SUMMER CAMPS

The University of Kentucky Area Health Education Center (AHEC) hosts two two-week residential summer programs for Kentucky high school students.These camps are for students who are considering a college path leading to a health profession. Our camps aim to inspire the next generation of healthcare leaders. We do this through career exploration, academic preparation and hands-on learning experiences. During the camp, students can expect to become familiar with, and more comfortable with the University of Kentucky campus and facilities, allowing them to experience "college before college". These are unique opportunities for students to explore and prepare themselves for the transition to postsecondary education. 

The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is a two-week health careers residential camp that focuses on health career exploration. Student accepted into this program will spend two weeks observing and learning from UK faculty, health professionals and health professions students. They will participate in a structured educational curriculum, have various interactive activities and a chance for clinical observations. Participants will walk away from this experience with increased knowledge on what it takes to succeed as a health professions student. 

SEP is an academic preparation camp. Students will participate in educational curriculum that includes lectures and labs in Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Students will interact with representatives from various health careers. During these segments, practicing health professionals or health professions students will be available to discuss their profession and it's educational requirements. These segments will occur in either a "lab" or a classroom setting. 

SEP is also a career exploration camp. Part of this exploration will be getting a chance to shadow healthcare professionals in their clinical settings. 

The Health Researchers Youth Academy (HRYA) is a two-week residential camp that focuses on career exploration and the world of health research. Students accepted into this program will spend two weeks observing and learning from UK faculty, health professionals and health professions students. They will participate in structured educational curriculum consisting of two academic courses, various interactive activities and a chance for clinical observations. Participants will walk away from this experience with increased knowledge on what it takes to succeed as a health professions student and increased knowledge on how to conduct healthcare research. 

HRYA is an academic preparation camp. Students will participate in curriculum that includes labs in Physiology and Research Methods. Students will interact with representatives from various health careers involved in research. During these segments, practicing professionals or professions students will be available to discuss their profession and educational requirements. 

In addition to the structured curriculum of the camp, students will have an opportunity experience various clinical activities. They will have an opportunity to shadow alongside health professionals in clinical settings. Students may also get an opportunity to see inside one of our research labs and witness research in progress. They will also get to spend time in UK's state-of-the-art simulation centers. 

Application Requirements 

1. Fully completed SEP or HRYA online application. No paper applications will be accepted. Please note there is a portion of the application a parent/guardian must complete. By submitting a completed application, permission is being granted for the applicant to attend camp.
2. Completed personal statement. Statements should be a minimum of 250 words, with a maximum of 300 words. Please introduce yourself and answer the following questions: 
   • What are your personal and professional interests?
   • What made you apply to this summer camp?
   • What do you hope to gain from this experience? 
   • What extracurricular activities (e.g. volunteering, clubs, sports, etc.) have participated in?
   • Have you participated in any AHEC activities previously. If so, which activities?
3. High school transcripts
4. Letter of recommendation from a teacher, advisor, or guidance officer. This letter should speak to the student's character and their interest in the health field. Letters from relatives will not be accepted. Letters must be emailed directly from recommender to UKAHECSummerCamps@uky.edu. 

Selection Process

Acceptance will be based on review of the application, personal statement, and transcripts. A selection committee consisting of faculty and staff from UK and our partnering AHEC offices, along with other university student affairs staff and campus partners will carefully review each student's application material. Every effort will be made to give applicants a decision notification by the end of March/beginning of April. Please ensure contact information included on the application is accurate. Applicants will be notified via email of their acceptance status.