Berkshire AHEC Health Scholars’ Program in collaboration with Berkshire Community College

AHEC Health Scholars’ Program

Berkshire AHEC is pleased to have the opportunity to develop an AHEC Scholars’ Program at Berkshire Community College (BCC). AHEC Scholars is a program for health careers students interested in supplementing their education by gaining additional knowledge and experience in local community needs. This program offers a defined set of academic and community-based activities that is supported by interdisciplinary curricula.  Locally the program is offered in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.

Why become an AHEC Scholar?

• To enhance interdisciplinary skills to better support patient centered care
• To have opportunities to work with students, faculty and community professionals outside the traditional classroom
• To create networking opportunities, both within a discipline and outside it
• To be recognized at graduation and pinning ceremonies as an AHEC Health Scholar
• To elevate your resume and graduate school applications

Program Duration is 1 year

• 40 hours which is met through the health program’s practicums/clinicals
• 40 additional hours focused on eight Core Topic Areas
  1. Inter-professional Education
  2. Behavioral Health Integration
  3. Social Determinants of Health
  4. Cultural Competency
  5. Practice Transformation
  6. Current and Emerging Health Issues
  7. Connecting Communities and Supporting Health Professionals
  8. Virtual Learning and Telehealth

Eligibility Criteria

Students must be currently enrolled in a health career degree or certificate program at BCC. This includes nursing (ADN and LPN), physical therapist assistant, respiratory care and community health workers (certificate or associate level).

How will the program be offered?

Through a series of workshops that will expose, engage and facilitate patient centered focus in health care delivery. Students will listen to lectures, have discussions, work on community projects, and reflect on the impact the topics have on patients, community and healthcare providers.

For more information contact:

Sheila Dargie, Berkshire AHEC
413-842-5160
sdargie@berkshireahec.org

This project is supported by HRSA Grant No. U77HP03016 from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the US Dept. of Health and Human Services. This information should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the US Government.  Berkshire AHEC is a member of the MassAHEC Network, a program of UMass Chan Medical School.

The following program is not available for LMHC credit hours.