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
(April 1, 2006 – June 30, 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 522 medical students received 41,419 hours of community-based training with 268 preceptors. Forty-seven (47) health
professions students received 9,580 hours of community based training with 41 preceptors.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office/Western Region Office/Western New York Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
Two hundred twenty-seven (227) medical students, received 13,405 hours of training with 87 of preceptors.
The Director of Nursing established quarterly meetings with the Acting Dean of the University at Buffalo School of Nursing. The last
meeting in April included the directors of R-AHEC and Erie Niagara AHEC for potential collaborations. The Director of Nursing has
maintained an information flow to the Dean for possible grants.
The Director of Nursing initiated contacts for placements for three graduate nursing students from Buffalo with New York
Metropolitan Region AHECs. One student was placed. She has also discussed the development of a preceptorship/internship program
for hospitals with New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) (developed in Vermont). She wrote and shared with the AHECs a
concept paper for grant development based on this program. She participated with CNYAHEC’s community partnership to submit a
Robert Wood Johnson Partners in Nursing grant based on faculty development and expansion of capacity.
The Medical Director for the New York State AHEC System continued to communicate with the UB/AHEC Student Group on the
Underserved regarding their interest in volunteering with Independent Health about their community outreach program. Involvement
is planned for the fall when students return for the academic year.
Planning continued for the UB Interdisciplinary Elective on the Underserved. Presenters have been confirmed and communication
continued with students from the dental and nursing schools who wish to enroll though the class is fully registered with 27 students.
The curriculum is unique in its interdisciplinary focus (medicine, dental medicine, nursing, pharmacy, allied health and social work)
and the involvement of community teachers in the curriculum on health disparities and relationship to poverty, racism, cultural
communication, homelessness, rural, and mental illness. The course will feature methods to overcome barriers and the impact of
public policy. Dr. Frankele in Saint Louis has been consulted about his experiences with a similar course.
The Medical Director facilitated a seminar series for the Western New York Rural AHEC (R-AHEC) Warsaw Interdisciplinary
Summer Experience. The R-AHEC recruited students: two nurse practitioner students, three dental medicine students, one pharmacy
student, one undergraduate pre-medical student and one undergraduate radiology technician. The clinical focus on geriatrics involved
a presentation by an occupational therapist, functional assessment, and interdisciplinary pairs’ interview with a nursing home resident.
As faculty advisor to the UB Family Medicine Student Association, the Medical Director met with students about residency programs
and international health experiences. On April 18, he presented a session for UB’s Physical Therapy 606 class on primary care,
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
family medicine, and interprofessional communication. As a follow up to the Three Doctors Summit sponsored by the Erie Niagara
AHEC, the Medical Director authored a reflective article published in the Buffalo News MY VIEW column.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
A total of 6 medical students received 1,440 hours of community-based training with 5 preceptors in Jamestown, Perry, Ripley and
Westfield. Three health professions students received 1,920 hours of community based training with 10 preceptors in Cuba, Hornell
and Wayland.
“I went to Cuba Memorial Hospital Urgent Care Center. The experience was very worthwhile and high quality. I learned the
responsibility and really feel like my clinical decision-making ability improved immensely. At Cuba, you have an incredible amount
of autonomy, but also have excellent PAs to help guide you. I recommend this rotation to all PA students.” ---- Student, George
Washington PA Program
“I worked…at the St. James Mercy Hospital ER Department in Hornell. I was lucky enough to do a rotation there because I had free
housing from AHEC. My experience was great and the house was great. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”---- Student,
Daemen College PA Program
R-AHEC Clinical coordinator collaborations are as follows: Daemen College Physician Assistant Program (Buffalo), Daemen
College Physical Therapy Program (Buffalo), Rochester Institute of Technology Physician Assistant Program (Rochester), Rochester
Institute of Technology Ultrasound Program (Rochester), D’Youville College (Buffalo), D’Youville College Physical Therapy
Program (Buffalo), University at Buffalo School of Medicine (Buffalo), University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health
Policy (Buffalo), Ithaca College Physical Therapy Program (Ithaca), George Washington University Physician Assistant Program
(Washington, DC), University at Buffalo Advanced Dental Assisting Program Track (ADAPT) Program (Buffalo), 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 students, Pharmacy, Physician Assistants, and
Physical Therapy.
As a result of funding constraints, the housing program has transitioned to a fee-based mechanism. All students who have utilized
housing were contacted by letter and given alternatives – a contribution which would be used to defray a weekly $50 per student cost
to operate the houses from the institution itself or the students would be required to pay the weekly $50 fee. Four schools donated
funds in varying amounts ($750 - $10,000). The donation is tracked against student utilization and when expended either more funds
need to be paid by the institution or the students from that school need to start paying for their stay. This applies to the Westfield,
Hornell and Warsaw houses. The Jamestown house is fully funded by the Chautauqua County Health Network.
A Summer Interdisciplinary Experience is in process. Ten students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and other disciplines
are participating in a six week program. 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. Three of the students have selected to utilize the
housing. The remainder receive a mileage stipend of up to $60 per week.
Central Region Office/Northern AHEC/CNYAHEC
Clerkship: A total of 12 medical students received 1,920 hours of community-based training with 31 preceptors in Syracuse (5 sites),
Liverpool, Baldwinsville (two sites), Marcellus, Cazenovia, Lafayette, and Central Square. SUNY Upstate Family Medicine
clerkship students evaluate instructional quality through Courseval, a medical school-wide instrument and through MedEd IQ.
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Students rated the clerkship overall as excellent and one of the highest rated courses in the curriculum.
Rural Medical Education Program (RMED): A total of 11 medical students received 5,280 hours of community-based training with
21 preceptors in Pulaski, Oswego, Cortland (2 sites), Hamilton, Canandaigua, Geneva, Watkins Glen (two sites), Glens Falls, and
Oneonta. Eight RMED communities provided housing for three months each for 11 RMED students. Eleven (11) RMED students at
eight RMED communities engaged in distance learning activities through the Blackboard Learning Systems program at Upstate
Medical University. Eight RMED communities provided access to the Internet and the SUNY Upstate Medical University campus
network and Health Sciences Library for 11 RMED students.
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 received incentives.
Central Region Office assisted in presentation of a 1 ½ day faculty development workshop for eight preceptors during the RMED
program’s semi-annual Faculty Development Workshop. The topics were: 1) Recruiting and Training the Rural Physician
Workforce, 2) the Faculty Site Visit: Objectives and Evaluation, 3) Problem solving educational problems with students, 4)
Interprofessional education opportunities, 5) Treatment of Fractures by Family Physicians, 6) The Student Quality Improvement
Project, and 7) Updating the inpatient skills and procedures checklist.
The Director of the Central Region Office continued to serve on the Board of Directors and Legislative Advocacy committees of the
New York State Association for Rural Health.
The Director of the Central Region Office met on three occasions with the Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs and the Director
of Financial Aid to discuss proposals for changes to admissions policies of the institution and the need to address workforce needs of
the central and northern New York regions. Meetings also included development of recommendations for changes to the NYS
Regents Loan forgiveness program to improve the incentive for new physicians to practice in underserved areas. Approximately 40%
of incoming students originate in upstate New York, 40% in the NY metropolitan area and 20% from out of state.
The Director of the Central Region Office assisted with preparations for the Central New York AHEC MedQuest Camp for high
school students, which is co-sponsored by SUNY Upstate Medical University.
The Director of the Central Region Office prepared and submitted requested information and outcome date regarding the RMED
program to the office of Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
A total of 14 medical students received 9,696 hours of community-based training with 12 preceptors. Thirteen (13) medical students
completed 9,616 hours of training at Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown. One medical student completed 80 hours of training at
Rainbow Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in Plattsburgh.
Three health professions students received 1,332 hours of community based training with three preceptors. Three health professions
students completed 1,332 hours of training in three preceptor sites. The following sites hosted health professions students: Hoose,
Knight and Associates (private physical therapy clinic) in Potsdam, EJ Noble Hospital in Gouverneur, and Claxton Hepburn Medical
Center in Ogdensburg.
Working relationships exist with clinical coordinators at North Country Community College (nursing and radiology technician
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programs); St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES (Practical Nursing Program); Clinton Community College (Medical Laboratory Technician
Program); The State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh (Telenursing Program 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, predental, pre-physical therapy programs).
NAHEC has leased two dorm rooms located on the SUNY Potsdam Campus for students to reside in during their clinical rotation. 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 Claxton-Hepburn 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.
One student from SUNY Upstate Medical University participated in NAHEC’s Clinical Training Lodging Program while performing
a clinical rotation at Hoose, Knight and Associates in Potsdam.
A total of three students received travel reimbursement. One medical student from the University of Vermont School of Medicine
performed their pediatric clerkship at Rainbow Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in Plattsburgh. 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.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
A total of two medical students received 1,040 hours of community-based training with two preceptors. Six health professions
students received 1,400 hours of community based training with six preceptors.
Six health profession students began their clinical rotations (all utilizing the mileage subsidy). One was a physical therapy student
from SUNY Upstate Medical University, one was a radiation therapy student from SUNY Upstate Medical University and three were
medical lab technicians from Broome Community College. Students trained with six different preceptors in Chemung, Cortland,
Chenango, Onondaga, and Oswego counties.
The Health Workforce Summit workgroup was notified that Eliot Spitzer was not available to serve as the keynote speaker for the
health workforce summit being offered in partnership with Colgate’s Upstate Institute. The workgroup sent a letter inviting Senator
Hillary Clinton to serve in that capacity. If she agrees, the summit will be held in October in Hamilton, NY.
The CNYAHEC Executive Director presented at a meeting on June 19 facilitated by the WIB of Oswego County. The meeting was
designed to provide an overview of the work CNYAHEC and the WorkKeys Center of Syracuse University developing health career
ladders focusing specifically on high demand jobs and corresponding educational programs in Oswego County. The meeting was
attended by 15 health care leaders in the community. The ladders are being refined and a full report will be presented to a larger
community group on August 23.
CNYAHEC Executive Director met with the executive directors of Chenango Delaware Otsego WIB and the Broome Tioga WIB on
two separate occasions to discuss how the AHEC and WIBs can work together to increase the supply of health professionals in the
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Southern Tier region of New York. Both WIBs have agreed to support CNYAHEC’s Partners in Pathways: Building Tomorrow’s
Health Care Workforce Together proposal and drafted letters of support of their Appalachian Regional Commission grant proposal.
Eastern Region Office/Hudson-Mohawk AHEC
Seventy-one (71) Albany Medical College students received 113 weeks (4,520 hours) of training from 47 preceptors at AHEC
supported sites in the Eastern Region.
The Eastern Regional Office worked with the Alaska AHEC (with financial and other support provided by the Alaska AHEC) to help
arrange a summer rotation of an Albany Medical College student in the more remote areas of the state.
The Eastern Regional 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. An initial orientation for those physicians was held. An
estimated 15 new preceptors are expected to result from this process.
Hudson-Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
A total of six third year internal medicine students from Albany Medical College received 346 hours of community based training
with 16 preceptors at the following clinical sites: Hudson Headwaters Health clinics in Warrensburg, Queensbury, Glens Falls,
Moreau and Stanton Nursing Facility.
Results of satisfaction surveys (students, preceptors, sponsoring schools) are as follows:
April 10 – May 5 rotation
 Student 1: “I feel like my time was very well spent at the Warrensburg Health Clinic.”
 Student 2: “Everyone I worked with was an outstanding provider and a great example. All very supportive and helpful and
really interested in my learning experience. All allowed independence but reinforcement and opportunities to learn.”
 Student 3: “Dr. Crossman is fantastic, he teaches and guides. Excellent!”
May 8- June 4 rotation:
 Student 1: “Warrensburg Health Center was a great experience. All providers facilitated learning and made this a truly great
patient experience.”
 Student 2: “All instructors clearly enjoy teaching students, and exemplified excellent patient care. If I were going into primary
care I would want to work for a Hudson Headwaters Clinic or one like it.”
 Student 3: “The EKG sessions were very helpful. Also gained new experience at the Stanton Nursing Facility.”
The local RMED student from Upstate Medical University used the HM AHEC video conferencing equipment on June 6 to connect
with faculty and students at the facility over 200 miles away.
Three of the six 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 lease a more suitable student apartment in the Glens Falls area. The RMED student from
Upstate Medical University received financial reimbursement of his costs to relocate to Glens Falls during his rotation.
Two cultural competency trainings are being planned for the next year. One for physicians/medical students/residents using research
based articles and data and another for public health/nursing staff that will be conducted by the Institute for Urban Family Health.
Meetings were held regarding the Chronic Care curriculum. The interdisciplinary curriculum using the Wagner model will be
implemented with Albany Medical College third year students during the 2006-2007 academic year.
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HM AHEC has begun working on updating its home page, to be completed by September 30. The HM AHEC has also completed the
population of MyHealthCareers software and will begin promoting the site in September.
HM AHEC monitors the usage of the seven locations it has assisted with distance learning connectivity.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The ENAHEC has contracted with Lifetime Health Centers to provide cultural competency training for their employees using the
ENAHEC Alafia Theatre Component. All focus groups have been conducted to get employee feedback on what issues they believe
exist regarding cultural sensitivity at the clinics. The play is being written for them and presented to them with a talkback. Dr.
Juanita Hunter, has been contacted and she will facilitate the talkback with employees. ENAHEC will be training about 60
employees. Buffalo State College will provide the continuing education credit for this training.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
Two medical students received 120 hours of community-based training with four preceptors in Kingston and Ellenville. Twelve (12)
health professions students received 992 hours of community based training with 11 preceptors in Cooperstown, Delhi and Oneonta.
Ten students were in housing or received housing reimbursement.
Twelve (12) new practice sites were established: Imran Ahmed, MD, White Lake; Chester Burton, DO, Cobleskill; John Carey, MD,
Goshen; Rebecca Eckel, MD, Cobleskill; Barbara Gordon-Cohen, MD, Suffern; Francis Imbarratom, MD, Monroe; Sophia McIntyre,
MD, Middletown; Ravi Ramaswami, MD, Saugerties; Thomas Robinson, MD, Poughkeepsie; Lisa Straus, MD, Amenia; and Kenneth
Svensson, MD, Nyack.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
A total of 171 medical students received 3,652 hours of community-based training with 43 preceptors. Twenty-three (23) health
professions students received 3,936 hours of community based training with 11 preceptors. Medical students came from New York
University, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of California San Francisco, University of Buffalo, Emory
University and University of Vermont. Health professions students came from New York University, Fordham University, Columbia
University, College of New Rochelle, Dartmouth University and University of Buffalo.
The New York Metropolitan Region Office works in collaboration with the Institute for Urban Family Health (IUFH) at Sidney
Hillman Health Center, Mount Hope Family Practice, Walton Family Health Center, Urban Horizons Family Health Center,
Parkchester Family Practice and Bronx Health REACH. At these training sites the Metropolitan Region AHEC places various
students, including social work students, public health students, public administration students, and Vista/Americorps volunteers.
Institute staff provided the following faculty development programs:
 April 6, Situational Leadership, 10 participants
 April 13, Domestic Violence, 9 participants
 May 4, Family Systems Therapy within Family Medicine, 13 participants
 May 25, Diversity Phase II: “As Simple as Respect,” 19 participants
 June 29, Team Building, 12 participants
The participants at the above trainings were from the following institutions: Institute for Urban Family Health (IUFH), Jacobi
Medical Center, Brooklyn Hospital, Metropolitan Staten Island Area Health Education Center, Mt. Hope Family Practice, Phillips
Family Practice, Beth Israel Medical Center, Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn Hospital and Clifton Family Practice, New Jersey.
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The Leadership Academy curriculum developed through the IUFH, Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC and the Faculty Development
Program is available to all AHEC offices (one workshop per year) and all AHECs were urged to schedule participants for free
workshops. The 2005-2006 academic year has eight one-day workshops and a two-day Leadership Academy available for AHECs.
Other meetings/activities of the New York Metropolitan Region Office:
 May 12, New York Metropolitan Region Office Director, Maxine Golub, participated in a workshop on Minority Student
Recruitment and Retention at Conference on Racial Disparity sponsored by Montefiore Medical Center.
 May 16, New York Metropolitan Region Office and Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC staff co-presented on AHEC at the Council
on Graduate Medical Education seminar.
 June 9, New York Metropolitan Region Office and Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC co-sponsored a meeting on Collaboration for
Down State Health Professional Schools to increase Minority Recruitment and Retention.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
The BWAHEC moved from its 930 Grand Concourse location to Lehman College of the City University of New York in the Borough
of the Bronx on April 16.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC continued to work with Long Island University’s initiative to increase the number of minority students who pass the
nursing licensure program.
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
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC collaborated with the BWAHEC and BQLI AHEC in the planning and execution of NYCOM Program. MSI AHEC
Executive Director and Program Director held orientation for 10 NYCOM students at their campus on June 1. Students began
internship on June 26 and their first didactic session on Racial Disparities in Health Care was held on June 30.
1b.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Medical Director for the New York State AHEC System communicated with the UB/AHEC Faculty Instructional Group to help
identify faculty within their schools to help with the UB Interdisciplinary Elective on the Underserved as described in section 1b.
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
2a.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The 2005 pipeline report along with revised pipeline instruments for summer 2006 were disseminated statewide in May. The
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medicine and health professions
and health professionals.
instruments were revised based on a formative evaluation process that included conversations with the AHEC directors and a review
of 2005 pipeline evaluation results. In June, the Director of Evaluation, the Associate Director, and the CEO of R-AHEC presented a
workshop at the 2006 NAO Conference that showcased the New York State AHEC System pipeline instruments and pipeline
evaluation process. Upon request from the NAO, the Director of Evaluation submitted the New York State pipeline instruments for
national dissemination through the NAO members’ web site.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
 Health Professions Program At Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital with Niagara Falls High School, 12 students
 Health Careers Opportunities at Niagara Wheatfield Middle & High School, 47 AP Science students
Northern AHEC
NAHEC uses the My Health Career website to disperse information to local students about the opportunities in health care. During
the months that school is not in session the website is used with NAHEC’s other programs (i.e. Camp Med, Health Scholars, and Job
Shadows).
NAHEC presented to 655 students in 11 schools. Of these students 591 of them registered on the My Health Career website during
the guided registration, as follows:
 Peru Central School in Peru, 76 students
 Lake Placid Central School in Lake Placid, 28 students
 South Lewis Central School in Turin, 84 students
 Copenhagen Central School in Copenhagen, 57 students
 Harrisville Central School in Harrisville, 77 students
 CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, 35 students
 Schroon Lake Central School in Schroon Lake, 95 students
 Ticonderoga Central School in Ticonderoga, 79 students
 Lowville Academy in Lowville, 35 students
 Moriah Central School in Fort Henry, 37 students
 Madrid-Waddington Central School in Madrid, 52 students
 Lake Placid Central School in Lake Placid, 28 students
Eleven (11) students have performed assessments using the My Health Career learning management system (KeyTrain®). Through
this system students are able to assess their foundational skills in relation to their career choice. Once the student’s skill is determined
he/she has 12 months to complete any skill gap training necessary.
The My Health Career program is a database-driven website offering regional health career information to high school students and
local programs for which high school students are eligible. In the classroom, NAHEC staff guide students through the registration
process on the website and show them how to perform career exploration. The students are also introduced to the NAHEC programs
available to them and are shown how to sign up for the programs. Eleven (11) percent of the high school population in the NAHEC
region has been reached to date.
NAHEC has now 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 Zones (mini-portals).
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To date, eight Recruitment Zones have been created and linked to both the health professions and student modules of the My Health
Career website. The mini-portals are: CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh, SUNY
Canton in Canton, United Helpers, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, North Country Community College,
and Adirondack Medical Center.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
Although headway has been made since March with the preparation of the My Health Career website, progress has slowed
considerably. There has been a need for the project assistant’s time to be redirected to help with a variety of projects, including
several grant submissions and a number of Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP) activities. We are optimistic that the site can
be ready for release this fall.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
Two trainings were held with 105 participants:
 Health Careers Behind the Scenes is a MASH Camp conducted by Catskill Regional Medical Center in Sullivan County. The
program uses a model based on the popular television series “CSI.” This interactive seminar targets youth ages 12 to 18, a
majority of whom are of low income and minority populations. Partners of this program were Sullivan County BOCES and eight
Sullivan County school districts.
 SUNY Cobleskill Anatomy & Diversity: BodyWorlds Program – Under this program, 50 students and three professors were able
to experience the fascinating and unusual BodyWorlds exhibition at the Franklin Institute Science Museum and explore the
College of Physicians of Philadelphia Mutter Museum during a field trip on April 9 and 10. The goals of this program were 1) to
give medical career students an opportunity to learn from classic anatomical displays at the Franklin Institute of Science and 2) to
encourage students in other disciplines, who were taking science courses, to consider careers in a health profession.
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
Hudson-Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
HM AHEC was a featured ad sponsor in collaboration with the Adirondack School to Business Partnership targeting youth prior to
the summer employment season. The largest area local newspaper, The Post Star, published an eight page Youth Career Publication
insert on June 14, reaching approximately 34,500 subscribers from Essex County to Saratoga County. In addition, students (n=1440)
will receive the insert through the Newspapers in Education program, through curriculum at One Stop Career Centers (n=100), and
other community organizations like youth bureaus and BOCES (n=2500).
2b.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The following trainings were held:
 Niagara Falls High School, 239 students: Classroom presentation, conducted over a two day period, in health and science class to
inform students of health career options, included information on resources available, coursework, college requirements, SAT
Prep and scholarship information. The presentation was also used to recruit for upcoming events and camps. Students were also
afforded the opportunity to earn extra credit in class by taking a Lifebeat Challenge and writing an essay that is graded by the
teacher. Fourteen (14) of these students attended the Spring Break Summit as a challenge to Do Something New. All three
health teachers agreed to help with the facilitation of a Health Careers Club at Niagara Falls High School in Fall 2007.



East High School, 30 students
Harvey Austin Middle School, 40 students
Grover Cleveland High School, 20 students
These class presentations were designed to prepare students for MASH camps to ensure that they have a valuable learning experience.
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Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC provided two health career workshops. BQLI AHEC conducted a workshop for Uniondale High School on April 28.
BQLI AHEC staff provided an interactive presentation on public health careers for their annual Career Day. BQLI AHEC tabled and
distributed 25 career guides. The presentation was well received by the students. BQLI AHEC also conducted a workshop for Career
Days at Ernest Jenkyns Elementary and Middle School Public School 202 in Brooklyn. BQLI AHEC staff presented to about 150
students in eight different classrooms. The students were predominantly African American and Latino students.
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 administrators 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.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
NAHEC presented to 655 students in 11 schools (as detailed in section 2a). Of these students 591 of them registered on the My
Health Career website during the guided registration. 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 perform career
exploration. The students are also introduced to the NAHEC programs available to them and are shown how to sign up for NAHEC
programs during the presentation. Eleven (11) students have performed assessments using the My Health Career learning
management system (KeyTrain®). Through this 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)
The CNYAHEC Exploring the Health Professions curriculum and trainers were featured at the Catskill Hudson AHEC workshop on
May 12 for teachers. The workshop was extremely well received and two more are being planned for the fall of 2006.
At the NAO Conference held in June in Omaha, Nebraska, CNYAHEC Program Coordinator, Michelle Lang was a co-presenter
during one of the workshops focusing on summer camps to expose and interest students in health careers. The presentation
highlighted the Exploring the Health Professions curriculum and led a group of 32 attendees through one of the lesson plans. The
session was well received and CNYAHEC has received several orders for the curriculum and supporting materials as a result.
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 disadvantaged students into health professions school. The following is an
update on the myriad activities related to this program:
Scrubs Club: A total of 97 students signed up for Scrubs Club. The original recruitment goal was 90 students. The breakdown of
partner school participation is 36 from Binghamton, 19 from Harpursville and 42 from Newark Valley.
Scrubs Club students participated in two Career Development workshops by Broome-Tioga BOCES. The first of the two workshops
showed students how to use the New York State Department of Labor’s CareerZone website. Students used the website to develop
their own career profile and research different types of health careers based on their interests. At the second workshop, students
learned basics about interviewing for a job, developing a resume and making a first impression.
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Scrubs Club students participated in discussions on college planning facilitated by the Harpursville Guidance Department at
Harpursville, Ithaca College’s Admissions Office at Newark Valley and Binghamton High School’s award winning College
Connection program at Binghamton. Each presentation focused on prerequisite courses for health science degree programs and tips
on researching and visiting colleges.
Students participated in a tour of Broome Community College’s (BCC’s) Decker Health Science Center on April 12. BCC health
sciences faculty led the groups through the physical therapist assistant lab, dental hygiene clinic and radiologic technology lab.
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics also presented to the groups. Members of BCC’s X-Ray Club and Physical Therapist
Assistant Club were on hand to answer questions from the Scrubs Club students. BCC’s Health Science Admissions Advisor,
Michele Varga, also presented to the students on prerequisite requirements for BCC’s health science programs.
Dental hygienists and radiologic technologists from Lourdes Hospital visited Scrubs Club in April and May. Scrubs Club students
have enjoyed all of the visiting health professional visits and efforts will be made to continue presentations for the next school year.
Human resources personnel from United Health Services Hospitals presented to Scrubs Clubs at each partner school in late May.
They provided information to students on the current job outlook for health careers. They also mock interviewed each student and
provided feedback to each student on his/her interview. Most students had never interviewed before. While they thought the
experience was challenging, the feedback received was positive. Students felt they will be better prepared for a future job interview.
Summer Institute: The Summer Institute curriculum development is well underway with leadership from Dr. Andrea Wade, Chair of
the Medical Assisting Department and Medical Laboratory Technology Departments BCC. Target date for completion of curriculum
development is June 21. Arrangements are being made to include CPR Certification in the Summer Institute curriculum.
Summer Institute applications were designed and distributed in a variety of ways. They were directly mailed to students registered for
Scrubs Club. They were also mailed to guidance counselors and school administrators for distribution. They were distributed by
Tech Prep of Broome and Tioga Counties, Broome-Tioga BOCES and at the Partners In Pathways workshop. Additionally, volunteer
departments at United Health Services Hospitals and Lourdes Hospital mailed applications to current student volunteers.
Twenty-five current 11th grade students from 11 different school districts were accepted to Summer Institute, July 10 through August
18. Twenty-three of the 25 students are either economically or educationally disadvantaged.
Summer Institute Orientation for students and parents will take place at BCC on June 28. Students and parents will review the
Student Handbook, including a Code of Conduct. They will also meet some of the Summer Institute Faculty and teaching assistants,
participate in tours of the Decker Building and students will be fitted for their lab coats.
In addition to this six week educational experience, students will participate in weekly supplemental activities. Plans for these
sessions are underway but currently include a visit from Lourdes Hospital’s Mission In Motion vans, tours of local health facilities
and Upstate Medical University’s Clinical Campus at Binghamton and cultural competency workshops.
Plans are also underway for a Summer Institute Graduation Celebration. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Southern Tier Region has
provided $250 towards a picnic that will take place at Otsiningo Park on the last day of Summer Institute. Summer Institute faculty
will be invited to attend and celebrate with the students.
Summer Academy: Summer Academy applications were designed and mailed directly to students registered for Scrubs Club. In
addition to distribution by Tech Prep of Broome and Tioga Counties, Broome-Tioga BOCES, guidance counselors and school
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administrators and Volunteer Departments at United Health Services Hospitals and Lourdes Hospitals, BCC provided mailing labels
for current high school students living in Broome, Tioga and Chenango counties that were accepted into BCC’s health science
programs beginning this fall.
Thirty-seven (37) applications were received for 20 available positions. Eligible students met GPA, educational/economic
disadvantage and college acceptance requirements. CNYAHEC staff will begin working with staff at United Health Services and
Lourdes to place students for their positions.
United Health Services and Lourdes Hospital have made arrangements for students to attend their employee orientation. Programs at
both hospitals will take place for six weeks beginning July 10 and ending August 18.
In addition to this work experience, students will participate in weekly didactic sessions. Plans for these sessions are underway but
currently include topics like current events, community health programs and cultural competency in health care.
School Administrator/Guidance Counselor In-Service: In an effort to increase school administrator and guidance counselor
awareness of the health care workforce needs, CNYAHEC and UHS co-sponsored Partners In Pathways: Building Tomorrow’s
Health Care Workforce Together on April 4. Nineteen (19) guidance counselors and school administrators from ten different school
districts registered. CNYAHEC evaluation data revealed that 100% of the attendees reported gaining new knowledge and that
Partners In Pathways met their professional goals.
Math Camp: CNYAHEC is working to offer Math Camp to HCOP partner schools in the summer of 2006. Staff are currently
working with the three school districts to determine the most effective and efficient way to offer this program.
HCOP Administrative: CNYAHEC was notified by HRSA that Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP), a Title VII-funded
program, would officially be ending at the end of the first year of the program, August 31, 2006. CNYAHEC has been granted a nocost extension from HRSA which will allow for continued research into additional funding sources. CNYAHEC’s HCOP partners,
including Binghamton City School District, Harpursville Central School District, Newark Valley Central School District, Tech Prep
of Broome and Tioga Counties, Broome Community College, United Health Services Hospitals and Lourdes Hospital, have been
pleased with the program’s progress so far. They also indicated support of CNYAHEC’s pursuit of additional funding for HCOP.
HCOP Outreach & Marketing: Tapings of health professionals appearing in the “Success In the World of Work” video have been
completed. A dental hygienist, physical therapist assistant, radiologic technologist, medical assistant, medical laboratory technologist
and human resources professional were interviewed for use in the video. Target date for completion of this project is August 1, 2006.
“Opportunities: Your HCOP E-News” was designed and distributed electronically to approximately 125 individuals involved with
HCOP and/or CNYAHEC. A second issue is in the planning stages for distribution in August, 2006.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
Exploring the Health Professions is a teacher workshop designed to raise health care career awareness in junior and senior high school
students by engaging them in hands-on, health care related procedures through actively experiencing a variety of skills used by health
professionals. The workshop is delivered in a train-the-trainer model to Family and Consumer Science Teachers and other educators,
providing the participants with the curriculum and classroom toolkit. The program meets New York State Learning Standards.
The May 12 training program was attended by 16 participants from the following schools/organizations: Hudson River Healthcare,
Saugerties High School, Kingston High School, Middleburgh Central High School, Newburgh Free Academy, Pine Bush High
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School, Roxbury Central School, Capital Region BOCES, Dutchess BOCES, Questar III BOCES, ONC BOCES, and Ulster BOCES.
Participant evaluations show that the workshop was very well-received. There were 14 of 16 evaluations returned; 12 evaluations
rated all aspects of the workshop with 4s (the best rating) and the remaining two evaluations had mostly 4s and some 3s. Tentative
dates have been set for a workshop in November 2006.
Bronx Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
BWAHEC prepared a health education trunk for use in Pre-K through second grade classrooms. The trunk has materials to educate
students about health, health careers and stimulate interest in science and Mathematics. BWAHEC will explore opportunities for
collaborative implementation with both Lehman campus based school resources and others.
Hudson-Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
HM AHEC staff met with the Assistant Superintendent of the Questar III BOCES 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 COSERS (contract service agreements). This would enable HM AHEC programs to be listed in the BOCES
program catalog available to all schools in the BOCES district. As a result, schools would have the option to purchase HM AHEC
programs and services through BOCES. The Assistant Superintendent asked HM AHEC to return for Principals’ meetings to present
the HM AHEC Pipeline programs. HM AHEC presented pipeline programs to both the Elementary/Middle School Principals
meeting (six attendees) as well as at the High School Principals meeting (seven attendees).
In June, HM AHEC staff met with three WSWHE BOCES directors to introduce them to pipeline programs and discuss
collaborations ideas. WSWHE BOCES was most interested in the Summer Scholars programs and My Health Career. WSWHE
BOCES offered to assist with networking to guidance counselors and other administrative staff to promote HM AHEC’s pipeline
programs.
2c. Career fairs, sequenced school
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)
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
R-AHEC facilitated five different health career presentations as part of the Advantage Honeycomb After School Program located at
Perry Central School. Each presentation reached a total of over 80 students in grades K-6.
2c.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
ENAHEC Participated in the following events:
 National Public Health Week – UB, North Campus, April 4
 Niagara Community Center Health Fair – Niagara County, Niagara Community Center, May 26
 Native American Community Services Health Fair – Native American Services Center, Buffalo, May 31
 5th Annual Community Kids Day – First Niagara, Niagara Youth Bureau, Department of Social Services, Niagara Falls Boys &
Girls Club and the Police and Fire Department of Niagara Falls, Hyde Park, Niagara Falls, June 29
 Juneteenth Festival- Martin Luther King Park, Buffalo, June 17
Two MASH Camps were conducted:
 MASH Camp nursing tour at Erie County Medical Center, 20 students
 MASH Camp at Elmwood Health Center, 20 students
The Health Internship Program for Special Education students at Elmwood Health Center now has two students with mentors
provided by People Inc. ENAHEC is now meeting with Kaleida Health to establish sites for internships with them. ENAHEC held
two meetings with Buffalo Public Schools Special Education Committee to create and solidify health internships of 10 stakeholders
including People, Inc., and Supervisor David Mauricio, BPS.
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Classroom speaking occurred before and after each MASH Camp at the following schools: Harvey Austin Middle School, 40
students; East High School, 20 students; and Grover Cleveland High School, 20 students.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
NAHEC attended two career fairs as follows:
 Northern Adirondack Central School in Ellenburg Depot, May 19
 Hermon-Dekalb Central School in Dekalb Junction, May 16
Fourteen (14) high school students attended Brittany’s Knee at Clarkson University in Potsdam on April 8.
Two Camp Med programs were held as follows:
 Camp Med Strikes Back was held at St. Lawrence – Lewis BOCES Northwest Tech Center in Ogdensburg on June 26 – June 30,
10 students attended
 Camp Med 2006 was held at St. Lawrence – Lewis BOCES Seaway Tech Center in Norwood on June 26 – June 30, seven
students attended
Eleven (11) students participated in the Job Shadowing Program. Three students were placed at Lewis County General Hospital in
Lowville, one student was placed at Adirondack Physical Therapy and Sports in Plattsburgh, one student was placed at ClaxtonHepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg, one student was placed at EJ Noble Hospital in Gouverneur, one student was placed at Kids
Korner Pediatrics in Massena, one student was placed at The Women’s Clinic in Plattsburgh, and three students were placed at a
Kinney Drug store in either Massena, Ogdensburg, or Watertown.
The 14 students that participated in the Brittany’s Knee program completed a pre and post assessment. The students’ scores increased
from an average of 61.4% to 68.5%.
The 18 students that participated in the Camp Med program completed a pre and post assessment. The students’ scores increased
from an average of 80.7% to 86.9%
All students that participated in the Brittany’s Knee program are still enrolled in high school classes. One job shadowing student will
be participating in the 2006 Health Scholars program. One job shadowing student will be attending SUNY Brockport in the fall to
pursue a career in nursing. One student plans on pursuing her pre-med education starting in the fall 2006 semester. The remaining
job shadowing students are still enrolled in high school classes.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
CNYAHEC was asked to participate in a Community Action Project headed up by the Leadership Cortland Class of 2005-2006. The
goal of the project, which was held on April 25, was to ensure that youth have a full understanding of the opportunities that exist in
Cortland County upon graduation. Five school districts (Cincinnatus, Cortland, Homer, Marathon and McGraw) participated in the
event which attracted 400 students in grades 9-12. MASH, MedQuest and HealthWuest program materials were distributed.
Two New Visions programs (Auburn and Cortland) were contacted to discuss the idea of a “traveling” puppet presentation. 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 nicely while giving each student a chance to interact with individuals in their
communities. A training was held for the students at each of the facilities. Cortland students delivered five presentation reaching 86
kindergarten and first grade students. Auburn students reached 91 students. Presentations were also held at the E. John Gavras
Center reaching 25 pre-K students.
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Newark Valley, Franklin (Binghamton City) and Harpursville elementary schools completed their spring aka Science offering. The
project touched 286 students in 2005-2006.
The Onondaga schools project (Onondaga Road, Seymour, Split Rock and Tully) completed their spring aka Science offering. This
project touched 264 students.
CNYAHEC has partnered with the Equal Opportunity Program to offer aka Science in Chemung County. The spring aka Science
offering has been completed. This project touched 176 students in 2006.
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. Proctor High School in Utica
contacted Utica College and requested a program strictly for their students. The school offered to provide the transportation for the
students. The program was held May 11. Sixteen (16) students ranging in grades from 9 - 12 participated; five males and 11 females.
Fifteen (15) MASH Camps programs will be held in 2006. MASH Camp target students entering eighth and ninth grades. 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. Five camps were completed by the end of June. Cayuga Medical Center’s camp was held June 27-28 with 13 students
attending. Auburn Memorial Hospital held their camp on June 27-28 with 16 students attending, and St. Elizabeth held their camp on
June 28-29 and had 21 students attend.
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 and direct mailings for the residential camps began mid-March.
Planning is underway for the fourth New Visions Day to be held in October 2006 at the Radisson Hotel & 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.
A proposal was submitted to the NYS Association of Family and Consumer Science Educators to present a workshop at the NYS
Unified Family and Consumer Sciences State Conference on October 14 in Binghamton. The proposal was accepted.
CNYAHEC will participate in Cornell University’s Expanding Your Horizon’s conference scheduled for spring 2006. CNYAHEC
staff will conduct three breakout sessions utilizing activities from its Exploring the Health Professions curriculum.
Hudson-Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
HM AHEC attended a career fair at Berlin Cohoes Middle School on April 5 for seven classes, reaching158 students. Fifty (50)
Career Guides were handed out.
The following Great Hospital Adventure programs were held:
 Pre-K, Washington County Head Start, March 7, four classes, 126 students
 Pre-K, Washington County Head Start, March 15, one class, 42 students
 Pre-K, Washington County Head Start, March 20, one class, 13 students
 Pre-K, Washington County Head Start, March 22, two classes, 31 students
 Pre-K, Washington County Head Start, March 29, one class, 15 students
 Pre-K, Washington County Head Start, March 11, one class, 17 students
 Pre-K, YMCA of Saratoga, April 27, one class, 14 students
 Pre-K, YMCA of Saratoga, May 1, one class, 28 students
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Pre-K, YMCA of Saratoga, May 2, one class, 30 students
Pre-K, YMCA of Saratoga, May 3, two classes, 26 students
Pre-K, YMCA of Saratoga, May 4, two classes, 24 students
Pre-K, YMCA of Saratoga, May 5, two classes, 25 students
HM AHEC received and approved MASH Camp Mini-Grant applications from eight schools for a total of 12 MASH Camps to be
held from June- December. HM AHEC supplied all grantees with scrub shirts and supplies for each student and HM AHEC staff
attended the Fort Edward/Glens Falls Hospital MASH Camp.
The following MASH Camps were held:
 6th Grade, Fort Edward School/ Glens Falls Hospital, June 9, 17 students
 6th Grade, Fort Edward School/ Fort Hudson Nursing Home, June 10, 19 students
 8th Grade, St. Mary’s School/ Moses Ludington Hospital, June 1, seven students
HM AHEC received 50 Summer Scholar applications and will be placing eight Summer Scholars beginning July 3 for a six-week
placement. The Summer Scholars are being placed in hospitals from a cross-section of the HM AHEC region. HM AHEC will be
administering six sessions of the US Wired On-Line Soft Skills training that prepares each Summer Scholar for the workplace.
HM AHEC began customizing its website with a fall 2006 launch date planned. The entire staff attended an April 4 training session
with Northern AHEC (NAHEC) staff. HM AHEC is meeting with area hospitals/health care facilities to introduce My Health Career
and to enlist their support in developing the career models. HM AHEC staff attended a My Health Career presentation at Lake Placid
Middle School presented by NAHEC. HM AHEC featured My Health Career in the aforementioned Post Star Newspaper, Youth
Career insert which has already generated visitors to the HM AHEC My Health Career website.
HM AHEC 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, which
was mailed to over 22,000 teachers. Teacher Triage introduction sessions are planned for August 1 and August 2 with the entire
training being offered in later September/early October.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC attended the New York University School of Medicine 17 th Annual Health Career Conference fair on April 2. The fair
was co-sponsored by the New York University Black Student Science Organization. The Program Associate distributed brochures
and collected 10 names of interested students. Approximately 100 students attended the career fair. The students ranged from high
school freshman to sophomores in college. BQLI AHEC also participated in the Venture Scholars Annual Recognition day on May
19. This was the second time BQLI AHEC was invited to attend. The event was open to all boroughs. 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. This event brought together 100 high achieving high school students interested in math and science careers and their
families to help them learn first-hand about opportunities and resources to successfully pursue these career pathways. The Program
Coordinator tabled for the event and distributed 50 BQLI AHEC brochures and 50 New York State AHEC System brochures.
The Executive Director gave a presentation to MPH students at SUNY Downstate Medical Center on April 11. She met with Karen
Banker regarding collaboration with SUNY Downstate Medical Center and discussed having their MPH students act as mentors in
Health Careers for BQLI AHEC students on April 25. The Executive Director was offered a position to teach a course at SUNY
Downstate Medical Center on Immigrant Health on April 25.
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The New York College of Osteopathic Medicine program started. The Executive Director met at the New York Metropolitan Region
Office to discuss collaborating with the program. One medical student is volunteering with BQLI AHEC from the program. The
Executive Director is responsible for planning two didactic sessions for the program.
BQLI AHEC conducted two Medical Academy of Science and Health (MASH) Camps for 15 middle school students at Queens
Hospital Center with students from Intermediate School 109 in Queens. The first MASH Camp held on May 24 focused on
emergency medicine, radiology, patient services, oncology and labor and delivery, and neo-natal departments. During the second
MASH Camp, June 16, students visited the pathology laboratory, emergency medicine, physical therapy and radiology.
BQLI AHEC selected 35 students in Brooklyn and Queens and 30 students in Long Island for the Summer Health Internship Program
(SHIP). BQLI AHEC staff revised 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 three new preceptor sites for the SHIP 2006. The students will intern at the Brooklyn
and Staten Island Blood Center, Queens Hospital, Lutheran Hospital, Lifeforce, Women Fighting AIDS Task Force, Brownsville
Family Health Center, Lutheran Augustana Rehabilitation, and Wyckoff Hospital. The didactic sessions were renamed SHAPE
Sessions which stands for Shaping Health Aspirations through Preparation and Education. The new slogan is making students “SHIP
SHAPE.” BQLI AHEC also placed 35 students at the following Long Island hospitals: Winthrop Hospital, South Nassau Community
Hospital , Nassau University Medical Center, North Shore Long Island Healthcare Systems
BQLI AHEC provided a speaker for Maxwell High School Health Occupation Student of American Club on April 28. Iris Harvel, a
nurse, gave a presentation on her experiences in nursing.
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 staff provided an overview of AHEC at the Liberty Partnership Program meeting on April 26. BQLI AHEC will offer a
health career workshop to middle school students who attend the fall Liberty Partnership Program Saturday Learning Academy.
BQLI AHEC’s Peer Health Educator Program (P.H.E.P.) is in progress.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
The CHAHEC participated in the following career fairs:
 CDO Workforce Career Expo and Job Fair, CDO Workforce, SUNY Delhi, New York State VESID, New York State
Department of Labor, Otesaga Hotel, Cooperstown, April 11
 Lauren School District Career Fair, Lauren School District, Lauren, May 12
 Y2Kids Career Fair, Orange-Ulster BOCES, Stewart Airforce Base, Newburgh, May 19
 Wallkill High School Career Fair, Wallkill School District, Wallkill, May 3
One Speaker’s Bureau program was conducted on April 28 for the Mid-Hudson Library System – Health Information Project
Health Career Conference, Kingston Library, Kingston. A total of 59 middle school students and five mentors attended.
One Exploring Health Professions program was conducted, May 25-26 at the Ulster BOCES Exploring the Health Professions
Program, Kingston and Benedictine Hospitals, Kingston. A total of 35 middle school students, 10 New Visions students, 6
preceptors, and 50 health professionals attended.
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Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
Career fairs/camps:
 MSI AHEC co-sponsored and participated in the New York University School of Medicine’s Health Career Conference and
Recruitment Fair on April 1. Over 200 high school and college students participated in this conference.
 MSI AHEC participated in Annual Meeting of the Northeast Region of the National Association of Medical Minority Educators
Recruitment Fair on April 22. Approximately 100 students attended; approximately 40 spoke with MSI AHEC representative
and received career guides.
 MSI AHEC participated in the College of Staten Island Discovery Institute’s Education Unites Us Celebration on April 24.
Approximately 100 students and parents were in attendance.
 MSI AHEC participated in the Alternatives to the Military Career Fair sponsored by the Youth Activists- Youth Allies Network
on May 2. This event was held at the Local 1199 building and over 250 high school students were in attendance.
 MSI AHEC Program director served as a panelist in the health careers session at the Goddard Riverside Community Center’s
Career Day held on May 5. This event was held at Joan of Arc Middle School and approximately 100 high school students were
in attendance.
 MSI AHEC co-sponsored National Association of Hispanic Nurses scholarship fundraiser event on May 10.
 MSI AHEC Program Director led a health careers presentation to Curtis High School’s after school program on May 24. Forty
students were in attendance.
 MSI AHEC co-sponsored exhibit table along with BQLI AHEC at the New York City Board of Education Career and Technical
Education Health Careers Conference on June 8.
 MSI AHEC held its first MASH Camp at the Weill-Cornell Medical Center with 8 students from the Central Park East Middle
School on May 12, 2006. Students were in the 7 th and 8th grades.
Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP): MSI AHEC held interviews from April 17 to April 28. Students were interviewed at
both the MSI AHEC office and the Staten Island American Cancer Society. Over 75 students were interviewed for 30 SHIP slots.
SHIP students were selected and notified by May 1. SHIP orientation was held for participating students, parents, and preceptors on
June 29. Approximately 50 people were in attendance.
Mentor Connection: Mentor Connection’s End of the Year Ceremony was held on June 16 at the SUNY State College of Optometry.
Students displayed and presented their projects and awards were distributed. Approximately 50 people were in attendance including
students, mentors, parents, high school principal and teachers, and AHEC staff.
MSI AHEC Executive Director and Program Director attended the New York City Council Hospital Closing Task Force town hall
meeting on April 24. The Executive Director prepared and delivered testimony at this meeting. Approximately 150 people were
present. MSI AHEC was present at press conference held by the Save Our Safety-Net Campaign (SOS-C) held on May 18. Various
New York City officials were in attendance and provided testimonies. Approximately 75 people were in attendance.
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.
MSI AHEC had one student, who participated in the first SHIP, graduate with a Masters Degree. She has just been employed in a
social work position.
2d.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
Fifty (50) New York State AHEC System career guides were distributed to high school students participating in the University at
Buffalo Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP).
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
Erie Niagara AHEC distributed 100 career guides to students at Niagara Falls High School, Harvey Austin Middle School, Grover
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Cleveland High School, East High School, and D’Youville College.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
The statewide career guides are distributed at all career fairs, exhibits, and Job Skills Trainings (as described previously in sections 2a
and 2b). NAHEC presented to 655 students in 11 schools. Of these students 591 of them registered on the My Health Career
website during the guided registration.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC distributed a total of 155 career guides. BQLI AHEC gave career guides to all of the 65 participating Summer Health
Internship Program (SHIP) students. BQLI AHEC distributed 25 career guides to Canarsie High School in Brooklyn, five career
guides to students at the Ventures Scholars Career Fair, 25 career guides at Uniondale High School Career Day, five career guides at
the New York City Tech Prep Conference, and 30 career guides to middle school students from Intermediate School 109.
BQLI AHEC created and distributed 60 health career booklets to high school students at Uniondale High School entitled “Have you
considered a career in public health?” that highlighted the variety of public careers, workplace settings, and job duties.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
A total of 61 New York State AHEC System career guides were distributed to Monroe Community College, UHS Human Resources
Department, Harpursville Central School and Whitney Point Central School.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
Distribution of career information was provided through the My Health Career web-based program, linked to the CHAHEC website.
CHAHEC launched the My Health Career site on May 1, 2006 and 47 students/career seekers have visited this program. In addition,
CHAHEC promoted this site via 1,050 promotional packets of direct mailing to guidance counselors, school superintendents and
Workforce Investment Boards/NYS Department of Labor One Stops within its 11-county region. Special editions of the center
newsletter dedicated to My Health Career were mailed to 2,500 contacts and this web-based program was featured at four career fairs.
Hudson-Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
Fifty (50) New York State AHEC System career guides were distributed to Cohoes Middle School and 50 career guides were
distributed to the Albany County Nursing home for a Youth Career Awareness presentation for parents of 7 th graders.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
Ninety (90) New York State AHEC System career guides were distributed; 45 each to College Now Program for high school students
enrolled in the 2006 Summer Health Science Academy at Lehman College of the City University of New York, and to the Hispanic
Center of Excellence at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC distributed 40 health career guides at the Northeast Region of the National Association of Medical Minority Educators
Recruitment Fair; 30 health career guides at the New York University School of Medicine’s Health Career Conference and
Recruitment Fair; 15 health career guides at the College of Staten Island Discovery Institute’s Education Unites Us Celebration; 30
health career guides at the Youth Activists-Youth Allies Alternative to the Military Career Fair; 10 health career guides at the
Goddard Riverside Community Center’s Career Day; and nine career guides at the MASH Camp at the Weill-Cornell Medical Center.
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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.
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:
 Claxton Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg (three attendees)
 Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam (three attendees)
 Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone (18 attendees)
 Massena Memorial Hospital in Massena (three attendees)
 Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville (four attendees)
 Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake (three attendees)
 United Helpers in Ogdensburg seven attendees).
 Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown (four attendees).
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
CNYAHEC staff met with Hospital CEOs at Oswego Health and A.L. Lee Memorial as well as the Executive Director of the Pulaski
Community Health Center and the Director of Public Health in Oswego County to discuss health workforce needs specifically around
high demand positions at each one of their facilities. The information was used as part of the career ladder project CNYAHEC had
been contracted to develop in the region.
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.
BQLI AHEC is a member of the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership. The Executive Director gave a presentation about the partnership and
BQLI AHEC nursing pipeline initiatives on June 16.
3b. Work with public health
departments in the development of
regional needs assessments
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
BW AHEC met with Bronx Psychiatric Hospital Center (BPHC) administrative and clinical care staff and discussed BPHC interest in
advancing workforce development collaborations such as re-training and advanced studies for job progression and retention of
selected hospital center staff.
3b.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
BW AHEC recruited regional representatives from the New York City Department of Health District Health Office and the
Westchester County Board of Health to serve on the Board of Directors.
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3c. Collaborate with community,
business, government, civic, rural
health networks, workforce
investment boards, academic
institutions, health care leaders and
others on health workforce issues.
3c.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Director for Nursing consulted in writing a grant with the Community Health Foundation and CNYAHEC in response to a Robert
Wood Johnson Foundation Partners in Health RFP.
The Director of Nursing is developing an analysis plan for the as yet unreleased 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses
data for New York State. Once the data is available, a regional analysis will be prepared by the Director of Nursing, Director for
Evaluation, and the University at Buffalo, Department of Family Medicine statistician. This report will be an update to the 2002
report based on 2000 data.
The New York State AHEC System joined with the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS, New
York’s Primary Care Association) and Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) to launch “Primary Care: New York’s
Healthcare Home.” Central to the initiative is “Laying the Foundation: Health System Reform in New York State and the Primary
Care Imperative,” a policy paper prepared by Sara Rosenbaum, JD, and colleagues from The George Washington University School
of Public Health and Health Services. This report (prepared with support from CHCANYS, PCDC and the New York State AHEC
System) addresses the importance of strengthening and expanding New York State’s primary care foundation to reduce health care
costs, improve health outcomes, and reduce health disparities. The paper provides 1) an introduction to primary care as the
foundation of health system reform, 2) an overview of the crucial functions, key components and promising models in primary care,
3) specific issues to New York State, and 4) an agenda for reform.
As a result of this partnership, a coalition of health care leaders, advocacy organizations, elected officials, community health centers
and other primary care providers and networks, hospitals, community affiliated health plans, and others have come together around
this issue. This coalition is emerging as an important force in bringing attention to the major message: that a deliberate focus on
primary and preventive care is necessary to improve the health care system in New York State.
The “Laying the Foundation: Health System Reform in New York State and the Primary Care Imperative,” can be accessed on the
New York State AHEC System website, www.ahec.buffalo.edu.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
EN AHEC continued to work in conjunction with Parent Network, Buffalo Public School’s Special Education division, Grover
Cleveland, People Inc., Elmwood Health Center to create an internship in the health sector for Special Education students from
Grover Cleveland High School.
EN AHEC Executive Director is now the Chair of the Health Literary Collaborative part of a city wide literacy effort lead by a group
called Good Schools for All. It is our objective to bring focus to the issue of health literacy specifically.
The LifeBeat ‘Challenge Yourself’ Spring Break Summit was held at East High School on April 20 and featured The Three Doctors
and Sister Souljah, nationally recognized motivational speakers and NY Times best-selling authors. An estimated 1000 people
attended this event which well publicized and received in the community. The Superintendent of Buffalo Public Schools was present,
and the EN AHEC was able to position the organization as involved, interested and aware of the challenges that students face. The
speakers helped place a positive outlook on what are some challenges that student must overcome to succeed in school, health
professions, and life.
The Taskforce is a collaboration of community based organizations and hospital systems and insurance providers serving the Eastside
Buffalo community. Current projects include working on two subcommittees concerned with Improving Primary Care and another on
joining with the Westside Buffalo to put in place one taskforce serving both the Eastside and Westside. The combined taskforce will
21
address health disparities faced by African Americans, and the health disparities faced by Hispanics, a very important move for this
community. EN AHEC Executive Director is a member of the planning committee and meeting are held at the EN AHEC office.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
NAHEC has formed a partnership with the following partners to develop a Workforce Development System in Jefferson and Lewis
counties:
 Jefferson-Lewis Workforce Investment Board
 Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
 Northern New York Community Foundation
 Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization
 Jefferson County Job Development Corporation
NAHEC has also formed a partnership with the North Country Workforce Investment Board (WIB) to develop a Workforce
Development System in the North Country WIB region.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
Due to its success in developing a health care career ladder focusing on high demand jobs in Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, Chenango,
Delaware and Otsego counties, CNYAHEC has been contracted again by the WorkKeys Center of Syracuse University for a similar
project in Oswego County. Success of the project will require CNYAHEC staff to connect with health care employers and
educational institutions in the region to identify demand professions as well as educational programs that can prepare employees. The
project is slated for completion in August 2006.
One major factor in originally securing Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding for Health Career
Opportunity Program (HCOP) is CNYAHEC’s collaboration with academic institutions and health care leaders. Along with
CNYAHEC, ten 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. With the elimination of HCOP funds, all
partners are continuing to work together to secure alternative funding sources to continue the program. All partners have committed
significant in-kind support to CNYAHEC’s grant submission to the Appalachian Regional Commission for funds to expand HCOP.
CNYAHEC continues to collaborate with the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (CHFWCNY) and
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to identify solutions to the nursing shortage. A meeting of the Nurse Leadership Consortium was held
on June 27. The focus of the meeting was to determine the future of the consortium given the unsuccessful grant proposal to Robert
Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation. As a result of the Regional Nurse Leader Consortium meeting held on June 27, the CNYAHEC
and the CHFWCNY are issuing a second survey to nurse leaders in the region. Attendees at the June meeting agreed that another
survey will help to clarify and direct future efforts of the Regional Nurse Leader Consortium and whether to reapply to the RWJ.
CNYAHEC’s executive director has been elected to serve as a board member of the Chenango Rural Health Network. Ms. Borfitz
communicates on a regular basis with other Rural Health Network directors in the region. CNYAHEC provides staffing services to
the New York State Association for Rural Health and as such has regular communication with RHN directors from across the state.
Eastern Region Office:
Data supplied to outside organizations:
 Map of hospitals located in rural New York State for the NYS DOH Office of Rural Health as part of its testimony before the
22


Commission on Health Care Facilities for the 21st Century.
Health and socio-demographic data for Assemblyman Joseph Giglio of the 149th NYS Assembly District.
Primary care, socio-demographic and health disparities data for Brian Smedley of the Opportunity Agenda, a partner organization
with the Institute for Urban Family Health.
Data provided to New York State AHEC System:
 A ZIP code based primary care needs analysis including regional maps and tables, for the Primary Care Coalition (Primary Care
Development Corporation, the Community Health Care Association of New York State, and the New York State AHEC System).
 A list of family medicine preceptors in HPSAs and MUAs, for Upstate Medical Center.
Specialized data or maps provided to the New York State AHEC System
 A master list of RNs with addresses drawn from the SED licensure file of 2002 (the last year street level data were provided to
the public) in connection with the Catskill Hudson AHEC nursing summit to be held in August.
Meetings with strategic partners:
 Presented AHEC Tools and the AHEC Data Warehouse at a workshop at the National AHEC Organization Conference in
Omaha, NE. As a result of that presentation, exploratory talks are under way to pilot a national AHEC Tools model in Kentucky,
Arizona and California.
 Substituted for the Eastern Regional Office Medical School liaison, on a panel on National Primary Care Week at the National
AHEC Organization Conference in Omaha, NE.
 Presented AHEC Tools and the AHEC Data Warehouse to the New York State Association of Health Providers, which is
interested in subscribing to the Data Warehouse well as purchasing customized mapping and data products from the AHEC Data
Resource Center.
 Met with the Director of the Office of Biometrics at the New York State Department of Health, to demonstrate the work of the
AHEC Data Resource Center and to discuss the access of ZIP code perinatal data.
 Presented AHEC Tools and the AHEC Data Warehouse to Policy Research Associates in Delmar, NY.
 Met with the Director of Policy at Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) to discuss the resources
of the New York State AHEC System Data Resource Center ways in which CHCANYS and the community health centers might
avail themselves of those resources.
Hudson Mohawk (HM AHEC)
The Executive Director met with the Chief Operating Officer of Hometown Health Center on April 13 to discuss workforce issues at
this community health center. Another meeting was held on that same day with staff from Fulton County Community College. The
Executive Director held an Industry Day at the Hudson Headwaters Health Network outpatient clinic in Warrensburg on May 18. The
HM AHEC held its annual meeting on April 26 in Saratoga Springs.
The Executive Director of HM AHEC has a seat on the Adirondack Rural Health Network’s Steering Committee, which held its
meeting on June 19. The two organizations continue their collaboration on the nyemtinfo.com website and will plan a fall training to
mental health providers.
A video conference session was downloaded from the Centers for Disease Control to the HM AHEC conference room. The session
was titled “Social Networks: A Recruitment Strategy for HIV counseling, Testing and Referral Services on April 27, 2006. There
was one attendee from an Essex County hospital.
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Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC continues to hold a seat on the Advisory Board of Mid-Hudson Rural Integrated Delivery System. Although the May 2006
board meeting was cancelled, there is continuous dialogue between the Network affiliates, namely Mid-Hudson Family Health
Institute, Ellenville Regional Hospital and Kingston Hospital. CHAHEC is working with Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute to
develop and implement a patient-centered service program, educating staff on the importance of patient satisfaction and providing
training in the areas of customer services, work ethic, conflict resolution, communication and cultural/disabilities sensitivity. This
collaboration is a beta-test of a future sustainability product for CHAHEC.
CHAHEC continues to contract with Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute for the shared services of its Executive Director and
support staff.
CHAHEC continues to be the host of the bi-monthly meetings of the Mid-Hudson Rural Integrated Delivery System network,
providing continuous promotion of the organization’s existence.
CHAHEC’s Executive Director is a member of the Rural Health Council and participated in sub-committee activities of the Council.
Most recently, participating has been on the sub-committee to address the Council’s concerns with the Commission on Health Care
Facilities in the 21st Century.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
New York Metropolitan Region Office and Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC co-sponsored a meeting on Collaboration for Downstate
Health Professional Schools to Increase Minority Recruitment and Retention on June 9. A follow-up meeting will be held on July 25.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
The BW AHEC supported the development of the Master of Public Health Program at Lehman College of the City University of New
York (enrollment commenced spring 2006).
Funding and health careers information was provided to the College Now Program of the School/College Collaborative Center at
Lehman College. The grant enabled the College Now program to offer a regionally accessible Summer Health Science Academy
which served students in both Westchester and Bronx counties.
The BW AHEC executive director attended the April 2006 annual meeting of the National Association of Minority Medical Educators
held in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The BW AHEC staff distributed BW AHEC brochures and attended conference sessions and workshops during the Health Disparities
Symposium sponsored by the Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center held at the New York College of Medicine (May 2006).
The BW AHEC Board of Directors has increased representation among its membership from public health care provider institutions
and health care organizations serving Westchester County.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC staff participate in the Health Careers Advisory Commission, Advisory Council for Career and Technical Education in
the New York City Department of Education. BQLI AHEC co-sponsored a conference on health careers in conjunction with the New
York City Department of Education Health Careers Commission. The conference was held on June 8 th at the New York City College
of Technology. The one-day educational program provided an opportunity for health career teachers and professionals to network
and share their view and experiences on health careers today and in the future. The conference was attended by 60 health career
24
teachers in the New York City public schools and other individuals involved in working with students around the issue of health
careers. The program was approved for six credits of contact hours. BQLI AHEC tabled at the event and distributed brochures and
four career guides. BQLI AHEC managed the registration for the event.
BQLI AHEC is collaborating with the Tech Prep Consortium, which has a goal 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 preparation for high school students
from underserved areas. BQLI AHEC will refer students to the Tech Prep Program. The Program Coordinator attended one Tech
Prep meeting at Kingsborough Community College on June 1. BQLI AHEC participated in the New York Area Tech Prep
Consortium Conference at Queens Borough Community College on May 12. The conference theme was “Tech Prep and CTE
Working together” and featured break out sessions on planning career days, integrating technology into the classroom, and setting up
distance learning classrooms. BQLI AHEC staff conducted a workshop that provided an overview of AHEC services and programs.
The presentation was attended by 20 teachers from Clara Barton High School, John Adams High School, New Utrecht High School,
Townsend High School and Harris High School. The evaluations by the attendees indicated that they learned a lot and plan to
collaborate with BQLI AHEC in the fall. The BQLI AHEC Program Coordinator led a breakout session highlighting the BQLI
AHEC’s Speaker’s Bureau and Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP).
BQLI AHEC collaborates with the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership, an organization initiated by the Brooklyn Borough President to
look at nursing staffing issues in the borough. BQLI AHEC helped plan a Nursing Symposium in June to address workforce shortage
of nursing faculty in Brooklyn and ways to enhance pipeline programs. The Nursing Symposium allowed 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 borough-wide initiatives to increase the number of minority youth, especially African American
males, interested in nursing careers. The Brooklyn Nursing Partnership will provide speakers for the SHIP. BQLI AHEC is working
with this organization to create a “Lunch and Learn” series with local nursing staff and minority students interested nursing careers.
BQLI AHEC staff had three meetings with the African American Health Education and Development (AHEAD) Foundation in Long
Island. 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 in Long Island.
The BQLI AHEC Executive Director attended the United Way of New York Board recruitment event to find potential new board
members on June 7.
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 Executive Director attended at meeting on April 19.
The Community Partnership to Increase Diversity in the Health Professions is planning to hold a forum on September 27th at
Brooklyn Borough Hall. The purpose of the event is to inform various Brooklyn communities about the need to increase minority
representation in the health professions while linking the issue to the elimination of our nation’s battle with health disparities. The
BQLI AHEC Executive Director is the co-chair of the group’s advisory sub-committee, and will help facilitate the development of the
forum’s program and execution of the group’s proposed outreach model.
BQLI AHEC staff has made presentations at several conferences highlighting the need for diversity in the health professions. BQLI
AHEC together with Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC staff presented a workshop, at the National AHEC Organization conference,
25
“New York Pipeline: Health Professions Exposure for Urban Youth.” The Executive Director presented at the Brooklyn Nursing
Symposium about the need for diversity in nursing. BQLI AHEC staff attended a seminar on cultural competency at the Health
Careers Today and Tomorrow Conference.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
3c.
The MSI AHEC Executive Director attended the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century meeting in Rochester
followed by an orientation meeting with community leaders of Rochester who were interested in working on this issue, annual
meeting for the Commission on the Public’s Health System, and the annual meeting of the Public Health Association of New York.
MSI AHEC presented at a New York State Council on Graduate Medical Education Subcommittee on Minority Participation Medical
Education meeting on May 16, 2006.
MSI AHEC Executive Director presented AHEC mission, program and activities to members of Community Board #3, representing
the Lower East Side.
MSI AHEC collaborated with the Fund for the City of New York, Columbia University, the Institute for Medical Mentoring, and Full
Circle of Health to form a pipeline programming collective.
3d. Work with local government
and community health providers
regarding HPSA status
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.
MSI AHEC led collaboration with the Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island and Bronx-Westchester AHECs in development and
presentation of a workshop at the NAO Conference on June 10, 2006. The workshop was well attended and material was very well
received. The MSI AHEC Board of Directors initiated the establishment of a Health Profession School Consortium. The first meeting
was June 9th where the discussion focused on the need to collaborate between the schools and the MSI AHEC in order to increase
diversity in the health professions programs. A follow up to the first meeting was the creation of a workgroup, whose first project is
to conduct an inventory of pipeline programs targeting public high school students.
3d.
3e.
Eastern Region Office:
The following files were updated or added as new data sources to the Data Warehouse:
 County population estimates for 2005
 List of Health Centers Cluster Sites and FQHCs
 Statewide HPSA maps
 Updated SED Licensure File 2006
 Updated list of all public and non-public schools, with contact information, 2006
 Regional HPSA maps 2006
 New York State Primary Care Needs Analysis: A Report from the AHEC Data Resource Center
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
New York State AHEC System Data Resource Center.
Discussions with the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) have resulted in their providing the Data Resource Center with
26
county as well as AHEC-region level health workforce trend data. This is a large step forward in getting a more accurate picture of
health workforce trends in AHEC regions. Prior to the receipt of the data the New York State AHEC System has relied on data that
have been compiled by DOL regions, not AHEC regions. The data are being prepared by the Data Resource Center for dissemination
to the New York State AHEC System within the next month.
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.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Director of Nursing developed a concept paper for a preceptor/internship training program provided to all the AHECs as a basis
for CE development of grant proposals.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The health communications campaign continued to target the underserved and underinsured residents in Erie and Niagara counties.
This campaign which is divided into two phases is called a ‘New LifeBeat’ concept, 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. The objective is
to challenge to enhance the quality of life by motivating them to take charge of their own health and health care in the year ahead.
The campaign is being used to help recruit young adults, directly and through their parents, grandparents and guardian to enter the
health are field as medical professionals, researchers and providers. Phase One is a grassroots media campaign targeted to adult
males, working mothers, families, seniors, adolescent males and females. Core messages are: Challenge Yourself, and Do Something
New and Honor Traditions. Key objectives are to 1) spark a grassroots movement to improve self-management and prevention of key
chronic diseases through incremental lifestyles changes and to empower health care consumers, and 2) raise awareness of the need for
increased cultural competency in the delivery of health care as it 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: 1) Role Model
Call - presentations from local medical and health care professionals and providers who represent the targeted communities, 2) a panel
discussion on Race, Stress, Chronic Disease and Cultural Competency; 3) Cooking Demonstrations, Recipe Swap and Shopping Tips,
3) 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. A mini
advertising campaign introduced this concept to the public; media outlets that primarily reach he underserved populations, include
print, and radio, in addition to the EN AHEC website.
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:
 April 5, Staying Healthy Overtime: A Workshop for Improving Physical Performance and Preventing Injury, 36 attendees.
 April 26, Understanding Comfort Care, 28 attendees.
 May 3, Nutrition for Older Adults, 35 attendees.
27
CNYAHEC Program Coordinator met with Barbara Black, SUNY Upstate’s College of Nursing, who has coordinated the past Nurse
CE offerings to address areas of concern, more specifically strategies to increase enrollment at each facility. It was decided to forgo
the spring series and instead survey hospitals to better understand their needs. A brief survey was developed to assess the level of
interest in Nurse CE offerings and topics of interest. Twenty-two facilities were sent the survey and 15 returned them. Twelve
responded that they would be very interested in regional continuing education offers. Meetings will be held during the summer
months to plan for fall.
Emergency Department Nurses Certification Review and Update Course, 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 was held on April 27 in
conjunction with SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Nursing, The Institute for Continuing Education and University
Hospital Emergency Department. Eight-nine professionals attended the program.
The Western New York Rural AHEC (R-AHEC) continues to contract with CNYAHEC to mentor students from the central New
York area whose education is being financed by the R-AHEC Workforce Retraining Initiative. Currently CNYAHEC is working with
four LPN students and three RN students. Staff also generated 31 applicants from the region at the request of R-AHEC.
CNYAHEAC completed the pilot project for its Online In-service Training Program in April and began marketing the new product in
June. The name is Inservice Solutions. Four of the six pilot sites have signed contracts to use Inservice Solutions. A regional
marketing strategy and pricing structure was developed to begin promotion to other provider organizations in the CNYAHEC’s 14
county region.
Hudson Mohawk (HM AHEC)
Niskayuna Fire Department held an Advanced Medical Life Support Course on April 19 and April 20 with a total of 27 participants
completing the course.
The nyemtinfo.com website has over 500 registered users since its launch nearly one year ago. This site provides a resource directory
of local continuing education sessions for emergency medical service providers.
Arrangements between Hudson Mohawk AHEC and the Resource Center, Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center in Cohoes, New York and
Adirondack Community College in Queensbury New York will offer a course for caretakers of people with Alzheimer’s disease in
August. There will be two locations: Adirondack Community College and Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center. The title of the program
is Alzheimer’s Disease: Tools to Care for Your Patients.
The first profession catalog for emergency service providers has been completed via the nyemtinfo.com website. Discussions are
underway through the Adirondack Rural Health Network’s EMT Workgroup on expansion activities for the website. The second
profession catalog will be determined by December 31 based on primary qualitative data collection from onsite visits with health care
institution staff.
The Executive Director met with the Indian Lake video conferencing site regarding their long range plans for membership with their
current vendor.
The Indian Lake site reported: seven different video conferencing sessions from April 5 – May 10, with most sessions attended by one
participant. The Elizabethtown Hospital site reported six different video conferencing sessions on various topics between April 29
and June 30. National Kidney Foundation reported a Medical Advisory Board meeting with 25 participants and a videoconference
from the Department of Health with ten participants. Albany College of Pharmacy used the equipment for a Bioterrorism
28
Preparedness Update on April 29. The HM AHEC site reported 1 video conferencing session on April 27 on Recruitment Strategy for
HIV Counseling for 2 hours with 1 participant. The HM AHEC conference room is small and alternate locations in the Glens Falls
area will be investigated for the video conferencing equipment.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
Continuing education programs included:
 May 7, Bassett Healthcare Dialysis Nurse Teaching Day, 107 participants, 8.1 CE hours
 Various dates between February 2 to July 11, The Kingston Hospital Critical Care Conference, 44 participants, 40 CE hours
In collaboration with Ulster BOCES and The Kingston Hospital, CHAHEC arranged for the video taping of The Kingston Hospital
Critical Care Conference, which produced 23 DVD’s. These DVDs are maintained in the CHAHEC video library and are being
promoted for rental by health care organizations.
New York Metropolitan Region Office
The New York Metropolitan Region Office offers continuing education programs in faculty development, diversity, leadership, and
general management/staff training, as detailed below.
Faculty Development Programs (April, May and June)
 Working with Domestic Violence in a Primary Care Setting, 9 participants
 Family Systems Therapy within Family Medicine, 13 participants
Leadership Academy
 April 6, Situational Leadership, Institute for Urban Family Health, 10 participants
Student Trainings
 June 2, ECHO Orientation, 24 participants
 June 30, Racial Disparities, 16 participants
Grand Rounds (Beth Israel Department of Family Medicine)
 April 7, Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Care, 14 participants
 April 14, OB Board Review, 14 participants
 April 21, Evidence-Based Approaches to Osteoporosis, 16 participants
 April 28, Legal Health, Bringing Advocacy to Your Practice, 13 participants
 May 3, Overview of Stroke Management, 18 participants
 May 10, Practical Consideration for Antipsychotic Medication, 23 participants
 May 19, Risk Management, 16 participants
 May 26, In-Patient Management of Asthma and COPD, 11 participants
 June 2, Addiction Psychiatry for the Non-Psychiatrist, 21 participants
 June 9, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, 21 participants
 June 23, Insider’s Guide to Vertigo, 13 participants
Electronic Health Record Trainings (Note: January—April trainings not reported previously are also listed.)
 January 10, PSR Training, 5 participants
 February 10, PSR Training, 4 participants
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March 10, PSR Training, 3 participants
March 24, LMRP Training, all sites participated
April 3, School Based Training, 4 participants
April 5, Phillips LPMR Training, 20 participants
May 10, PSR Training, 4 participants
June 10, PSR Training, 3 participants
June 20, Phillips PGY1 Training, 12 participants
June 20, St. Christopher Training, 2 participants
June 21, St. Christopher Training, 1 participant
Diversity Trainings
 May 25, Diversity Phase II: As Simple as Respect, 19 participants
Cultural Competency Trainings
 May 4, Cultural Competency, 22 participants
 May 5, Cultural Competency, 10 participants
 May 18, Cultural Competency, 19 participants
 May 28, Cultural Competency, 22 participants
The participants from the above trainings were from the following institutions: Institute for Urban Family Health, Walton Family
Health Center, Parkchester Family Practice, Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York College of
Osteopathic Medicine, Jacobi Hospital, Lutheran-Brooklyn Hospital, New Jersey-Clifton Family Practice, Lutheran Family Physician
Center, Lehman College, Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center and Meadowview Psychiatric Hospital.
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 New York Metropolitan Region Office Medical Director, Neil Calman, MD, presented in a webcast for the National Association
for Public Health Information Technology (NAPHIT) on April 19. Dr. Calman discussed the integration of the Institute for Urban
Family Health electronic health record system (HER) with the New York City Department of Health and strategies for health centers
to contribute to protecting the health of the public. There were 60 participants, including Public Health Department CIOs, directors of
IT and members of NAPHIT.
4b.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
The CNYAHEC Executive Director presented at a meeting on June 19 facilitated by the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) of
Oswego County. The meeting was designed to provide an overview of the work CNYAHEC and the WorkKeys Center of Syracuse
University developing health career ladders focusing specifically on high demand jobs and corresponding educational programs in
Oswego County. The meeting was attended by 15 health care leaders in the community. The ladders are being refined and a full
report will be presented to a larger community group on August 23.
CNYAHEC Executive Director met with the executive directors of Chenango Delaware Otsego WIB and the Broome Tioga WIB on
to discuss how the AHEC and WIBs can work together to increase the supply of health professionals in the Southern Tier region of
New York. Both WIBs have agreed to support CNYAHEC’s Partners in Pathways: Building Tomorrow’s Health Care Workforce
Together proposal and as such drafted letters of support, of their Appalachian Regional Commission grant proposal.
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The EN AHEC has acquired myhealthcareer web program to be introduced directly into the schools, to provide the students with
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more access to health careers information and the Erie Niagara AHEC with greater access to the students.
The EN AHEC is developing a collaboration with Buffalo State College to explore the possibility of a pre med program at Buffalo
State College. A Robert Woods Johnson Grant submission is being prepared to develop a Bridge Services Training Program, a
workforce development training program for existing employees. Bridge Service are patient services, like Medical Interpreter, Health
Educators, etc, that are designed to bridge the gap between the hospitals, clinics and patients; Buffalo State is the site for the training.
Other partners include Buffalo Perinatal and the Community Health Center.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
A member item resubmission to support Northern New York Healthcare Education Consortium (NNYHEC) pathways is in progress.
An occupational profile report for Certified Nurse Aides was created and submitted to both Alice Hyde Nursing Home in Malone and
Franklin County Nursing Home in Malone. Currently NAHEC is pursuing a partnership with Jefferson-Lewis BOCES in Watertown
to start an ACT center.
NAHEC submitted requests for proposals to both the North Country Workforce Investment Board and the Jefferson-Lewis Workforce
Investment Board to create a workforce development software system in each region. NAHEC was granted both contracts for a total
of $62,000.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
CHAHEC has promoted the My Health Career program to all Workforce Investment Board (WIB)/New York State Department of
Labor One Stops throughout its 11-county region though direct mailing of promotional materials and follow-up phone calls. Posters,
mouse pads and brochures are displayed at the various WIB career centers and computer banks.
CHAHEC continues its collaboration with the SUNY New Patlz/New York College of Osteopathic Medicine BS/DO Accelerated
Degree Program. At the end of June, 45 students matriculated in the program.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
BB AHEC met with Bronx Psychiatric Hospital Center (BPHC) administrative and clinical care staff and discussed BPHC interest in
advancing workforce development collaborations such as re-training, career development, and advanced studies for job progression
and retention of selected hospital center staff.
The BW AHEC newly elected Board chair serves as departmental chair of the School of Nursing of Lehman College of the City
University of New York, and is a national leader in promoting nursing professions careers, advocating for quality health care, and
addressing health care disparities issues. She also serves as departmental chair of the School of Nursing of Lehman College of the
City University of New York.
The relocation of the BW AHEC offices to the campus of Lehman College of the City University of New York will advance its goal
to strengthen collaborative efforts with partnering academic institutions. The BW AHEC will also collaborate and look to crossfertilize activities of the Summer internship program and the Serrano Leadership Development Institute operating under the direction
of the new Executive Director of the BW AHEC.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC continued to work with Long Island University’s (LIU) initiative to increase the number of minority students who pass
the nursing licensure program.
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BQLI AHEC began a collaboration with Queens Village Junior High 109, a middle school in Queens that has a pre-nursing program
for seventh and eighth graders. BQLI AHEC conducted a MASH Camp with Junior High 109 on May 24 and June 16.
The BQLI AHEC Executive Director is an active member of the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership, an organization initiated by the
Brooklyn Borough President to look at nursing workforce issues 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
attended two meetings with the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership and assisted in planning borough-wide initiatives to increase the
number of young people interested in nursing. Several members of the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership have joined the BQLI AHEC
Speaker’s Bureau. One of the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership members will participate on a Nursing Panel for the Summer Health
Internship Program (SHIP) on July 24. BQLI is also collaborating with the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership on a new program called
“Lunch and Learn,” which will afford students an opportunity to eat lunch with nursing professionals and learn about their career.
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Project Objective
The Executive Director also made a presentation at the Brooklyn Nursing Partnership Symposium entitled “Robo Nurse” which
highlighted the need for diversity within the nursing profession.
The BQLI AHEC Executive Director was the keynote speaker at LaGuardia Community College practical nursing graduation
ceremony on April 6.
The Advisory Committee meeting for LaGuardia Practical Nursing Program met on June 4. The Executive Director is an
Advisory Board member.
The Executive Director spoke at Intermediate School 109 pre-nursing Graduation Ceremony on June 15.
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
State AHEC System and
other state agencies, state
programs and community
resources; and
5a.
The New York State AHEC System Statewide Office is conducting a survey of the New York State AHEC System Advisory Board to
assess members' perceptions regarding the extent to which the Advisory Board has been able to address its mandated goals. Survey
results will be summarized in August and presented at the September Advisory Board meeting in Albany.
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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.
5b.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Spring 2006 issue of the New York State AHEC System Newsletter “AHEC Update” was produced in May. The newsletter
included information about the AHEC reception in Albany, BQLI AHEC “Connecting Doctors of Tomorrow with Doctors of Today”
program, CHAHEC ONC BOCES service award, national Health Information Technology Leadership Award to Dr. Neil Calman,
New York State AHEC System Advisory Board meeting on “Retaining Minorities in Health Professions Education Programs,”
CNYAHEC’s health career ladders, R-AHEC’s rural physician assistant placements, rural medical education, and NAHEC’s health
career readiness. 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 celebrated Nurses Week with the release of the winning and honorable mention essays for its
statewide Nursing Essay Contest that celebrates the intriguing and poignant stories nurses can tell. Fifty (5) nurses and students
shared stories about that special patient, the joys of the profession, or recalled why they made the decision to be a nurse. The essays
were submitted to each of the nine AHECs; these essays were blind reviewed by the New York State AHEC System Nursing Council
to select the winner. The Nursing Council established this year has a nurse member from each AHEC and provides input into
statewide nursing issues. The New York State Nurses Association assisted in publicizing the nurse essay contest. They put the
contest on their website, and announced the winners.
The winning essay is posted on the AHEC website at www.ahec.buffalo.edu (copy enclosed with the report). The winner, Deb
Wambold, has been a patient care technician for 11 years at Highland Hospital in Rochester, NY (Western New York Rural AHEC
region). She will receive an Associate Degree in nursing from Monroe Community Hospital as a RN in spring 2007.
The honorable mention essay, also posted on the AHEC website (copy enclosed with the report), is by Luci VonDauber. She won the
Central New York AHEC essay prize. She currently works at Mohawk Valley Nursing home and is a student at Mohawk Valley
Community College. She wants to be a Registered Nurse because she sees so much she can do to make a difference.
Other regional winners include: Karen Doering from the Hudson-Mohawk AHEC region, Yen Dibble from the Northern AHEC
region, Jamie Wegner from the Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC region, and Caroline Ortiz from the Bronx-Westchester AHEC
region.
Representatives of the New York State AHEC System Statewide Office led workshops at the National AHEC Organization
conference in Omaha in early June.
 Evaluating the Impacts of the AHEC Pipeline Programs (Linda Kahn, PhD, Evaluation Director, and Mary Sienkiewicz, MBA,
Associate Director, New York State AHEC System; and Kenneth Oakley, PhD, CEO, Western New York Rural AHEC)
 Primary Care Week: How Medical Schools Promote the AHEC Mission (Thomas Rosenthal, MD, Director, New York State
AHEC System; Peter Beatty, PhD, Director, Central Region Office; Steven Schreiber, PhD, Director, Eastern Region Office; and
Bruce Gould, MD, Director, Connecticut AHEC System)
A poster session by Andrea Nikischer, MS, Project Manager, and Mary Sienkiewicz, MBA, Associate Director, both with the New
York State AHEC System; and Joanne Borfitz, Executive Director, Central New York AHEC, “Advocacy: Building a Foundation for
Success” was also featured.
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WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
The R-AHEC Regional Coordinator, Dave Prete, attended the NAO Conference in Omaha, NE from June 11-14 to give a presentation
to other AHEC representatives from across the country focusing on best practices and marketing strategies for assembling MedQuest
Camps. This presentation was facilitated collaboratively with staff from the CNYAHEC as well as Dr. Thomas LaCroix from Ontario,
Canada. His presentation included a sample activity that is used at camps by the CNYAHEC. A total of 32 participants attended this
two- hour long presentation.
50 copies of the New York State AHEC System newsletter were distributed. R-AHEC programs were featured in:
 Check Presentation, Genesee Valley Penny Saver, April 23, 2006
 Wyoming County Mental Health Public Hearing, Warsaw Penny Saver, April 30, 2006
 Genesee County Business/Education Alliance Annual Breakfast Meeting
Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
Speakers’ bureau presentations were featured at the Race & Equality Conference, Buffalo Museum of Science, attended by 250
individuals. Television and Radio Programs used to promote EN AHEC programs include:
 April 7, WUFO Radio, Ted Kirkland Show
 April 12, WUFO, Dr. William Holley Show
 April 26, Adelphia Cable TV – Target Success (BOCES)
The EN AHEC web site has been redesigned to reflect the LifeBeat concept as well as make it easier to use. Information about
upcoming programs and scholarship links has been added.
Twenty (20) copies of the New York State AHEC System newsletter were distributed.
The Buffalo News included two articles about the EN AHEC Spring Break Summit.
 April 19, Three Doctors hope to inspire others
 April 21, The Three Doctor’s deliver a resounding message of hope
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
The www.myhealthcareer.org is updated on a daily basis using the administrative site. The health professions site (including the
Recruitment Zone) has been released. Currently there are eight completed Recruitment Zones on the www.myhealthcareer.org
website. The My Health Career website had 893 registrations between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006.
Fifty (50) copies of the NYS AHEC System newsletter and 25 copies of the National AHEC Bulletin distributed.
A link to the NAHEC annual 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 currently in progress.
Central New York AHEC (CNYAHEC)
CNYAHEC Executive Director, at the request of the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of the Southern Tier Board, gave a thirty minute
presentation on CNYAHEC with a focus on its pipeline programs. Excellus has provided financial support for the last two years
supporting MASH, MedQuest and HealthQuest camps. Feedback from the presentation was very positive.
CNYAHEC submitted the following press releases and news articles:
 HCOP Scrubs Club Catches a Glimpse of BCC’s College Experience, submitted to 24 media outlets in Broome, Tioga, and
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Tompkins counties (April 2006)
HCOP Students Earn Money While Learning About Health Care, submitted to 24 media outlets in Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins
counties (April 2006)
Lee Memorial’s MASH Camp Introduces Teens to Health Professions, submitted by AL Lee Memorial Hospital (April 2006)
Auburn Memorial Hospital Hosts Second MASH Camp, submitted by Auburn Memorial Hospital (April 2006)
Local Winner of Statewide Nursing Essay Contest, submitted to 12 media outlets in Oneida, Madison, and Herkimer counties
(May 2006)
CMH Hosts Sixth Annual MASH Camp, submitted Cortland Regional Medical Center (May 2006)
MASH Camp Comes to St. Elizabeth College of Nursing, submitted to 35 media outlets in Oneida, Madison, and Herkimer
counties (May 2006)
Oneida Healthcare Center Hosts Second MASH Camp, submitted to 35 media outlets in Oneida, Madison, and Herkimer counties
(May 2006)
Cayuga Medical Center to Hold Fourth MASH Camp, submitted to 21 media outlets in Tompkins and Seneca counties (May
2006)
Community Memorial Hospital MASH Camp, submitted by Community Memorial Hospital (May 2006)
Oswego Hospital to Hold Summertime MASH Camp for Youths, submitted by Oswego Hospital (May 2006)
CMH Hosts Fourth Year of MASH Camp, submitted by Chenango Memorial Hospital (May 2006)
Hospital Hosts MASH Camp for Students Interested in Health Care Careers, submitted by Rome Memorial Hospital (May 2006)
CNYAHEC programs received coverage in the following print/television/radio media:
 Community General Hospital MASH Camp, interview with Peggy Chase, WCNY public television (February 2006)
 Health Care Careers, News Channel 34, Binghamton, on-line press release at www.newschannel34.com/news/local/story (April
2006)
 Community General Hospital MASH Camp, WSYR Channel 9 and News 10 Now (April 2006)
Information on CNYAHEC appeared in the following papers, advertisements or event calendars:
 Rural Health Network Grant for 2006-2007 (Cayuga County Rural Health Network support of CNYAHEC), The Cayuga County
Community Rural Health Network Newsletter (Winter 2005-2006)
 Careers in Health Introduced to Area Youth at MASH Camp, Lablines, a newsletter of Laboratory Alliance of CNY (MarchApril 2006)
 Promotion of MASH Camps, MedQuest and HealthQuest, Tompkins County Youth Services Department On-line Summer Camp
Guide at www.tompkins-co.org/youth/campguide (April 2006)
 Promotion of MASH Camp at Cayuga Medical Center, Tompkins County Human Services Coalition List-Serv (May 2006)
 Promotion of MASH Camps, MedQuest and HealthQuest, Ithaca Times Summer Camp Guide (Summer 2006)
Hudson-Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
A link to the HM AHEC website for MyHealthCareers is listed on the www.abspconnects.org website.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
Speakers’ Bureau presentations included:
 April 6, Bassett Healthcare Networking meeting, Cooperstown, 6 attendees (human resources, nursing education and nursing)
 May 5, Sullivan County Rural Health Network, Catskill Regional Medical Center, Monticello, 17 county representatives in
attendance
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The CHAHEC website was upgraded with three major informational links. Firstly, a direct link to My Health Career was added to
the homepage of the CHAHEC website. A MHC Info (My Health Career) button was added, providing an introduction to the
program, frequently asked questions and tutorial. In addition, on both the Home page and in the MHC section, a Resources button is
present, providing an extensive list of scholarships and financial aid information and websites for students and career seekers. The
web hits during the period totaled 2,332 hits.
A total of 1,812 copies of the CHAHEC newsletter and 55 copies of New York State AHEC System newsletter were distributed.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
The BW AHEC together with the BQLI AHEC and MSI AHEC met to strategize and plan future collaborations with medical schools
in the New York metropolitan area. Several telephone consultations have followed in collaboration with the New York Metropolitan
Region Office and a meeting with representatives of the Medical School Diversity officers is planned for the summer 2006.
The BW AHEC website provided information and student applications for the 2006 Summer Health Internship Program (SHIP); and
linkages to other resources concerning health careers and health services information. The website will require updating and revision
to reflect changes in locations, personnel and board membership.
Issues of the New York State AHEC System newsletter were distributed to the members of the Board of Directors and included in
new board member orientation packages.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
BQLI AHEC’s Office Manager continues to update information on the web site. Current information on scholarships, internships,
helpful websites, and placement opportunities has been added. There is an updated staff list. The website has a downloadable Health
Career Workshop request form. The website features the Nursing Contest essays. BQLI AHEC website received 888 hits.
Over 200 BQLI AHEC newsletters were distributed to board members, students, parents, hospitals, health centers and communitybased organizations. Over 250 New York State AHEC 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.
5c. Explore options for matching
state, local and other funding
through grants/contracts from
provider groups, government and
foundations.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
The MSI AHEC Executive Director coordinated and led a legislative panel for the Center Director Constituency Group at the
National AHEC Organization meeting.
5c.
NYS AHEC System Statewide Office
The Director of Nursing assisted CNY AHEC to develop a proposal for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop faculty
training, and prepared a concept paper on preceptor/internship programs for potential use in grants.
WNY Rural AHEC (R-AHEC)
 Health Workforce Retraining Initiative Waiver Program, New York State Department of Health, $1,123,797, commitment
received from funder. R-AHEC Health Workforce Retraining Initiative Waiver program has three training components for three
regions (Western, Rochester and Central). The program components are: LPN training, RN Associate’s degree training and RN
Bachelor’s degree training. The programs began April 1, 2006 and runs through March 31, 2008. Applications and program
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brochures were developed and distributed to employer partners. A total of 177 applications were returned by June 15. R-AHEC
staff is in the process of reviewing the files and establishing selection protocols.
Rural Health Literacy Program, American Academy of Physician Assistants, $9,992, grant received from funder. The grant
ended April 30, 2006. Assisted by a generous grant from the Physician Assistant (PA) Foundation of the American Academy of
Family Physicians, the R-AHEC, completed the process of facilitating a community service project for PA students serving in
rural rotations. As an enhancement to the “real world” learning experience of its rural PA students, R-AHEC provided a
community service program, underwritten by the PA Foundation, for students to provide health literacy education to local elderly
populations and their caregivers. The program was offered in March and April of 2006. The program gave 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 (9) students from the George Washington University and Daemen College have
been actively engaging seniors and caregivers in these community settings. The program serviced over 150 community members
at locations such as Rural AHEC housing sites and Allegany County Office for the Aging Meal Sites.
Alzheimer’s Disease Community Service Program (as subcontractor), WNY Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, $2,307,
commitment received from funder. Grant begins April 1, 2006 and R-AHEC will assist with marketing programs aimed at
caregivers, medical professionals and family members and will also assist in locating potential places to host future workshops
and seminars.
Upstate New York Telemedicine Study (as subcontractor), Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation, $60,766 as direct
subcontract plus $27,979 in telemedicine hardware and engineering/networking/installation services, commitment received from
funder. This quarter equipment was installed in the education room of the R-AHEC Learning Center. It consists of multiple
devices in a storage area, a ceiling mounted projector and stat-of-the art speakers, a pull down 60 inch screen and cameras
mounted in both the front and the back of the classroom. Testing of the equipment occurred and the system is ready to use in
teleconferencing.
Health Career Exploration Program for High School Students (Wyoming County), $600 received from the Wyoming
Foundation for Wyoming County high school health career exploration trips in the fall of 2006. This funding will cover busing
expenses for three trips.
Health Career Exploration Program for High School Students (Genesee County), $350 received from the Batavia Kiwanis
Club for busing expenses for Genesee County high school health career exploration trips in the fall of 2006. This funding will
cover busing expenses for two trips. In order to fully cover busing costs, students will be asked to pay a small fee to supplement
the Kiwanis’ funding.
Pipeline to Practice – Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (Wyoming County) There was a remaining balance from
two previous awards from this foundation for work in recruitment programs for youth, high school and health professions
students. A request to utilize these funds for a Summer Interdisciplinary Program and for funding for two students to do work
through the AmeriCorp program was approved. The summer program began and provided funding for stipends, mileage and/or
housing for five students from pharmacy, nurse practitioner (2), medicine, and physical therapy disciplines. Weekly
Interdisciplinary Geriatric programming is part of this program. The AmeriCorp youth are both college students who have
worked with R-AHEC for two years prior in work-study positions at the Wyoming County Community Hospital. They are
studying to be a doctor (OB/GYN) and radiologic technician (4-year). Both students have obtained meaningful work placements
at the hospital in their areas of interest. The AmeriCorp employer payment for this program provided matching funds which
allow the students to draw a bi-weekly check through December 31, 2006, commit to work for 300 hours and they also receive
$1,000 in college tuition credit for their participation.
R-AHEC partnered with the Wyoming Foundation to hold a fund-raising event. A garden party at the Thiel Center was the main
event. Forty-three (43) people attended and other donations were received.
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Erie Niagara AHEC (ENAHEC)
The Statewide Office Project Manager worked with the Erie Niagara AHEC to develop a “Typical or Troubled School Mental Health
Education Program” submission to the American Psychiatric Foundation, in the amount $5,000. A decision is pending.
Hudson-Mohawk AHEC (HM AHEC)
A request of $ 11,600 was made to the Golub Foundation on April 25 for a pharmacy opportunity program for high school students.
A planning meeting was held on May 8 at the Fort William Henry Resort regarding the USDA Telehealth grant due on June 12 with
nine attendees.
The HM AHEC strategic plan developed in June of 2005 will be operationalized at the July 27, 2006 board meeting to be held at the
Upper Hudson Primary Care Consortium conference room in Glens Falls.
Central Region Office
The Director of the Central Region Office assisted with planning for implementation of a joint project of the Department of Family
Medicine and Department of Pediatrics at Upstate Medical University for establishment of an Institute for Training on Health Care
Transitioning for youth with developmental disabilities, their caregivers and their providers.
Northern AHEC (NAHEC)
 Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, $50,000 granted
 North Country Workforce Investment Board = $32,000 granted
 Jefferson-Lewis Workforce Investment Board = $32,000 granted
 Alice Hyde Medical Center = $1,000 granted
Two meetings have been held throughout the NAHEC region with 65 members of community initiatives to deploy the Workforce
Development System. The restructuring of the NAHEC Board of Directors committee structure 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 is currently in the process of contract negotiations to license My Health
Career with Erie-Niagara AHEC.
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)
Submitted Application Updates:
 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Northwest Health Foundation – Partners in Nursing’s Future. Following the submission of a
proposal brief on February 16, CNYAHEC and partners were invited to submit a full proposal. The full proposal was submitted
on April 7 through Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York (CHFWCNY). The proposal was not
selected for a site visit and/or funding. CNYAHEC met on May 24 with CHFWCNY and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
regarding moving forward with project despite failure to get award. Possible suggestions: resubmit in next funding round, reduce
budget and solicit enough local support, look for other funding sources, or revise project and move in another direction.
CNYAHEC, CHFWCNY, and Excellus are committed to moving forward with the Regional Nurse Leader Consortium.
 HRSA – Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant Program. CNYAHEC received notification that the proposal was not funded.
New Applications Submitted:
 NYSDOH – Ovarian Cancer Awareness, Education and Support Initiative. Application to develop on-line/CD-ROM educational
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modules on ovarian cancer for health care providers and health professions students in a 17-county region (includes three
counties in N-AHEC region) was submitted on April 6. This is a three-year grant for $20,000/year. Awards will be made in
August or September.
Tompkins Cortland Tech Prep Program – Mini-grant Request for Proposals. An application was submitted to roll-out My Health
Career in schools in Cortland and Tompkins counties with supplement field trips to local hospitals on April 7. This is a one-time
award for $9,750. Awards will be made in May or June.
AETNA – End of Life Care. An application was submitted by the New York State AHEC System on March 30 for $50,000.
Awards will be made in September.
Honda Foundation – aka Science. A proposal was submitted in partnership with the New York State AHEC System Statewide
Office and the R-AHEC for $85,000. The proposal was not funded.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Hitachi Foundation – Jobs to Careers. Application to develop and implement a work-based
Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) training program for incumbent frontline workers was submitted on May 18. The project
is a collaboration of Broome Community College, Laboratory Alliance of CNY, Centrex Clinical Laboratories, and CNYAHEC.
This is a three-year grant for $425,000. Next step is invitation for site visit in July.
CNYAHEC is currently working on the following applications:
 Appalachian Regional Commission – Area Development Program. This application is being written to fund an expansion of the
Health Careers Opportunity Program into Chenango County and other school districts within Broome and Tioga counties to
include roll-out of My Health Career in the designated region. The collaboration of many partners with significant in-kind
contributions (ARC funding is up to $150,000 with a 1:1 match) is required. The application due June 9.
 In addition to securing funds from grants and foundations, CNYAHEC aggressively pursues other sources of income including
partnering with other organizations to provide mission related programs such as their three year contract with Excellus which
supports its summer camps, generating revenue from programs and product sales and from service provision contracts with other
organizations. Currently CNYAHEC has contracts with the following organizations: New York State Association for Rural
Health (NYSARH), Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC) and Seven Valleys Health Coalition (SVHC).
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. An account for the Data Resource Center has been established in the
University at Buffalo Research Foundation. Revenue has been received from four outside organizations for work done by the Data
Resource Center. Efforts are continuing to market the services of the Data Resource Center, including the development of a one-page
brochure. The National AHEC Organization (NAO) has expressed an interest in the Data Resource Center developing an interactive
map that would link the AHEC center to the community health center(s) in the region and also link the appropriate AHEC center to
each priority-needs county lacking a community health center. A proposal from the Data Resource Center has been submitted to the
NAO and is under review.
The New York State AHEC System has instituted a fee structure for the outside users of the Data Warehouse, that is dependent on the
size of the organization’ budget. The lowest annual fee is $100; the highest annual fee is $300. For the present, community health
centers and rural health networks are exempt from the user fee.
Catskill Hudson AHEC (CHAHEC)
The Catskill Hudson AHEC Sustainability Plan Development proposal to The Dyson Foundation in the amount of $10,000 was
approved June 1.
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New York Metropolitan AHEC Region Office
The New York Metropolitan Region Office assisted the Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC in the development of a grant application to
the New York Foundation.
Bronx-Westchester AHEC (BWAHEC)
The BW AHEC joined the BQLI AHEC and MSI AHEC in exploring developing contractual relationships for the placement
assistance services provided throughout its internship programs activities. Pricing structures were developed and talks advanced with
the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine Summer Community Health Experience Training program for students in health
professions studies.
The annual conference of the National AHEC Organization (NAO) held in June provided a host of conference and workshop
activities showcasing regional and national sustainability efforts and working prototypes. It also provided an opportunity to develop a
sense of the national perspectives on the health professions, health care and roles for AHECs helping communities in meeting their
health care needs.
Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island AHEC (BQLIAHEC)
The Executive Director attended a meeting with staff of Lutheran Medical Center regarding a collaborative grant submission to the
United Hospital Fund on April 20. The Executive Director met with Dr. Rajesh Parikh and, Executive Director of Illinois AHEC and
Carol Wolff, Executive Director of Camden AHEC to discuss sustainability ideas for BQLI AHEC on May. The Executive Director
met with Reuben Walker a grant writer to arrange for him to write several grants for the organization on June 7.
The BQLI AHEC Executive Director met at the MSI AHEC office, along with the executive directors of the MSI AHEC and BW
AHEC, and the director of the New York Metropolitan Region Office, met with deans of various medical schools to discuss
collaborative partnerships on June 9.
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC (MSI AHEC)
MSI AHEC has submitted the following grant applications:
 Mentor Connection , Kraft Employee Fund, $30,000, Pending notification in August
 Mentor Connection, New York Foundation, $30,000, Denied due to insufficient funds/not a real match for foundation.
 SHIP General Planning Grant, United Way, $20,000, Received July
 SHIP-Education Enrichment, Hayden Foundation, $100,000, Pending notification
The MSI AHEC Executive Director engaged New York Foundation Director in significant discussion regarding funding opportunities
with them and others. A commitment was obtained to work with AHEC director on future submissions. The foundation also
suggested several other potential sources for proposal submissions.
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