on issues/concerns in
regards to the nurse faculty shortage on January 31; the brief was submitted through CHFWCNY on February 16. The collaborative
received an invitation to submit a full proposal which is due April 12. CHFWCNY, Excellus and CNYAHEC were committed to
convening a meeting of nursing leaders to move forward in addressing the nursing workforce shortage on a regional level even if not
invited to submit a full proposal to RWJF.
Hudson Mohawk (HM AHEC)
The Workforce Program Director attended a day long, best practices summit in Albany on March 22 that involved WIBs and
Economic Development agencies. HM AHEC will be meeting with local WIBs and One Stop Shops to promote the upcoming
MyHealthCareers software for career exploration. The HM AHEC CEO met with executive directors of Chambers of Commerce, the
Workforce Development Coordinator of Adirondack Community College and WIB directors to plan programs and efforts on behalf of
workforce development.
A Planned Healthcare Industry Day is to be presented at Hudson Headwaters Health Network on May 18. This day will bring school
counselors from 10 surrounding schools to the agency to participate in a health care panel discussion and tour of the operation.
Similar events are planned for Nathan Littauer and Adirondack Medical Center later in the spring.
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A CDC satellite download is scheduled for April 27, regarding Social Networks: A Recruitment Strategy for HIV Counseling, Testing
and Referral Services.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC continues to hold a seat on the Advisory Board of Mid-Hudson Rural Integrated Delivery Systems. The most recent
project was a needs assessment and grant application for the care of the growing elderly population in Ulster County and the
establishment of a Geriatric Medicine Program for the fourth year of residency for family practice residents. Funding was secured for
this project and application for the Geriatric Medicine Program is currently under review by the Accreditation Council for Graduate
Medical Education. The CHAHEC office is the host site for all bi-monthly meetings of the Mid-Hudson Rural Integrated Delivery
System meetings.
CHAHEC continues to have a shared services contract with Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute for CHAHEC support staff and the
sharing of the Executive Director position with the Institute’s rural health network.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
The New York Metropolitan Region Office is currently planning a meeting in collaboration with the Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC
board members and all New York City medical schools to discuss pipeline programs. The meeting is now scheduled for May 12.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
A Master’s of Public Health Program in the Bronx was developed by Lehman College and BWAHEC. The program will begin to
accept students in the spring.
BWAHEC collaborated with Dorthea Hopfer School of Nursing (DHSON) regarding their Mentoring Future Leaders to Enhance the
Diversity in Nursing program. The program provided current DHSON students with mentoring to encourage them to continue their
education beyond an Associate Degree. Another collaboration with the DHSON was to decrease attrition rate of students in the
daytime program by providing eight hours per week of open lab time for skills practice and remediation.
The BWAHEC Board is looking into recruiting more Westchester County representation.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLI AHEC)
BQLI AHEC staff participated in the Health Careers Advisory Commission, Advisory Council for Career and Technical Education in
the New York City Department of Education. The BQLI AHEC Executive Director is a member of the Program Committee. BQLI
AHEC is co-sponsoring a conference on health careers in conjunction with the New York City Department of Education Health
Careers Commission. The conference, scheduled for June 8, will be held at the New York City College of Technology. The one-day
educational program will provide an opportunity for health career teachers and professionals to network and share their views and
experiences on health careers today and in the future. The target audience is health career teachers in the New York City public
schools and anyone else involved in working with students around the issue of health careers. The program is approved for six credits
of contact hours. Staff have attended three meetings and will handle the registration for the event.
BQLI AHEC partnered with Kaemanje Thomas of the Tech-Prep Consortium to collaborate on the Tech-Prep Program. The goal of
Tech-Prep is to increase the number of students with scientific or technical backgrounds. The program integrates academic,
vocational and technical instruction, and utilizes work-based and worksite learning where appropriate and possible. Tech-Prep is
federally funded and provides free SAT prep for high school students from underserved areas. BQLI AHEC will refer students to the
Tech-Prep Program. BQLI AHEC will participate in the New York Area Tech-Prep Consortium Conference at Queensborough
Community College on May 12. The conference theme is “Tech-Prep and CTE Working together” and will feature break out sessions
25
on planning career days, integrating technology into the classroom and setting up distance learning classrooms. BQLI AHEC will
conduct a workshop and provide an overview of AHEC services and programs.
BQLI AHEC is collaborating with the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership, an organization initiated by the Brooklyn Borough President to
look at nurse staffing issues in the borough. BQLI AHEC has attended three Brooklyn Nursing Partnership meetings. BQLI AHEC
will help the organization plan a Nursing Symposium in June to address workforce shortage of nursing faculty in Brooklyn and ways
to enhance pipeline programs. The Nursing Symposium will allow the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership and BQLI AHEC to talk with
elected officials about the nursing workforce issues. BQLI AHEC will also help the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership plan boroughwide initiatives to increase the number of minority youth, especially African American males, interested in nursing careers.
The New York Metropolitan Region AHECs met with John Garvey of the City University of New York (CUNY) System on March 6
to discuss collaboration opportunities. BQLI AHEC staff conducted a needs assessment to identify CUNY programs for youth
focused on health, math and science enrichment.
BQLI AHEC staff met with the African American Health Education and Development (AHEAD) Foundation in Long Island on
March 2. AHEAD’s mission is to reduce the risk of disease in communities of color by promoting a holistic approach to health by
stressing wellness of the body, mind and spirit. AHEAD provides health education and advocates for equal access to health care. The
AHEAD office oversees the BQLI AHEC SHIP Program in Long Island. AHEAD is working with a program at Hempstead High
School called “Adopt a Class” and wants to provide health education. BQLI AHEC will assist with the health education program and
will also work with AHEAD to develop a peer educator program in Hempstead. BQLI AHEC suggested developing a program that
builds off existing clubs interested in community service such as the Key Club.
The Program Associate spoke with the president and members of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). The SNMA is
one of the oldest national medical organizations committed to promoting the advancement of students and professionals of color in
medicine as well as advocating for the improvement of health care for the underserved. BQLI AHEC will meet with the officers of
the SUNY Downstate SNMA about collaborating on a mentoring program in the spring. BQLI AHEC staff will ask the organization
members to join the BQLI AHEC Speakers Bureau.
At a February 10 retreat, BQLI AHEC board members and staff discussed “What’s Working Well,” “What Needs Attention,”
“Opportunities,” “‘Program Models” and “Organizational Growth Issues.” A consultant from the Non-Profit Connection, a technical
assistance organization, facilitated the board session. The group agreed to five action items and assigned responsibilities for each
item. Each item will be reported at the upcoming May Board meeting. One of the action items was to create an ad hoc Program
Committee. The Program Committee will brainstorm about a year round program model to expose students to health careers, ways to
integrate critical thinking skills as part of the BQLI AHEC curriculum, best practice groups to partner with and opportunities for SHIP
and MASH Camp. Another major action item was fundraising to diversify BQLI AHEC’s funding base and ensure sustainability.
BQLI AHEC convened a board development/strategic planning session on February 10. BQLI AHEC has several vacant positions on
the board due to board members moving and changing jobs. BQLI AHEC started a board recruitment process to replace the vacant
positions. The Board created a Board Member Recruitment Nominating Committee, which will seek nominations for new members
with expertise in non-profit finance, management information systems and law. The Committee will identify five to eight candidates
for four positions.
The Executive Director continues to participate in the Health Access work group of the Nassau County Minority Health Task Force.
The group is charged with developing broad based comprehensive and sustainable action plans to address access issues related to
health care disparities in Nassau County.
26
The Executive Director attended the New York University Conference on the Health of the African Diaspora on February 29. Several
contacts were made for preceptor sites and individuals who are interested in being part of our Speakers Bureau.
The Executive Director and Program Associate participated in the New York State Black and Puerto Rican Legislature meeting in
Albany, February 17 – 19. The New York Metropolitan Region AHEC exhibit was displayed and BQLI AHEC distributed brochures.
The Program Coordinator watched the webcast of the keynote address for the University of North Carolina Minority Health
Conference. The keynote speaker was Meredith Minkler, an expert in community-based participatory research methods. Dr. Minkler
discussed the importance of community involvement, tools to increase community involvement and issues surrounding sustainability.
The Program Coordinator plans to incorporate these methods into the design of future BQLI AHEC programs.
The Program Coordinator attended Columbia University’s Teachers College First Annual Health Disparities Conference on March 10
– 11. The conference featured breakout sessions with prominent public health practitioners. BQLI AHEC will ask the presenters to
join the Speakers Bureau and invite them to speak at SHIP workshops.
The Executive Director and Program Coordinator attended the Brooklyn’s Borough President Power Women’s Breakfast at Brooklyn
Borough Hall on March 16. The Executive Director made several contacts with directors of local health facilities. The directors
expressed interested in hosting SHIP students and MASH Camp programs. BQLI AHEC has potential collaborations with the
Brooklyn Blood Center, North Brooklyn Health Network and Brooklyn Perinatal Network.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC attended two meetings of the Health Careers Advisory Commission, of the New York City Department of Education.
Discussion was held about planning a health professions teachers’ conference for June.
MSI AHEC provided opportunities for better representation of ethnic diversity at a Hospital Closing Commission meeting, in Albany.
MSI AHEC participated at a Community Board 12 Youth and Education committee meeting. Compilation of a resource book for the
community was discussed. MSI AHEC agreed to share any information for this project, informed attendees about MSI AHEC and
distributed pamphlets.
MSI AHEC attended East Harlem Community Health Committee and the Bellevue/Gouverneur Legislative breakfast, Non Profit
Coordinating Council’s Annual meeting and met potential funding sources, Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Renaissance Health
Care Network at the Harlem State Office Building, annual legislative luncheon held by the Metropolitan Hospita, and Health and
Human Services Office of Minority Health National Leadership Summit.
MSI AHEC was on the planning committee for the New York University School of Medicine Conference on the Health of the African
Diaspora. MSI AHEC was recognized on conference materials and had an exhibition table. The conference was attended by nearly
200 health professionals, community leaders, students and educators.
MSI AHEC attended two meetings of the Community Outreach Educational Committee at the College of Staten Island, collaborated
on an upcoming event and submitted MSI AHEC’s partnership form for collaboration for the Gear-Up Program. MSI AHEC also
shared information about SHIP with the meeting attendees.
MSI AHEC attended the annual Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus meeting in Albany. The NY
Metropolitan AHECs attended and hosted an information table.
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MSI AHEC, along with the other NY Metropolitan AHEC representatives, participated in a meeting with deans from the CUNY
Administration. The focus was to determine ways to partner in the future around health professions education.
MSI AHEC attended a town Hall meeting to announce a new School of Osteopathic Medicine, held by Touro College. MSI AHEC
has been asked to be involved with programming when they open.
3d. Work with local government
and community health providers
regarding HPSA status
3d.
Western New York Rural AHEC
On November 11, 2005, R-AHEC submitted an application to HRSA for the designation of Wyoming County as a primary care
HPSA. That application remains under review at the Department of Health and Human Services. Federal approval of the application
would move efforts forward to develop National Health Services Corps sites at Arcade and Warsaw.
Efforts to apply for population-group HPSA status for the counties of Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming remain in the planning stage,
as R-AHEC is collaborating in partnership with the Lake Plains Community Care Network.
3e. New York State AHEC System
Data Resource Center will
maintain socioeconomic health,
health workforce and educational
data to support health workforce
development activities of NYS
AHEC System and its partners and
provide training support for center
and regional staff to access/format
data to meet local needs.
Eastern Region Office
The Eastern Regional Office provided maps of a proposed HPSA for East Harlem to the NYS Department of Health.
3e.
Eastern Region Office
Data supplied to outside organizations:
 Map of Emergency Services Providers and showing drive time distances from three hospitals in Steuben County for the Rural
Health Community Systems Rural Health Network;
 Map of Schenectady census tracts as part of a HPSA designation proposal by the Schenectady Family Health Services;
 List and map of hospitals in New York State Primary Care HPSAs, for the Save our Safety Net Committee, an organization
created to advocate for primary care resources in underserved areas;
 List of schools in Assembly District Nine for Assemblyman Raia’s office.
Meetings with strategic partners:
 Demonstrated the resources available to the Community Health Centers from the AHEC Data Resource Center, at the Legislative
Action Conference sponsored by the Community Health Care Association of New York State, in Albany;
 Attended the January meeting of the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, in Albany;
 Attended the February meeting of the Northeastern Regional Advisory Group of the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the
21st Century, in Albany;
 Attended March Rural Visioning Project meeting, sponsored by the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, in Balston Spa.
The following files were updated or added as new data sources to the Data Warehouse:
 Health occupational projections for NYS Department of Labor regions, 2002-2012;
 List of all public and non-public schools with contact information, 2005;
 List of all primary care, dental and mental health HPSAs, November 2005, includes facility HPSAs;
 School district data for 2005;
 Educational attainment levels for counties, Minor Civil Divisions, census tracts and ZIP codes;
 Perinatal data for 2001 – 03;
 Ambulatory Care Sensitive Discharges, 2002 – 04;
 Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Codes - Census Tracts;
 List of schools in Primary Care HPSAs, 2005;
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

List of all health facilities in Primary Care HPSAs, 2005;
List of physicians and dentists in primary care and dental HPSAs, respectively;
Assembly and Senatorial District Updates - tables and maps.
An e-mail survey was distributed in March to the over 80 organizations that have received guest user privileges of the AHEC Data
Warehouse. Twenty-five (25) responded to the survey of which five indicated they had not yet used the Data Warehouse. Of those
who have used the site, a majority indicated that they had used the site for at least six months, generally less than once a month. The
main uses of the data were for grant applications, planning/needs assessments and federal HPSA designations. The main value of the
Data Warehouse was its ability to provide in a single location, up to date, relevant and easily accessible data. All expressed the desire
to continue having access to the Data Warehouse.
The updated version of AHEC Tools was released. Training sessions are being scheduled for all of the centers and regional offices.
The Data Resource Center (DRC) is beginning to develop national level data sets including census tables, HPSA/MUA maps and
census boundary files that will enable the DRC to do analyses of practice locations of New York State medical school graduates,
anywhere in the U.S.
Several sources of physician data were evaluated including those from proprietary sources and the SUNY Albany Center for Health
Workforce Studies. A decision will be made soon on which to purchase for the purposes of updating the physician database of the
AHEC Data Resource Center.
Project Objective
Status of Activities/Accomplishments
Activities planned and conducted during the period and outcomes of those activities.
Objective 4. Develop, implement and assess continuing education programs to meet the needs of medical health care professionals.
4a. Using results of 2004 statewide
continuing education (CE) survey,
develop, implement and facilitate
access to continuing professional
education programs for physicians,
nurses and other health
professionals working in medically
underserved areas.
4a.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
ENAHEC continued the process of implementing a health communications campaign targeting the underserved and underinsured
residents in Erie and Niagara counties. This campaign which is divided into two phases is called a ‘New LifeBeat’ concept, which
comes from the idea that every person has a rhythm to his or her daily living. The core of the message encourages gradual positive
lifestyle changes by offering culturally relevant information on health-related and cultural community events, health care resources,
exercise and nutrition. ENAHECs objective is to enhance quality of life by motivating people to take charge of their own health and
health care in the year ahead. ENAHEC is using this campaign to help recruit young adults, directly and through their parents,
grandparents and guardians to enter the health care field as medical professionals, researchers and providers.
Phase One is a grassroots media campaign targeted to adult males, working mothers, families, seniors, and adolescent males and
females. Core messages are: Challenge Yourself, Do Something New and Honor Traditions. Key objectives are to spark a grassroots
movement to improve self-management and prevention of key chronic diseases through incremental lifestyles changes; empower
health care consumers; and raise awareness of the need for increased cultural competency in the delivery of health care as it is related
to disparate chronic disease statistics that affect under-served and underinsured communities.
Phase Two will include a “LifeBeat” week-long workshop series that will include: Role Model Call - presentations from local
29
medical and health care professionals and providers who represent the targeted communities, a panel discussion on Race, Stress,
Chronic Disease and Cultural Competency; Cooking Demonstrations, Recipe Swap and Shopping Tips, HIV/AIDS - Cultural Myths
and Realities - which will be a community roundtable discussion, and the premier of a new Alafia Theatre Project “The Waiting
Room” which is being presented at the Lifetime Health Centers in Buffalo and Rochester.
ENAHEC began a mini-advertising campaign to introduce this concept to the public. ENAHEC is using media that primarily reaches
the underserved populations, including print and radio, in addition to the ENAHEC website.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
R-AHEC sponsored three general nurse refresher courses. One course was held at F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua. In
collaboration with Central New York AHEC, a course was sponsored in Binghamton (January-February) at Lourdes Hospital. The
Canandaigua course reached 22 nurses, and the Binghamton course reached 12 nurses. Instructional services for both were provided
by Joint Education and Training, Inc., of Elmira Heights. A Buffalo pediatrics refresher micro-course held in February, under the
sponsorship of Trocaire College and specifically targeted toward the needs of long-term care providers, reached 23 nurses.
The R-AHEC CEO prepared a continuing medical education overview module on current health information technology trends and
activities on a national, statewide and regional basis.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
The following continuing education program was sponsored by NAHEC: Heartsaver CPR was held at Franklin-Essex-Hamilton
BOCES in Malone and had 18 attendees.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
CNYAHEC contracted with Ithaca College Gerontology Institute to offer a series of workshops for health professionals on topics
related to the special needs of the elderly. Three workshops are being offered in the spring: Staying Healthy Overtime: A Workshop
for Improving Physical Performance and Preventing Injury” April 5; Understanding Comfort Care, April 26; and Nutrition for Older
Adults, May 3.
The CNYAHEC Program Coordinator met with Barbara Black, Director of Continuing Nurse Education at SUNY Upstate Medical
University College of Nursing, who has coordinated the past CE offerings, to address areas of concern, more specifically strategies to
increase enrollment at each facility. It was decided to forego the spring series and instead survey hospitals to better understand needs.
As part of the Western New York-Rural AHEC (R-AHEC) workforce retraining initiative, funded with a grant through the New York
State Department of Health and Labor, R-AHEC contracted with CNYAHEC to train 75 nurses from specific counties in the region.
The last of three classes was completed in Binghamton. The course was offered at Lourdes Hospital, and Binghamton Community
College provided their nursing lab for the clinical portion of the course. A total of 62 nurses completed the program (27 Cortland, 22
Elmira and 13 Binghamton). The nurse refresher component was the only piece not refunded for the following year. CNYAHEC
continues to receive calls inquiring about the program and will look for funding to support additional courses.
Emergency Department Nurses Certification Review and Update Course is an intensive one-day seminar which serves as both a
refresher course for emergency department nurses and a review to prepare for the CEN Examination. CNYAHEC will partner with
SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Nursing, The Institute for Continuing Education and the University Hospital
Emergency Department to offer this program, to be held on April 27.
The R-AHEC continued to contract with CNYAHEC to mentor students from the central New York area whose education is being
30
financed by R-AHEC’s Workforce Retraining Initiative. Currently CNYAHEC is working with four LPN and three RN students. At
the request of R-AHEC, CNYAHEC generated 31 applicants from the region; eight applicants were selected in March.
CNYAHEC completed the pilot project for its Online In-service Training Program. Areas of progress have included:
 Corporate Compliance Course Module: The Corporate Compliance course module was completed that covers five topics: 1)
compliance program, 2) patient care, 3) confidentiality, 4) patients rights and 5) employee responsibilities. The course was added
to the platform (and the previous nine modules) for each of the pilot sites.
 Pilot Site Introduction of Online Program: The Online In-Service Training Program was introduced at six pilot sites. To date,
the training program has enrolled 3,194 employees. Of these, 1,827 employees participated in the program by taking one or more
course modules, and 1,749 completed between nine and 10 of the course modules. A total of 17,636 course quizzes were taken
by employees of the pilot sites, and the average quiz score was 94%.

Arnot Ogden Medical Center was the most successful pilot site. It enrolled all of its 2,189 employees in the program
and, to date, 1,572 employees have completed one or more course modules, and 1,541 have completed between nine
and 10 courses. A total of 15,441 quizzes were taken by employees, and the average quiz score was 94%.

Schuyler Hospital enrolled all of its 367 employees in the program. To date, 161 employees have participated in
program by completing one or more course modules, and 150 have completed between nine and 10 courses. A total
of 1,501 quizzes were taken by employees, and the average quiz score was 94%.

Reconstruction Home and Health Care Center enrolled all of its 144 employees in the program. To date, 55
employees have participated in the program by completing one or more course modules, and 23 have completed
between nine and 10 courses. A total of 345 quizzes were taken by employees, and the average quiz score was 94%.

Community Memorial Hospital enrolled 61 of its more than 400 employees in the program. To date, of those
enrolled, 36 employees have participated in the program by completing one or more course modules, and 33 have
completed between nine and 10 courses. A total of 328 quizzes were taken by employees, and the average quiz score
was 91%.

Chenango Memorial Hospital has enrolled all of its 443 employees in the program. It has developed plans to initiate
the Online In-service Program in April, following the completion of revisions to the ten course modules and quiz
pools, based on the results of the other four pilot sites. (See bullet below on evaluation results of pilot phase.)

Broome Community College completed a second test phase of the ten course modules with a Medical Laboratory
Technology class (16 students). The class found the courses and content very useable and had no problems with the
material.
 Family Health Network of Central New York (FHN): In January, six of the 10 course modules were selected as appropriate for
meeting the in-service training needs of FHN’s health center employees. Appropriate modifications and customizations were
made for each of these course modules. Employee data files for all 106 FHN employees were provided to Syrtis for enrollment.
The anticipated introduction of the program is April.
 Evaluation of Pilot Site Experiences: In February, the Pilot Site Advisory Group met to review the experiences of the pilot sites
(through January). The evaluation concluded that nine of the 10 courses were effective in meeting learning objectives. The
exception was the population-specific care course module, which showed significantly lower test results at several pilot sites. It
was concluded that the primary issue related to the course module was the quiz question pool, not the content in the course
module. Other outcomes included agreement on revised content for each of the ten course modules and quiz question pools, the
endorsement of a product delivery model for future marketing, and agreement on the role of a User Advisory Group to continue
to provide guidance and advice on the Online In-service Training Program.
 Marketing and Pricing Strategy: A regional marketing strategy and pricing structure was developed to begin promotion to other
provider organizations in the five-county, Appalachian Regional Commission, region and beyond. This included defining a
product delivery model for the Online In-service Training Program. Current plans are to “go live” with the CNYAHEC Online
In-service Training Product by June. The model includes three components:
31



Core delivery system: hosted Blackboard platform system; ten asynchronous, self-paced online courses with two new
courses added each year; local customization of course module content and job aids; an annual review and update of
all course modules; 24/7 availability of system to clients (except for planned and/or unplanned outages); an on-site,
start-up site evaluation and technical support; phone technical support Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM;
standard periodic and annual reporting; two train-the-trainer sessions (one for use and navigation and one for
administration); an annual purge and update of employee data base.
Non-core delivery services: additional on-site technical assistance (beyond initial start-up support); additional
reporting (beyond standard periodic and annual); pass-through hosting capacity; addition of client requested
“wrappers” with additional content for course modules; client capacity to edit core courses and develop clientspecific course modules; training for instructor-led courses and real-time seminars; training in additional Blackboard
features; turn-key delivery (start to finish).
Minimum client requirements: technology – availability of PCs with internet connections; Internet access; electronic
employee database; identification of customization needs; identification of job aids; training session participation; a
computer access plan; a communication plan.
Hudson Mohawk (HM AHEC)
Pursuant to the September 2005 Memorandum of Agreement with Albany Medical College Emergency Outreach Program, HM
AHEC provided support to purchase training equipment and curriculum to be used in the community. Programming began with the
following: (1) February 27 and 28: Advance Medical Life Support training held at Albany Medical Center with 21 attendees who
were EMTs or paramedics; and (2) March 14 and 15: Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals training held at the Niskayuna
Fire Department with 11 attendees who were EMTs, paramedics or administrators.
The Albany College of Pharmacy will be presenting a Mass Health Needs training using distance-learning equipment provided by the
HM AHEC. Elizabethtown Community Hospital will be a satellite agency for distance reception of that service.
The Workforce Program Director met with the Director of Education and Research from the Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Alzheimer’s
Unit of the Eddy Geriatric Center to arrange for five home health aide on-site trainings to be held before June 30. These two-hour
trainings will focus on mental health issues of elderly patients.
Planning is currently underway between the HM AHEC and the Adirondack Emergency Planning Council to provide pre-event
mental health training for providers in case of a mass medical emergency such as pandemic influenza. Local and regional providers
will be included in this training as it develops. Various training sources are being considered: private agencies, not-for-profits and the
United States Army. HM AHEC is acting as the broker for these training sessions.
Efforts to increase recruitment and retain emergency medical personnel are done through the www.nyemtinfo.com website.
This web database of continuing education offerings has over 325 registered users to date with over 30 approved course providers.
HM AHEC referred a physician responsible for securing a video conferencing vendor for Glens Falls Hospital to the HM AHEC
service provider, Adirondack Area Network (AANet), and provided a list of current AANet members for the physician to contact
regarding their usage and satisfaction with the vendor.
The following Distance Learning Monitoring and Usage Reporting occurred:
 The Indian Lake site reported 29 different video conferencing sessions from May 11, 2005 – March 22, with most sessions
attended by one participant.
 The Wilton EMS site reported 10 different video conferencing sessions from January 18 – March 15, with the following
32

attendance: Pediatric assessment – 12, Fracture Management – 12, HazMat for EMS – six, Pediatric Trauma – six, Pediatric
Toxicology – seven, Special Needs Children – seven, Abdominal Trauma – 10, STEMI – 10, Crush Syndromes – nine and
Diabetes - nine.
The Albany College of Pharmacy site reported three different video conferencing sessions from January 12 – March 24, with the
following attendance: Alternative Medicine (four hour session) total – 72, (Albany College of Pharmacy – 58, AO Fox
Healthcare – 10 and Elizabethtown Community Hospital - 4), Heart Disease Update (four hour session) total - 107 (Albany
College of Pharmacy – 74, AO Fox Healthcare – 21 and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital - eight) and Obesity Management
(two hour session) total - 43 (Albany College of Pharmacy – 38 and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital - five).
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
The “Assessing Exposure to Ethnic Sources of Lead and Other Toxic Metals,” Family Practice, CE program was provided to 40
participants. This program was sponsored by the Mid-Hudson Family Practice Residency Program and co-sponsored by CHAHEC.
The program participants included faculty, residents and staff members from the residency program in addition to medical students
and New Visions students from Ulster BOCES.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
The New York Metropolitan Region Office offers continuing education programs for health professionals in the following areas:
Faculty Development, Diversity, Leadership Academy and General Management/Staff trainings, as detailed below.
Faculty Development Programs
 January 5, Grant Writing for Health Related Programs, 31 participants;
 February 1, “More Than A Gut Feeling” – Interviewing Skills, 12 participants;
 February 2, Group Process and Dialogue, 11 participants;
 March 2, Reproductive Health, Review of Contraceptive Method, 11 participants.
Leadership Academy (Institute for Urban Family Health)
 January 10, Effective Hiring, Team Building and Business Writing, 14 participants;
 January 17, Domestic Violence and Violence in the Workplace, 12 participants;
 January 24, Time Management, Managing Diversity and Conflict, 13 participants;
 February 7, Critical/Analytical Thinking, 12 participants.
Grand Rounds (Beth Israel Department of Family Medicine)
 January 6, Applications of Harm Reduction Theory to Primary Care, 17 participants;
 January 13, Confronting More Medical Myths, 18 participants;
 January 27, Immunization Update, 14 participants;
 February 3, Medicare Part D, 25 participants;
 February 10, Management of Migraines, 21 participants;
 February 17, Hepatitis C in Primary Care, 24 participants;
 February 24, Electronic Medical Records in Primary Care, 15 participants;
 March 3, Departmental Meeting, 19 participants;
 March 10, Treatment Access to HIV Medications in Guatemala, 22 participants;
 March 31, Interventional Approaches to Acute Coronary Syndrome, 14 participants.
Bronx Health REACH Presentations
33




January, Office of Minority Health Leadership Summit: Discrimination in Health Care, 50 participants;
March, National Association of Community Health Centers: Beyond Quality Improvement, 200 participants;
March, Teacher’s College, Columbia University: Separate and Unequal: Racism in Health Care, 25 participants;
March, Teacher’s College, Columbia University: Changing Lives: Faith Based Outreach Initiative, 30 participants.
Diversity Trainings
 January 19-20, Valuing Diversity, 16 participants.
4b. Enhance the local workforce
through the promotion of medicine
and health professions as viable
careers for re-entry workers
through re-training programs,
career development ladder
strategies, support mechanisms for
re-training; and work place
policies and best-practices
The participants at the above trainings were from the following institutions: Institute for Urban Family Health, Continuum Health
Center, Bon Secours New York Health System, New York City Hotel Traders Council, Jacobi Medical Center, St. Vincent Catholic
Medical Center, Mountainside Family Practice Associates, Mt. Sinai Health Center, The Community Health Care Association for
New York State (CHCANYS), St. Joseph’s Family Practice at Clifton, Sarah Lawrence College, Visiting Nurse Service of New York,
Caledonian Health Center – Brooklyn, Mountainside Family Practice – New Jersey, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, and Brooklyn Hospital.
4b.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Director of Nursing established a nursing essay contest that will publish essays and poetry written by nurses around the state.
These essays will be used by centers and the Statewide Office to promote the positive image of nursing and interactions with AHECs.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The collaboration with Coordinated Care has ceased, and ENAHEC is now moving on to develop a more comprehensive
collaboration that will explore the possibility of a pre med program at Buffalo State College.
ENAHEC is beginning to identify a means to develop a program via the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation for workforce training
development for existing employees. ENAHEC is looking to develop a pipeline that includes medical interpreters, health educators
and community health workers. ENAHEC is identifying the partners as well as clarifying the concept and job descriptions.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
R-AHEC is continuing to operate its Health Workforce Retraining Initiative (HWRI) under contract from the New York State
Department of Health. R-AHEC has supported 254 program participants and 202 have already successfully completed the program.
R-AHEC operates the HWRI in partnership with 50 health care provider systems and 23 academic institutions. The HWRI project
consists of six discrete projects: LPN diploma training (12 active participants), associate-level RN education (six active participants),
two-year baccalaureate-level RN education (two active participants), nurse refresher and update (38 active participants), and dental
assistant board review and licensure training (15 active participants). All courses except nurse refresher are operated in partnership
with health care providers as career development ladder strategies; the nurse refresher course is primarily, but not exclusively,
targeted toward dislocated workers as a brief re-training program.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
A member item resubmission for Northern New York Healthcare Education Consortium (NNYHEC) Pathways is in progress.
NAHEC has released the Health Professions module of the My Health Career website. In this module health professionals can look
for jobs in the area, build a resume, post a writing sample, learn how to create a professional portfolio, perform a KeyTrain
assessment, access regulatory course and continuing education courses using Health Stream, get information about WorkKeys,
and track their WorkKeys. This site also directs users to hospital recruitment sub-sites (mini-portals).
To date, three mini-portals have been created and linked to both the health professions and student modules of the My Health
34
Career website. The mini-portals are CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh, and SUNY
Canton in Canton.
KeyTrain® assessments were completed by 36 high school students throughout the region. A WorkKeys® job assessment and skill
analysis of the profession of Certified Nurse Aide was held at One Work Source in Malone with four employees from Franklin
County Nursing Home in Malone and four employees from Alice Hyde Nursing Home in Malone.
A meeting to discuss the Workforce Development System with the Chenango-Otsego-Delaware WIB was held on February 28. Four
people were in attendance.
Central New York AHEC
CNYAHEC has been contracted by the WorkKeys Center of Syracuse University to develop a health care career ladder focusing on
high demand jobs in Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Chenango, Delaware and Otsego counties. On February 15, the CNYAHEC
Executive Director presented the project to an audience of 80 key stake-holders in Utica. The project was well received and is already
being used as reference for a grant that is being pursued in the region. As a result of the presentation, CNYAHEC was approached to
participate in another career ladder project in Oswego county.
On February 28, Executive Directors of the CNYAHEC and Northern AHEC met with the Executive Director of the ChenangoDelaware-Ostsego Workforce Investment Board to demonstrate the My Health Career website and discuss how it could be used in the
health care arena as well as other career clusters.
Hudson Mohawk (HM AHEC)
The following five contacts were made with WIBs and employment centers: two Job Discovery Days, one Healthcare Career Fair,
one face to face meeting with a WIB Director and one Job Service Employer Committee meeting.
WIB managers are referring HM AHEC to other health employment providers. Plans are being put in place to work with local
community college workforce development offices and invitations have been issued to participate in other WIB events.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC contracted with Bassett Healthcare for an RN Refresher Course to be held in the Summer. Bassett anticipates 17 attendees
in this program. In addition, CHAHEC contracted with Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute for faculty development for the BS/DO
Accelerated Degree Program in partnership with SUNY New Paltz and the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. As a cosponsor of the Otsego-Northern Catskills BOCES Otsego School of Practical Nursing, CHAHEC continued to support this LPN, 10month, accelerated studies program for nursing students of all ages.
CHAHEC was approached by the New York State Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association to conduct the EMS Leadership
Academy, as a pre-conference workshop, at the annual Pulse Conference in August. Planning is underway for this program.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
BWAHEC has set up a meeting with the Bronx Overall Economic Development Center to discuss future collaborations on workforce
development.
BWAHEC collaborated with Dorthea Hopfer School of Nursing (DHSON) regarding their Mentoring Future Leaders to Enhance the
Diversity in Nursing Program. The program provided current DHSON students with mentoring to encourage them to continue their
education beyond an Associate’s Degree. Another collaboration with the DHSON was to decrease attrition rate of students in the
35
daytime program by providing eight hours per week of open lab time for skills practice and remediation.
BWAHEC has been in discussions with Federation Employment and Guidance Service for the community placement of their students
at community health centers and hospitals.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC continues to work with Long Island University’s (LIU) initiative to increase the number of minority students who pass
the nursing licensure program. BQLI AHEC collaborated with LIU on submission of a HRSA grant to increase the number of
minority students in the nursing professions. LIU was the lead applicant, but if funded they will sub-contract with BQLI AHEC for
development of pre-nursing and enrichment activities for high school students interested in nursing.
BQLI AHEC has started collaboration with Queens Village Junior High 109, a middle school in Queens that has a pre-nursing
program for students in grades seven and eight. The Executive Director met with the principal and the coordinator of the program to
discuss joint collaborative projects such as Medical Academy of Science and Health (MASH) Camp and after school-shadowing
opportunities. The Executive Director met with Rosalind Weinstein, Deputy Executive Director of Queens Hospital Center, to
discuss shadowing opportunities for these students. BQLI AHEC will conduct a MASH Camp with Junior High 109 on April 7.
The Executive Director met with Mitchell Zaretsky, a consultant with the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership, an organization initiated by
the Brooklyn Borough President to look at manpower nursing staffing issue in the borough with a focus on: 1) increasing capacity of
nursing schools, 2) faculty leadership, 3) developing programs to encourage young people interested in the nursing professions.
BQLI AHEC has attended three meetings with the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership and will assist in planning borough-wide initiatives
to increase the number of young people interested in nursing. BQLI AHEC will ask participating nurses to join the Speaker’s Bureau,
assist with the placement of SHIP interns and develop mentoring activities.
Project Objective
Status of Activities/Accomplishments
Activities planned and conducted during the period and outcomes of those activities.
Objective 5. Enhance statewide support for centers and regions and dynamic statewide needs-based Area Health Education Center System.
5a. Convene New York State
AHEC System Advisory Board to:
i. provide advice on
workforce issues facing the
health care system in the
state;
ii. foster a communityfocused, multidisciplinary
approach to health care
training and service
delivery;
iii. help develop linkages
between the New York
5a.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The March 22 New York State AHEC System Advisory Board meeting held in Albany focused on “Retaining Minorities in Health
Professions Education Programs” through presentations and panels as described below. Over 50 Advisory Board members and
representatives attended this meeting.
Presentations were given by: Wilma Waith, PhD, RD, CDN, Director of Office of Minority Health, New York State Department of
Health; Marc Nivet, MS, Chief Operating Officer, Josiah Macy Foundation; and Deborah Harmon-Hines, PhD, Associate Vice
Chancellor for School Services, University of Massachusetts Medical School. The speakers addressed the challenges of retaining
minority students in health professions programs. A panel presentation featured Assie Bishop, EdS, Assistant Dean for Student and
Minority Affairs, Albany Medical College, and Elaine Cusker, PhD, Assistant Dean, School of Nursing, University at Buffalo, who
provided perspectives on the challenges and successes of minority student retention. Small group discussions followed regarding the
role for AHEC in the retention of minorities in health professions education programs. The suggestions from the small groups will be
36
State AHEC System and
other state agencies, state
programs and community
resources; and
iv. assist with evaluating the
impact and effectiveness of
the New York State AHEC
System.
5b. Expand comprehensive
communications plan to:
i. inform Associated Medical
Schools (AMS) and other
partners and constituents
of AHEC impact, progress
and outreach and
ii. further develop web-based
and distance learning
capacity to meet the needs
of students and their
community-based
preceptors.
further developed by the New York State AHEC System to meet community needs.
A legislative reception was held immediately prior to the Advisory Board meeting, attended by 49 legislators and legislator staff. The
event featured exhibits from nine centers, three regional offices and the Statewide Office to report on outreach initiatives and success
stories throughout New York State communities.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC has ongoing telephone and face to face contact with two Advisory Board members from the Office of Rural Health, Karen
Madden and Gerald Fitzgibbon. CHAHEC’s Executive Director is a member of the Rural Health Council and participated in subcommittee activities of the Council. Most recently, participation has been with the sub-committee to address the Council’s concerns
with the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century. In addition, Bonnie Kaido, the President of the CHAHEC Board
of Directors, is an Advisory Board member and Connie Jastremski is a member of CHAHEC’s Nursing Workforce Development
Work Group and a faculty member for the annual Nursing Summit.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
The MSI AHEC Executive Director participated on the planning committee for the Advisory Board meetings focused on recruitment
and retention of minorities in health profession education. The planning committee successfully engaged a member of the Advisory
Board to join the committee. The MSI AHEC Executive Director worked with the committee to deliver a successful meeting, to
include speakers from the Josiah Macy Foundation and the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine.
5b.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Winter 2006 issue of the New York State AHEC System Newsletter “AHEC Update” was produced in January. The newsletter
included information about the restoration of federal funding to AHEC, the grand opening of R-AHEC’s Theil Center, National
Primary Care Week, and various AHEC community partnerships. Newsletters were sent to over 1,300 individuals and agencies
across New York State with additional quantities distributed to centers for local and regional use.
The New York State AHEC System annual report formatted as a brochure was produced to define AHEC in the context of health
workforce present the workforce problems, identify AHEC strategies to solve the problems, and report accomplishments. The New
York State AHEC System website was updated with new graphics and is now consistent with other printed materials.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The following Speakers’ Bureau marketing presentations were held:
 UB Speakers Panel, at UB, 15 graduate students;
 GEAR Up at Buffalo Public School #45, 52 students.
Television and radio programs used to promote ENAHEC:
 WUFO Radio, Ted Kirkland Show, January 10;
 WBLK Radio, The Bob Hill Show , February 2;
 Channel 29 (TV), The Stan Coleman Show, February 8;
 Adelphia (TV), Crossroads, February 23.
ENAHEC is redesigning the website to reflect the LifeBeat concept as well as make it easier to use.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
The R-AHEC Program Development Coordinator gave marketing presentations as follows: telemedicine (January 10) to the Genesee
37
County Department of Health (two in attendance), future directions for nurse retraining (January 26) to Monroe #1 BOCES (two in
attendance), current status and future plans for health workforce retraining (January 26) to the Senior Health Alliance (Rochester; two
attendees), Health Workforce Retraining Initiative (HWRI) (February 16) to Nicholas Noyes Hospital and Livingston County
government (four attendees), HWRI (February 28) to Strong Health (two attendees), HWRI (March 21) to Elmira College, Corning
Community College, Greater Southern Tier BOCES and Chemung-Schuyler-Steuben Workforce New York (six attendees), HWRI
(March 22) to Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES and Monroe Community Hospital (two attendees), and HWRI (March 23) to Crouse
Hospital and Crouse School of Nursing (six attendees).
Fifteen (15) issues of the New York State AHEC System newsletter were distributed.
The following articles were published:
 Hands-on Science Supported by R-AHEC Grant, Connections, Winter;
 A Snapshot of Local Arts for ’06, The Daily News, January 26;
 School Board, Perry Herald, February 2;
 CEO Stresses Core Values, The Daily News, March 3;
 Entries Sought for Nurses Week Essay, The Daily News, March 15;
 Tae Kwan Do-Afternoon Activity at Perry Middle School, February 5;
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
The website, www.myhealthcareer.org, is updated on a daily basis using the administrative site. The health professions site
(including the mini-portals) has been released. The My Health Career website had 1,507 registrations.
Fifty (50) issues of the New York State AHEC System newsletter were distributed. Twenty-five (25) issues of the NAO Bulletin
were distributed.
Five newspaper articles were published:
 “NAHEC Program Licensed in Maine for Development,” Courier-Observer, February 3;
 “Workforce Development System Created in Canton Adopted in Maine,” Watertown Times;
 “Maine Adopting NAHEC’s ‘My Health Career’ System for State,” Advanced News, February 5;
 “Looking for Health Jobs? Check My Health Career Site,” Advanced News January 26;
 “Health Care Jobs Go Empty Despite Local Need for Workers,” Advanced News January 26.
An annual report was produced and a printed copy was given to all NAHEC board members. A link to the report can be found on the
www.myhealthcareer.org website under the about us link on the front page. An abbreviated version of the report is in progress.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
CNYAHEC staff has been meeting to discuss expansion needs for the website and updating information. The web designer has
updated the site with changes based on staff needs and to add My Health Careers to the site.
CNYAHEC submitted the following press releases and news articles:
 Central New York Students Spending Winter Break in the Hospital, submitted to 33 media outlets in Onondaga County
(January);
 Central New York Students Spending Winter Break in the Hospital, submitted to media outlets in Broome & Tioga counties by
Lourdes Hospital (January);
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
Area School Personnel to Learn About Hot Health Careers, submitted to 16 media outlets in Broome/Tioga counties (March).
CNYAHEC programs received coverage in the following Print/Television/Radio Media:
 Students Explore Health Care Careers, Press & Sun Bulletin (January);
 Students Explore Health Care Careers: Program Gives Direction to Those Interested, www.pressconnects.com (January);
 Students Get Hands-on Lesson in Hospital Work, Press & Sun Bulletin (February);
 Lourdes Hospital MASH Camp, WBNG television, Binghamton (February);
 Lourdes Hospital MASH Camp, WITV television, Binghamton (February);
 Lourdes Hospital MASH Camp, WICZ television, Binghamton (February);
 Community General Hospital MASH Camp, Channel 9 television, Syracuse (February);
 Community General Hospital MASH Camp, Channel 10 television, Syracuse (February).
CNYAHEC programs were highlighted in the following newsletter articles, advertisements or event calendars:
 MASH Camp Comes to Lourdes!, promotional e-mail sent to hospital staff (January);
 HCOP Partners in Pathways: Building Tomorrow’s Health Care Workforce Together, save-the-date e-mail sent to all HCOP
partners (January);
 MASH Camp is Coming to Lourdes, Inside Lourdes, Lourdes Hospital newsletter (February).
The following CNYAHEC program marketing materials were developed during the month of February:
 HCOP Scrubs Club mini-brochure;
 It’s a Hot Time for Health Care, Summer Institute flyer to Broome Community College faculty;
 HCOP program brochure;
 HealthQuest registration brochure;
 MASH Camp promotional flyers (individual);
 MASH Camp promotional flyers (all camps);
 HCOP Partners in Pathways: Building Tomorrow’s Health Care Workforce Together registration brochure;
 Colorectal Cancer Screening Update (co-sponsor); and
 Nurse Refresher Course: Clinical Practice Skills (co-sponsor).
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC continues to update the website on an ongoing basis. The website is being expanded to include a link to the My Health
Career program, which will be activated in April. There were 827 hits registered to the website.
CHAHEC newsletter is produced quarterly. One thousand seven hundred and three (1,703) newsletters were distributed. In addition,
a special edition of the CHAHEC newsletter, dedicated to the My Health Career program, was developed and 168 copies have been
distributed to date. CHAHEC produces an in-house annual report to its Board of Directors. Copies are distributed to the Board.
Forty-eight (48) issues of the New York State AHEC System newsletter distributed
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
All three New York Metropolitan Region AHECs are in the process of setting up a meeting with the medical schools to introduce
ourselves and to find ways to collaborate in the near future.
BWAHEC has established a website at www.bwahec.org. The website is constantly undergoing changes, as it is updated frequently.
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Approximately 50 New York State AHEC System newsletters were distributed at the Bronx Community College Career Fair. Ten
(10) issues of the National AHEC Organization Bulletin were distributed at the Bronx Community College Career Fair.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC’s Office Manager continues to update information on the website. Current information on scholarships, internships and
placement opportunities have been added. There is also an updated staff list and a downloadable Health Career Workshop request
form. BQLI AHEC installed a web counter on the website on February 15. The website has received 315 hits to date.
Over 150 BQLI AHEC newsletters were distributed to board members, students, parents, hospitals, health centers and community
based organizations. Over 200 New York State AHEC System newsletters and center brochures were distributed to students, parents,
health professionals and staff of community based organizations.
BQLI AHEC developed a new brochure geared toward youth that highlights MASH Camp, SHIP and BQLI AHEC Health Career
Workshops.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
The MSI AHEC Program Coordinator developed and delivered a PowerPoint presentation on January 24, to a group of mentors,
medical residents, members of the NY Metropolitan region AHECs and the Residency Training Program in order to assess program
progress. The presentation was done at the Institute for Urban Family Health.
The website www.msiahec.org was established.
5c. Explore options for matching
state, local and other funding
through grants/contracts from
provider groups, government and
foundations.
MSI AHEC is in progress with a second newsletter.
5c.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
Project Manager Andrea Nikischer, MS has assumed grants development responsibilities following the departure of Kristen
Segebarth. Denise McGuigan, MSEd, and Carol Brewer, PhD, RN have assumed grants development responsibilities related to
medical student education and nursing education and workforce initiatives respectively.
A letter of intent was submitted to the Langeloth Foundation for a collaborative project with the Medical Society of the State of New
York and the New York State AHEC System. AHEC was not invited to submit a full proposal, so the concept will be modified for
submission to a different funder.
In collaboration with the CNYAHEC, a $40,000 grant application was submitted to the Aetna Foundation for an End-of-Life Care
Continuing Education project. Notice of awards will be provided in September 2006.
The Director of Nursing assisted Central New York AHEC in developing a proposal for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to
develop faculty training.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
The following grants were received:
 Health Workforce Retraining Initiative Waiver Program, New York State Department of Health, $1,123,797, commitment
received from funder.
 Rural Health Literacy Program, American Academy of Physician Assistants, $9,992, grant received from funder. Grant ends
April 30.
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
Alzheimer’s Disease Community Service Program (as subcontractor), WNY Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, $2,307,
commitment received from the funder. Grant begins April 1.
Upstate New York Telemedicine Study (as subcontractor), Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation, $60,766 plus
$27,979 in telemedicine hardware and engineering/networking/installation services, commitment received from the funder.
Assisted by a generous grant from the Physician Assistant (PA) Foundation of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the RAHEC, is in the process of facilitating a community service project for physician assistant students in rural rotations. As an
enhancement to the “real world” learning experience of rural PA students, the R-AHEC opportunity engages students in providing
health literacy education to local elderly populations and their caregivers. The program is slated to run through March and April. The
program gives PA students the opportunity to educate seniors and caregivers on health literacy issues, particularly with respect to
chronic diseases such as hypertension and life-changing events such as heart attacks. The students and one of their faculty
coordinators were trained by representatives of the Allegany/Western Steuben Rural Health Network and the Allegany County
Literacy Volunteers, in association with the New York State Department of Health. Armed with educationally proven techniques for
reaching a rural elderly population in a low-income region, nine students from the George Washington University and Daemen
College have been actively engaging seniors and caregivers in these community settings. The goal is to service approximately 270
total community members or caregivers through these presentations.
Central Region Office
The Director of the Central Region Office assisted with preparation of a joint proposal of the Departments of Family Medicine and
Pediatrics to the NYS Department of Health for establishment of an Institute for Training on Health Care Transitioning for youth with
developmental disabilities, their caregivers and their providers. The proposal was approved. The grant is to run for three years with
$150,000 per year.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
The following grant awards have been received:
CVPH Medical Center – Student Assessments, $2,000 granted;
Kinney Drugs – Outreach Programs focusing on Pharmacy, $15,000 granted;
Northern New York Community Foundation – Workforce Development System, $50,000 granted.
Seven meetings have been held throughout the NAHEC region with 61 members of community initiatives to deploy the Workforce
Development System.
The restructuring of the NAHEC Board of Directors committee is intended to focus on business development and fundraising.
NAHEC is currently working on formal partnerships with all of the hospitals in the NAHEC region to provide funds for NAHEC
workforce services. NAHEC has licensed My Health Career with the Maine AHEC system.
Claxton Hepburn Medical Center offers housing for up to six students at one time at no cost to NAHEC or to the student.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
In January, CNYAHEC’s HRSA proposal – Pathways to the Health Professions (Syracuse Community Health Scholars) – was
submitted, however CNYAHEC was notified by HRSA that the program was cut from the federal budget and no grant awards will be
made. CNYAHEC then notified grant partners that the funding was cut and are now looking for other sources to fund the program.
The following new applications were submitted during the months of February and March:
 Office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton – Non-Defense Appropriations Request. Request form completed for support of
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

CNYAHEC’s health careers exploration camps in the amount of $85,000 for FY 2007; submitted to Senator Clinton’s regional
and federal offices on February 24.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Northwest Health Foundation (RWJF/NWHF) – Partners in Nursing’s Future. CNYAHEC
was working closely with Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (CHFWCNY) and Excellus
BlueCross BlueShield to submit a brief in response to the call for proposals. CNYAHEC participated in the videoconference call
with RWJF/NWHF on January 9; then participated in two planning meetings with nursing leaders in the CNY region on January
17 and 26; CNYAHEC designed a survey on nursing faculty issues and sent via email to nursing leaders, to solicit feedback on
issues/concerns in regards to the nurse faculty shortage, on January 31. The brief was submitted through CHFWCNY on
February 16 and invitations for full proposals were issued on March 8. RWJ received over 200 briefs in response to their RFP.
CNYAHEC and partners were notified that they were invited to submit a full proposal. The steering committee and partners met
several times to develop the full proposal. The proposal is due April 12.
HRSA – Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant Program - an application was submitted by Utica College and includes subcontract
to CNYAHEC.
CNYAHEC is currently working on the following applications:
 NYSDOH – Ovarian Cancer Awareness, Education and Support Initiative. CNYAHEC is preparing an application to develop
on-line/CD-ROM educational modules on ovarian cancer for health care providers and health professions students in a 17-county
region (includes three counties in the Northern AHEC region). Members were canvassed from previous ovarian cancer coalition
(rural health networks, cancer services programs, hospitals and American Cancer Society) for support to apply on behalf of the
region, with support overwhelmingly positive. This is a three-year grant for $20,000 per year. CNYAHEC submitted a letter of
intent on February 13. The application is due April 12.
 Tompkins Cortland Tech Prep Program – Mini-grant Request for Proposals. CNYAHEC is preparing an application to roll-out
My Health Career in schools in Cortland and Tompkins counties with supplement field trips to local hospitals. This is a one-time
award of up to $10,000. Application due April 10.
 AETNA – CNYAHEC is working with the NYS AHEC System grant writer to submit a grant on behalf of CNYAHEC to offer a
workshop on End-of-Life Care. In addition an online module will be developed specifically to provide physicians, nurses, social
workers and other professionals with information to assist them in better communicating and caring for patients at the end of life
stage. This is a one year award of up to $50,000. The application was submitted on March 31.
CNYAHEC is networking with the following foundations to see if there is a fit between programs and mission:
 Gifford Foundation - CNYAHEC Executive Director and Development Director met with Marlene Bryant, Program Officer. The
foundation expressed keen interest in CNYAHEC’s Pathways project (Syracuse Community Health Scholars).
 M&T Bank - CNYAHEC Development Director met with Beverly Fair-Brooks, Vice President. Ms. Fair-Brooks requested that
an information packet also be sent to Sara Cardillo, who covers other counties in the region. Follow-up is planned for mid-April.
Eastern Region Office
A draft sustainability plan has been developed for the Data Resource Center. Sustainability measures include contract work for maps
tables and data analyses, subscription fees for outside users of the Data Warehouse, licensing fees for states that wish to use the
AHEC Tools application and federal and foundation grants. Efforts are continuing to market the services of the Data Resource
Center, including the development of a one-page brochure. An AHEC Executive Council workgroup has been established to assist
the Data Resource Center with its sustainability plans and developing a fee structure for its services.
The National AHEC Organization (NAO) has accepted the proposal of the Eastern Region Office to present “An AHEC Web-based
Community Health Data System: How it Works in New York” at the NAO bi-annual conference in Omaha, NE. This will provide an
opportunity to potentially market AHEC Tools to other states.
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Hudson Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
The strategic plan was completed in July 2005 by the Board of Directors. Implementation is ongoing since the hiring of the CEO,
program director and office staff.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC is in discussions with Fidelis Care in regards to funding of pipeline programs and joint marketing efforts.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
The New York Metropolitan Region Office assisted the Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC to develop a grant application for the Kraft
Foundation.
The application to the HRSA Pathways Program has been denied due to loss of funding.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC has applied for the following grants:
 NYU Social Ventures Fund – Funding requested for a $30,000 grant to enhance fundraising activities including donor
management software and planning a special event.
 Altman grant – Funding requested for a $10,000 grant to assist in paying stipends to students participating in SHIP.
The Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) grant was very competitive and BQLI AHEC was not awarded any
funding. The Executive Director and Board Chair will arrange a meeting with the DYCD to discuss resubmitting next year.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC and the New York Metropolitan Region Office prepared and submitted a proposal to the Kraft Employee Fund to support
the Mentor Connection.
The MSI AHEC Mentor Connect program received a Donors Choose Grant worth $280 for classroom materials, including: eight
copies of the Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, eight copies of Mountains Beyond Mountains and Rx for Health, a global health
documentary.
MSI AHEC sent follow up communication to the Fund For The City of New York regarding re-submission of its proposal for the
Mentorship Connection program.
MSI AHEC Board of Directors targeted a business community representative as a goal for recruitment to assist in fund development.
The Board Chairperson established connections for the Executive Director with the Harlem Business Women’s Alliance.
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