R-AHEC pipeline programs are designed to provide health education with specific focus on individual community needs and demographics. We provide information on and assist in facilitating a variety of local programs and events, including incentive programs, skill enhancing workshops, and industry certification courses. Please check back often to view the most current event postings. Pipeline programs (initiatives that guide students in a given direction over an extended period of time) have proven an invaluable strategy to address various recurrent workforce issues nationally.
Pipeline programming is designed to expose elementary, middle, and high school students to a variety of health career awareness programs and seeks to foster life-long interest in science and math. R-AHEC’s chosen pipeline programs include the Metagenomic Education Partnership, which exposes students to a long-term experience in biotechnology.
Career Exploration Programs
This program is designed to enhance interest in healthcare professions in high school students by introducing them to the myriad careers available in the field. The presentations also seek to foster interest in rural area healthcare employment and encourage students to pursue local opportunities as future healthcare professionals.
The Metagenomics Education Partnership
The Metagenomics Education Partnership, funded by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), seeks to build understanding of best practices contributing to student motivation and participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at the high school level. The program introduces teachers to innovative technology that uses a hands-on, cyber-learning approach to increase knowledge of bioinformatics and bioinformatics software. Participation in the program encourages teachers to incorporate bioinformatics studies into the classroom setting and provides ongoing support to students as they pursue STEM career plans. June of 2020 begins our first year of this new five-year program, which includes collaborations with the University of Buffalo, WNY Rural AHEC, Erie-Niagara AHEC, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeepers, and several school districts in our catchment area.
Summer Internship Program
Launched in 2016, the summer internship program was designed for high school seniors and 1st year college students who may be interested in pursuing studies in communications, public health, health education, non-profit management, or business operations. The program lasts for eight weeks. Applications for 2021 will be available soon.