UMass Medical School Post-Baccalaureate- Gap Year Opportunity for Future Health Care Professionals
Pathways to Inclusive Health Care Program
Health disparities and an inadequately trained health care workforce prevent the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into society. The unprecedented rate of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) aging into adult services makes the training of health professionals an immediate and urgent need. Modeled after Teach for America, the Pathways to Inclusive Health Care (PIHC) program creates a pipeline of health care professionals who will be motivated and equipped to provide quality healthcare to this population.
The PIHC program is housed at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center at UMass Medical School, a pioneer in IDD-related research, training, and service for fifty years. Targeting pre-medical, dental, nurse practitioner, and other pre-health professions students, recent college graduates (called Scholars) participate in nine-month-long program that features the following elements:
• Scholars work as paraprofessionals 4 days/week with individuals with ASD/IDD in practicum sites such as day habilitation and community-based day support programs
• Scholars attend weekly seminars, take coursework through the Shriver Center’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program, and visit community-based programs that serve people with IDD and ASD.
• Scholars receive mentoring on their medical or graduate school application efforts.
• A stipend of $15,000 is provided.
• Scholars will receive a certificate in Disability Studies from the University of Massachusetts Medical School upon completion of the program.
The 2021-2022 PIHC program begins September, 2021
Those interested are encouraged to submit their application by May 14th, 2021. Please note the application period may close before the May deadline if program capacity has been met.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree by August 1, 2021
Application materials may be found at https://shriver.umassmed.edu/programs/pihc/.
For more information, please contact:
Susan Swanson, MA, CCC-SLP
PIHC Program Coordinator
E.K. Shriver Center, UMass Medical School Phone: (774)-455-6562 / Email: susan.swanson@umassmed.edu