Nia Clark (second from right), a Healthcare in Progress
program participant, presents about being an
anesthesiologist with her group to their family and teachers
at the Kent Student Center.

Kent State University recently hosted high school students from Akron Public Schools during a three-day career development workshop called Healthcare in Progress (HIP) program. The HIP program exposes and prepares groups of diverse students from underrepresented populations in Akron for careers in healthcare by introducing them to various medical fields in educational and hospital settings. The summer component of the program is organized by the Office of Diversity Outreach and Development in the College of Education, Health and Human Services.

Fifty-five students participated in the program at Kent State. The students were selected based on their areas of interest and recommendations from counselors and science or math teachers within Akron Public Schools.

The Healthcare in Progress program was founded in 2000 as a collaborative effort among Akron Public Schools, area hospitals and universities in response to the need to develop a pipeline of talent for the future workforce of local hospitals.

“The HIP program is an exciting collaborative effort that gives students hands-on experience with the healthcare profession,” says N.J. Akbar, director of the Office of Diversity Outreach and Development in Kent State’s College of Education, Health and Human Services. “This partnership is designed to meet the ever-changing career needs of the state of Ohio by providing high school students and parents with increased knowledge of new and upcoming career opportunities. Equipping Akron students early on with exposure to the demands of future needs and the many career options within the healthcare field helps students make informed decisions, while creating a pipeline for diversifying the field.”

At Kent State, the students explored nursing, nutrition and dietetics, speech pathology and audiology, athletic training, exercise physiology and public health. They also conducted research on their chosen career using the latest presentation technology tools learned in the AT&T Classroom on the Kent Campus.

The students participated in rotations at local hospitals. The rising 10th graders also stayed overnight in Centennial Court B residential hall on campus. Five outstanding students served as peer advisors for the program working with the students on their exploration. Those students were Nevin Nettey, senior public health major; Emily Forne, sophomore exercise science major; MarKayla Mariner, junior global public health major and former HIP student; and Bobby Whipple, junior Pan-African studies major. They were led by Tanaka Mupinga, senior peer advisor and senior biology pre-med major.

Healthcare in Progress is sponsored by Akron Public Schools, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron General Hospital, Kent State, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Summa Health System and the University of Akron.

For more information about the Healthcare in Progress program and Kent State’s involvement, contact Akbar at nakbar@kent.edu or 330-672-2537.