Health Career Programs

Looking Ahead to the Future with Health Careers at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center 

The Department of Health Career Programs (HCP) at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is committed to contributing to a diverse workforce by nurturing and supporting secondary and postsecondary students' interests in the health professions and in the University as prospective matriculants. 

UTHSC actively seeks applications from veterans and from individuals who are historically underrepresented in science and in the health care professions:  underrepresented minority students, non-traditional students, students with disabilities, and students who represent the first in their families to pursue higher education.

The HCP mission will be accomplished via the implementation of a targeted recruitment plan, information dissemination, skill building activities, academic and personal development enrichment programs, and retention strategies.

The University of Tennessee undertakes many activities to accomplish its missions, goals, and objectives. These include, in part, 1) an ambitious high school and college visitation program: 2) telethons; 3) wide circulation of news releases affirming our commitment to diversity; 4) a sizable scholarship program; 5) a vital student academic support center. The institution would like to feel also that it has an accepting and nurturing environment that is sensitive to the diversimilarities of all of its constituents.

Ultimately, the University is convinced that its success in recruitment and retention is attributable to its summer internship programs. Generally, such programs translate opportunity into real access to our facilities, faculty and students. More specifically, they provide in a structured environment academic enrichment and reinforcement of the math/science concepts so essential to health education training. But their impact is more profoundly felt in the "hope" that they kindle, nourish, and accomplish. Over the past years, more than 2,500 students have benefited from participation in summer programs.

The Programs are eight weeks in duration, and offer a stipend, which replaces summer income that students would otherwise lose due to their participation. All applicants are carefully evaluated in an effort to judge their academic achievement; level of interest in a health career; motivation; perseverance; and community involvement-- all of which are also judged during professional school admission processes. It is expected that students will devote 100% of their energies and time to what really amounts to full-time summer employment. Additional information on expectations of students and faculty preceptors are found in the Health Career Programs Student Handbook.

Summer programs offer tremendous advantages, as students transition from high school to college to professional school. Every effort is made to allow students to return each summer, as long as their academic performance continues to demonstrate scholastic achievement.

 

Health Career Programs

920 Madison Building Suite 420
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: 901-448-8772
800-998-8654
Fax: 901-448-1451