Learn More About KY AHEC Summer Camps Both camps are free to all participants. Funding provided for this project was made available through the Healthcare Workforce Collaborative, an initiative of Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education.
Both Summer Camps: June 10-28, 2024
Summer Enrichment Program Application 2024
All materials must be received by the UK AHEC office by FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2024
Application Success Tips
The writing prompt: Please convey your personal story of why you would like to pursue a health care profession in 500 words or less.
Health Researchers Youth Academy Application 2024
All materials must be received by the UK AHEC office by FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2024
Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)
The Summer Enrichment Program is a three-week health careers residential camp hosted by the University of Kentucky Area Health Education Center that allows students to 'experience college before college'. It provides an opportunity to learn about the variety of careers in health professions and to learn some of the requirements for majors leading to a health career. Academic course work is also part of the camp experience.
During the three weeks, students become familiar and comfortable with the University of Kentucky campus and its facilities. Students accepted into the program will spend three weeks observing and learning from UK faculty, health professionals and health professions students. They will participate in a structured educational curriculum and have various hands-on activities and clinical observation opportunities. All experiences are designed to teach students about health care professions. Participants will learn first hand from faculty and students what it takes to succeed as a health professions student and will meet students currently enrolled in the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing, Health Sciences, and Public Health. A unique highlight of the Summer Enrichment Program is an informal opportunity to meet with and learn from the Dean of each health professions college.
More SEP Details
Educational Activities
The primary focus of the Summer Enrichment Program is academic preparation. Students will participate in structured educational curriculum that includes lectures and labs in chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physics. Students will interact with representatives from various healthcare professions; during these segments, practicing health professionals or health professions students will be available to discuss their profession and educational requirements. Some of these segments will occur in a "lab" or "clinical" setting. There is also a possibility of students completing and receiving their CPR certification.
Clinical Activities
The focus of these activities will be to provide the student an opportunity to observe healthcare professionals in a clinical setting. Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of clinical settings. The Minimally Invasive Surgery lab will allow the student to experience UK's non-invasive surgical training lab. Students will spend two days experiencing the challenge of this training by performing some of the same techniques used to train surgical residents. Schedule permitting, students will observe via video conference, an actual minimally invasive surgical procedure.
Eligibility
Kentucky high school students who are currently enrolled in 10th grade (sophomore) and are at least 15 years old.
Selection Process
A Selection Committee consisting of faculty and staff from UK and U of L AHEC offices, along with community faculty and other university student affairs staff and partners, will carefully review each student's application material. Every effort will be made to give applicants a decision notification to later than the end of April, beginning of May. Please ensure that the contact information included on the application is accurate. No paper applications will be accepted.
Health Researchers Youth Academy (HRYA)
The Health Researchers Youth Academy is a three-week residential camp hosted by the University of Kentucky Area Health Education Center that provides an opportunity to have an immersive experience in healthcare research by world class UK researchers and clinicians. the program also provides participants with the chance to learn some of the requirements for majors leading to a health career. In short, students get to 'experience college before college'.
During the three weeks, students become familiar and comfortable with UK's campus and its facilities. While participating, students will participate in an educational curriculum and have various hands-on activities through two structured academic courses. Participants will learn first-hand from faculty and students what it takes to succeed as a health professions student and conduct healthcare research with a mentor. This program provides participants the opportunity to meet peers from around the state of Kentucky who are interested in pursuing a health career. This is a unique opportunity for the serious students to explore the research arm of health careers through an immersive experience that exposes participants to an array of health professions.
More HRYA Details
Educational Activities
Because we recognize the relationship between academic preparation and success in most health professions, students will participate in lectures/labs in Physiology as well as research methods/literature review strategies and interact with representatives from various healthcare professions. During these segments, practicing health professionals or health professions students will be available to discuss their profession and educational requirements. There is also a possibility of students completing and receiving their CPR certification.
Poster Presentation
During the three-week camp, participants will work in teams with guidance from research faculty and staff to develop a health related poster presentation. Students are provided with access to university libraries and other research mechanisms and resources needed to complete their poster presentation project. Once projects and posters are designed, UK AHEC will get the posters printed for presentation at the HRYA closing ceremony at the end camp.
Eligibility
Kentucky high school students who are currently enrolled in 11th grade (juniors).
Selection Process
A Selection Committee consisting of faculty and staff from UK and U of L AHEC offices, along with community faculty will carefully review each student's application material. Every effort will be made to give applicants a decision notification no later than the end of April, beginning of May. Please ensure that the contact information included on the application is accurate. No paper applications will be accepted.