Health career recruitment
Program basics
- Programs that recruit and train students who are typically underrepresented in health careers
- Services may include career and academic advising, admissions counseling, access to advanced classes in health science subjects, practical work experiences and internships, and case management
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Proven (highest tier)
?
Proven (highest tier)
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
Target population
High school-aged children
Program cost
Not available
Implementation locations
- Nationwide
Dates active
Not available
Outcomes and impact
- Increased academic achievement and educational attainment
- Increased high school graduation rates
- Improved competitiveness of applicants for postsecondary education
- Increased college enrollment
- Improved professional skills
- Longer interventions have stronger and more long-lasting effects than shorter programs
Keys to successful implementation
- Note: This content is under review
- Interventions that occur earlier in the educational pipeline demonstrate stronger results in increasing applications from underrepresented groups.
- Inadequate institutional resources, strained personal finances, insufficient guidance, and societal barriers are often cited as challenges to persisting in health career pipeline programs.
- Summer experience programs can increase the likelihood of program acceptance, and research mentorships may increase the likelihood that students complete programming.
- For college students, programs should identify participants early in enrollment to help them complete math and science courses with grades strong enough for medical school acceptance.
- Connecting students with current physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and medical students who can serve as mentors can encourage medical school entry.