Science and Health Immersion Program (SHIP): Preparing Latino Youth for Health Professions

Introduction: Latinos remain underrepresented in the health professions. Contributing factors include disparities in the K-12 educational system, low educational aspirations, and disadvantaged socio-economic status. Health career awareness pipeline programs targeting Latinos have shown to be an effective way to address this shortage.

Objective: This poster’s objective is to examine the Science and Health Immersion Program (SHIP) in-school program, a culturally competent health professions and academic enrichment program for Latino high school students.

Methodology: The SHIP is a high-school based eight-week in-class program for Latino students. The SHIP curriculum covers four components: 1) Exploring Health Professions; 2) Public Health; 3) Professional Skills Development; and 4) College Prep. The SHIP is grounded on Freire’s Dialogical Learning in which individuals are empowered to become actors in the problem identification and solving process. Evaluation tools include de-identified socio-demographic surveys, daily activities feedback, and closing program evaluations assessing overall experience and satisfaction.

Results: Units of measurement for results will include improvement of following: understanding of health disparities in Latino and underserved populations, interprofessional relationships of healthcare careers, confidence and knowledge to pursue a career in the healthcare field, and the role of public health in their own communities. Raw results will be assembled at the completion of the program and prepared to present.  

Conclusions: Further examining Latinos’ educational journeys will help researchers, educators, and institutional agents better understand their unique needs and challenges, as well as provide information for culturally-competent programming initiatives.