Youth explore health and social service careers at UAA Academic Preview Day

by Vicki Nechodomu  |   

  • students gathered in the Alaska Airlince Center
    Students were treated to a video presentation during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • Eric Oba
    Eric Oba, assistant professor of Therapeutic Recreation, spoke with students during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • SSW
    School of Social Work assistant professors Matthew Cuellar and Rei Shimizu speak with students during UAA Preview Day. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • Laura Stoddard
    Laura Stoddard, term assistant professor of Dental Assisting, spoke with students during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • DPHS2
    Div. of Population Health Sciences administrative specialist Katie Frost speaks with students during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • a student wearing drunk simulation goggles
    Sharon Chamard, Justice Center professor, assists a student with a pair of Drunk Busters impairment goggles before attempting to walk a straight line at the Justice Center booth during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • DMS team at Preview Day
    The Diagnostie Medical program team prepare to speak with students during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • Christina Pearson
    Christina Pearson, term assistant professor and clinical coordinator of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, speaks with a prospective student during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • DN
    Dietetics and Nutrition professor Carrie King and assistant professor Amy Urbanus speak with students during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • DPHS1
    Div. of Population Health Sciences assistant professor Kristin Stoepler speaks with students during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • Justice Center
    Ryan Fortson, Justice Center associate professor, speaks to students during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • Medical Assisting
    Tricia Tuttle and Lisa Nash, program director and term assistant professor of Medical Assisting, speak to students during UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • MLS
    Grace Leu Burke, program director and term assistant professor of Medical Laboratory Science, facilitates a microbiology matching game and speaks with prospective students about the MLS program at the UAA Preview Day on Sept. 30 at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Phogo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • PharmD
    Mara Seignemartin, Alaska Programs Coordinator for the UAA/ISU Doctor of Pharmacy Program, speaks with prospective students about pharmacy careers at Academic Preview Day in the Alaska Airline Center on Sept. 30, 2022. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • Sim Center 1
    UAA Interprofessional Health Sciences Simulation Center staff Marissa Beninati (Simulation Technology Specialist) and Robb Lombard (Simulation Technician) set up interactive manikin demonstrations at the Academic Preview Day in the Alaska Airline Center on Sept. 30, 2022. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • SON
    Elise Harrison, nursing resource center coordinator, demonstrates use of various simulation equipment and discusses UAA's nursing programs with prospective students at the Academic Preview Day in the Alaska Airline Center on Sept. 30, 2022. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)
  • Surg Tech
    Nicole Clementi, Surgical Technology program director and term assistant professor, demonstrates surgical equipment and speaks with prospective students about the program at the Alaska Airlines Center. (Photo by Ahliil Saitanan/UAA College of Health)

Over 400 high school juniors and seniors from 11 high schools across Anchorage converged on the UAA Alaska Airline Center on Sept. 30, 2022 to explore their future career and academic options at UAA’s Academic Preview Day

“What a pleasure to engage with my first UAA Preview Day last Friday!  The Alaska Airlines center was buzzing with excited high school students eager to learn more about the great diversity of programs we offer here at UAA and in our college,” said Debbie Craig, Dean of the College of Health  (COH). 

The event provided visiting students with engaging, hands-on activities as well as the opportunity to discuss programs further with program faculty and staff. Some COH tables included:

Grace Leu-Burke, assistant professor and program director of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS), facilitated a Micro Match game at her table. She recognizes that MLS is a less familiar area of study, making events such as Preview Day important to her program. “Reaching out to high school students in this type of format is essential to provide information on other avenues of healthcare education besides nursing, pharmacy, and pre-med,” Leu-Burke said. “It was fun to see the students try to match the bacteria to disease and they learned not only about medical laboratory science, but some diagnostic microbiology!”

Matthew Cuellar, School of Social Work assistant professor, was grateful for the opportunity to talk with youth about what it really means to pursue a future career in his field. “It was nice to shift the perspective of social work away from ‘taking babies’ to the more accurate description of social workers being change agents and brokers of resources who advocate for fair and equal treatment of all human beings,” said Cuellar. “Prospective students really opened their eyes when they saw our passion for the profession.”

At the Division of Population and Health Sciences table, assistant professor Kristin Stoepler and administrative specialist Katie Frost had an opportunity to not only speak about population health careers but also highlight student support services available at UAA. Frost used the SeaWolf Food Pantry as an example of Population Health in action and ensured students know how to utilize the resource to secure food, should they choose to attend UAA. “This excited a particular group of students to be able to visualize how they could use the Health Sciences degree,” said Stoepler. “One student stated their family could benefit from a food pantry.”

For many, the event, being one of the first in-person recruitment and outreach events since the start of the pandemic, provided a refreshed level of enthusiasm and energy. "My favorite part of Preview Day was reconnecting with colleagues, former students, and prospective students and simply getting a chance to share why we are passionate about social work," said Cuellar. "The collegiality has been missed since the start of the pandemic, and the energy was rejuvenating, to say the least.”

"A huge thank you to our amazing faculty and staff who showed with their engaging tables to spread the news of our many health and justice programs," said Craig. "It is exactly this type of engagement from our COH family that will foster increased enrollments, translating into a vibrant workforce for Alaska’s future. My sincere thanks to all who organized and participated in this great event!"

 


Are you College of Health faculty or staff wishing to get involved in future outreach and recruitment events? Contact Vicki Nechodomu at vnechodomu@alaska.edu

Are you considering attending UAA to pursue a future career in health and social services? Request more information.