Interdisciplinary Community Health Scholars (ICHS)

 

Who are Interdisciplinary Community Health Scholars?

Interdisciplinary Community Health Scholars are health professions students interested in working with rural and medically underserved populations. They use the training and skill sets of their respective disciplines to create unique, comprehensive solutions to health disparities impacting local communities.

ICHS participants spend eight weeks of their summer working part time in teams.  These teams develop and implement projects that have a direct impact on the health status of medically underserved communities.

ICHS participants will work primarily with medically underserved populations and the community partners who care for them.

 

What are the Benefits of Participating in ICHS? 

Students will receive a $2,500 stipend paid over the course of the eight week program.  Stipends are subject to applicable taxes.

Students may be eligible to receive elective course credit/field experience from their respective academic programs for their participation (pending approval of advisor and/or field placement coordinator).

Participation provides an excellent experience to include on résumés and contacts for possible future career opportunities.

Limited travel stipends (beyond commuting to/from the AHEC office) are available

 

What are the Components of the ICHS Program?

Students will work in teams of four to implement a community-based project. Past projects have involved presentations to community members on a variety of health related topics, development of public service announcements (PSAs), grant writing, conducting focus groups, development of curricula for middle school and high school audiences, and community surveys.

This year’s ICHS projects will focus on tobacco’s impact on our local communities. As the leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in the United States, healthcare professionals are regularly confronted with the consequences of their patients’ tobacco use. Projects will involve some level of each of the following: research, presentations, data collection and analysis, and material creation. Experience with Microsoft Office programs is recommended. Appropriate business attire is required.
 

When Does ICHS Take Place? 

8 hours per day each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between June 1 - July 22, 2010. Attendance is mandatory.

 

Who is Eligible?

ICHS is limited to 8 participants.  Health professions students from a variety of primary care and related disciplines are eligible to participate:

medical students between first and second years of medical school (rising second years)

first and second year pharmacy students

upper level undergraduate and graduate nursing students

upper level undergraduate and graduate public health and/or social work students

dental hygiene students

occupational and physical therapy assistant students

select upper level undergraduate pre-health professions students

 

Where Will ICHS Take Place? 

Participants will be based at Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center (GSAHEC) in Sarasota and work in the GSAHEC service area (Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties.) Laptops with wireless connectivity are recommended but not required.  

 

How Do I Apply for ICHS? 

Complete an application for ICHS.  

Include your current resume.

Include a letter of recommendation from an advisor/instructor familiar with your ability.

Enclose a set of official transcripts along with your completed application and letter of recommendation.

Mail, email or fax the above four documents to:

Gulfcoast South AHEC
Beth Shirilla
Tobacco Project Assistant
2201 Cantu Ct, Suite 220
Sarasota, FL 34232
(P) 941-552-1280
(F) 941-361-6612
bshirill@health.usf.edu
 

Application Deadline is 5:00 pm on April 7, 2010.

Individuals will be informed of their status following review of applications. Select candidates will be invited to interview with AHEC staff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsored by Gulfcoast South AHEC and the State of Florida, Department of Health.


Application deadline is April 7, 2010.

 

Click here for application.

Receipt of applications will be acknowledged via e-mail. Without e-mail confirmation, students should assume their applications have not been received and should call the Gulfcoast South AHEC office to follow up.     

Contact Us:

Beth Shirilla
Tobacco Project Assistant

941-361-6602
bshirill@health.usf.edu

 

A printable copy of the brochure can be seen here.