Development of Educational Programs to Meet National Goals

ABSTRACT Allied Health Project Project Title: Development of Educational Programs to Meet National Goals Organization Name: University of Kentucky Address: 900 S. Limestone St, Lexington, KY 40536-0200 Project Director: Doris J. Baker Project Period: July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007 Phone: (859)323-1100 ext 80854 Fax: (859) 257-2454 E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Narrative: The Divisions of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS; Medical Technology) and Clinical Nutrition (CN) in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Kentucky (UK) propose to collaborate to meet national health care needs. Faculty will prepare graduates in clinical laboratory science and clinical nutrition to meet national shortages and will provide instruction for both students and the health care community in four targeted areas: (1) emergency preparedness; (2) genetic counseling; (3) obesity and related co-morbidities; and (4) assessment issues in the geriatric population. Faculty will combine their varied expertise in clinical microbiology, nutrition, clinical chemistry, immunology, food safety, geriatrics, and reproductive laboratory science to develop education modules in the targeted areas to be included in the curriculum for the CLS degree program and the CN certificate. To increase enrollment in CLS and CN, minority and underserved populations in Kentucky will be targeted for recruitment of students into the two programs. Program courses will be offered through distributive learning and community-based clinical rotations that may be completed in medically underserved regions to attract students from these regions and encourage graduates to return to these areas to practice. The compact nature ofthe programs will provide rapid transition training programs in allied health fields to individuals who have baccalaureate degrees in health-related sciences. Information gained through the project will be disseminated through journal articles and professional conference presentations. The education modules developed for CLS and CN curricula will be offered to other divisions within the UK College of Health Sciences and relevant agencies of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for further dissemination. Formative evaluation will be gathered through participant surveys of module and course presentations. Formative evaluation will be used to improve teaching and learning activities. Summative evaluation will be gathered through enrollee and graduate numbers and demographics. The project will be used to develop increased recruitment in medically underserved regions and increased collaboration for teaching and learning with clinical facilities within medically underserved regions; the College will use the development ofthese practices to continue to provide educational opportunities for underserved regions after funding from the grant has ceased.