College of Health Sciences at UWM Nurtures Diversity in Milwaukee’s Future Health Care Professionals
It is estimated that more than half of Milwaukee residents are from disadvantaged and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. Yet the number of health care professionals from these groups is disproportionately low. Marion McDowell, assistant dean in the Office of Diversity at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s College of Health Sciences, knows that expanding the number of these health care professionals will ultimately translate into better care for diverse communities.
With this as its goal, the Office of Diversity, through the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP), employs a two-tiered approach in its programming. A core group of more than 200 high school and college students are recruited into sequenced, structured programs, while an additional 500 students participate in unstructured programs. HCOP, along with its 20 partners, has had a significant impact on the recruitment and retention of Milwaukee’s underrepresented and disadvantaged students by providing academic enrichment programs, internships, complementary training to enhance academic performance, connections to mentors, financial aid advising and career counseling, as well as preparation for enrollment in a college or university.
Working together, HCOP and its partners strengthen students’ collective capacity to serve their community in a meaningful, dynamic way. “The students that HCOP recruited for our internships were amazing. They knocked the socks off all the supervisors and mentors with whom they worked,” says Clare Reardon, strategic initiatives director at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital. “When we look at our partnership with College of Health Sciences, we know we’ve done something good for Milwaukee.”
The College of Health Sciences’ HCOP was distinguished as a “Best Practices Model” under the University of Wisconsin System’s Plan 2008 for diversity. This recognition reflects both the college’s commitment to excellence in diversity programs as well as the commitment of the UW System to establish and support such programs.
To view a complete list of HCOP partners, visit http://www3.uwm.edu/chs/students/diversity/partners.asp
URL: http://www.uwm.edu/News/Features/06.06/CHS_Diversity.html
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