Regional Health Occupations Resource Center
8800 Grossmont College Drive, Room 343-C, El Cajon, CA 92020
619-644-7057 [T], 619-644-7058 [F]
Region 10-San Diego/Imperial County
Grossmont College
Ann Durham/Project Director/May 2008
Bob Yarris has retired from the position as RHORC 10 Director. Ann Durham has been appointed
as the RHORC 10/Welcome Back Program Director.
CURRENT/ONGOING PROJECTS

ASPIRING FOR EVIDENCE-BASED TEACHING STRATEGIES IN NURSING
EDUCATION: LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN!
A seminar/workshop has been arranged for June 9th to be hosted at Grossmont College, San Diego. There
has been an excellent response for applications for attendance. Over 60 participants to date have registered.
Linda Caputi, RN, MSN, EdD, CNE will present.
 SB70/REGIONAL ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCE INITIATIVE (RAHSI)
An End-of-Year Celebration and presentation was well attended on May 7 th with over 80 representatives
from schools, community colleges, healthcare organizations and community members. This celebration
marked the completion of the 2-year SB 70 grant period. Twenty-two schools are members of the project
and have or are in the process of including Medical Biology within their science curriculum. The RAHSI
Director was pleased to announce that a new application was successful and a further 2 year grant will
commence June 2008. One of the new objectives will be to establish a common core school curriculum for
Physiology. The very comprehensive website developed by RAHSI for San Diego County contains
healthcare resources and references for students, parents, teachers, counselors, community colleges,
education departments, healthcare professionals and work-based learning activity partners. The website
www.RAHSI.org is continually being enhanced. The presentation highlighted how unique and impressive
the website is. San Diego Association for Healthcare Recruitment (SDAHCR) announced the establishment
of two yearly scholarship awards in the amount of $500 each.
 HEALTH-careers EXPLORATION SUMMER INSTITUTE (HESI)
A fourth cohort will commence in June 2008. Kaiser and Grossmont Hospital will continue to facilitate
clinical placements.
 MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
A grant of $25,000 was awarded by Grossmont Healthcare District to engage a writer to develop a
curriculum and necessary program documents to submit to Southwestern College for program approval.
Southwestern College Curriculum Committee is in the final process of approving the curriculum. RHORC
10, the MLT Project Director and the working advisory group are now exploring different funding sources
to initiate this program. Plans are underway to begin the program in 2009.
 ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
Sponsored by RHORC, hybrid courses for Anatomy and Physiology have been developed at Grossmont
College. The outcome has resulted in the delivery of 2 courses [BIO 145 and BIO 141] being included in
the college class schedule. In addition, a faculty member at Cuyamaca College is utilizing the same online
A&P curriculum this Spring to augment a face-to-face Anatomy and Physiology course. The BIO 141
accelerated hybrid 12-week Physiology course is presently being piloted and will be evaluated.
 EXPLORATION FOR NEW HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES
The RHORC 10 center is in the early stages of exploring the development of an online Healthcare
Computer Skills course for healthcare professionals in collaboration with the CSIS Coordinator at
Grossmont College and an online TEAS remediation course with Grossmont and Southwestern Colleges.
Grossmont College, Mira Costa College, Palomar College, San Diego City College, Mesa College, Miramar College,
Southwestern College, Imperial Valley College
Funded by Chancellor’s Office, California Community Colleges
Regional Health Occupations Resource Center
8800 Grossmont College Drive, Room 343-C, El Cajon, CA 92020
619-644-7057 [T], 619-644-7058 [F]
Region 10-San Diego/Imperial County
Grossmont College
Ann Durham/Project Director/May 2008
CURRENT/ONGOING PROJECTS
 SELF-SUSTAINABILITY PLAN 2008 – RHORC 10 WELCOME BACK PROGRAM
The Welcome Back Center is seeking future funding to service MDs/DDS/other healthcare professionals by
submitting proposals to different grant funding sources.
 ACCELERATED ADN RN PROGRAM
The success of the program and positive outcomes from the Accelerated ADN course continues to capture
the interest of local healthcare organizations to develop partnerships with education and community
colleges. Presently the fourth cohort of 30 students who commenced training January 2008 is coping well
with the accelerated AA degree. Some of the students are also presently undertaking an accelerated hybrid
Physiology course. Plans are underway to identify WB participants who are interested in applying for the
“Accelerated Registered Nurse Program WB V” planned for 2009. The WB Center is arranging an
informational forum on May 17th.
 ACCELERATED DENTAL HYGIENIST PROGRAM FOR INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED
DENTISTS
The final ratification of the accelerated dental hygienist program curriculum should be completed by
August 2008. The WB Program is working with The California Dental Association Foundation in
Sacramento and the dental association in Chicago to review the process for the introduction of an
accelerated dental health customized curriculum and program for internationally trained dentists. The
course is planned to be offered at Southwestern College. Plans are to offer a first course in 2009. There is a
high need in San Diego for dental hygienists. The WB Center is exploring means of funding such as loan
forgiveness programs or sponsorship from local healthcare dental agencies to fund this initiative.
 WELCOME BACK PROGRAM/HRSA GRANT
A three day performance review was undertaken by HRSA personnel in April 2008 in collaboration with
RHORC 10/WB Program staff and members, Grossmont College personnel and community healthcare
partnerships to review the progress of the 2nd three-year $865,000 HRSA Grant that was awarded in July
2007. The WB program goals to serve as a bridge and help internationally trained healthcare graduates
build on their assets and to also focus on nursing workforce diversity and development for racial and ethnic
minorities underrepresented among registered nurses were reviewed. The initial feedback was positive. A
final report for recommendations will be produced in June. One challenge that has been identified and
recommended for development is tracking of WB participants once they enter the program and subsequent
healthcare workforce employment.
 MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM WITH UCLA IINTERNATIONAL MEDICAL
GRADUATE PROGRAM
13 WB participants applied for medical residency and were accepted into the UCLA IMG Program. To date
7 MDs have obtained residency throughout the country. 3 MDs have obtained placements in California.
 IMPERIAL VALLEY WELCOME BACK CENTER
Presently further grants and LOI have been submitted to various sources to seek financial support for the
WB Center in Imperial Valley for sustainability and to enable extra staff to be appointed to expand services
in this rural area. Imperial Valley Community College and local healthcare organizations are in
consultation with RHORC 10/WB Program to explore the possible replication of the accelerated ADN RN
program.
Grossmont College, Mira Costa College, Palomar College, San Diego City College, Mesa College, Miramar College,
Southwestern College, Imperial Valley College
Funded by Chancellor’s Office, California Community Colleges