CHHS welcomes second HCCP cohort to campus

In April, the college proudly welcomed the 2018 cohort of students in the Health Careers Connection Program to the campus of Western Michigan University. Several members of the inaugural cohort, along with staff and faculty welcomed 18 students to campus for their first two class sessions at WMU.

The 2018 cohort of Health Careers Connection Program students

2018 marks the second year of the Health Careers Connection Program, which was started by CHHS Dean Earlie Washington in 2017. The program, operated in conjunction with the Western Regional Area Health Education Center, is designed to help disadvantaged, underrepresented and high-achieving high school students from counties in West Michigan succeed at WMU, with the aim of returning to their communities to practice after graduation. All students who participate receive a scholarship that completely covers the cost of tuition, books, room and board, etc. during the summer program.

Dr. Ravotas in the first class of the 2018 cohort

This year's cohort is made up of 18 students, up from 12 last year. The group includes students majoring in audiology, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work and speech-language pathology.

Students arrived early to check in and meet their fellow students, as well as some CHHS staff and faculty. The program officially began with the first class session, HSV 2250 - Growth, Development and Aging, taught by Dr. Dori Ravotas.

The students then broke for lunch, which gave them the opportunity to meet several members of the inaugural HCCP cohort from 2017. They also met staff, faculty and graduate assistants who will be working with them this summer.

Members of the 2017 and 2018 cohorts got to know each other over lunch

Lunch was followed by the first meeting of their second class, HOL 1000 - Choices in Living, which will be taught again this year by Katie Fitzgerald. "I'm so happy to be instructing in the HCCP program again this year," says Fitzgerald. "The students last year were wonderful and, of course, the goal of the program is something that means a lot to me, personally and as an instructor at WMU."

Students will return to campus on June 10, when they will move into a residence hall to begin their 2 1/2 week stay on campus, which will be filled with face-to-face learning in classes as well as off-campus learning activities. Until then, students will complete online coursework, interacting virtually with their instructors and classmates.

The 2018 Health Careers Connection Program will conclude on June 27 with a formal celebration dinner held at the College of Health and Human Services.