UMKC Health Professions Students Selected for Missouri AHEC Scholars

by West Central Missouri AHEC

The West Central Missouri Area Health Education Center has selected seven medical students from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine and ten students from the School of Dentistry to join the nationally recognized AHEC Scholars program. Local AHEC Scholars will join health professions students from all over Missouri and nationally to participate in activities designed to promote a greater understanding of the issues that impact individual and community health care.

Selected medical students are Ethan Nguyen, Eric Chai, Katelyn Junghans, Libby Lueck, Rachel Perera, Shekhar Gugnani, and Vani Patel. Selected dental students are Ann Coleman, Arnulfo Pulido, Caleb Kline, Chad Blaylock, Caitlin Ruth, Elise Baumann, Hannah Lehnhoff, Kylee Meloy, Maddie Janes, and Peyton Kusgen.

AHEC Scholars is a two-year program designed to promote a greater understanding of the issues that impact individual and community healthcare. The program provides opportunities for students to improve the health status and outcomes in their communities through service projects and civic engagement, interdisciplinary training in rural and underserved clinical settings, and by increased awareness of topics including, behavioral and oral health integration, social determinants of health, cultural competency, practice transformation, and other current and emerging health issues.

“Missouri AHEC Scholars are a part of a national initiative to prepare tomorrow’s healthcare professionals to become leaders in interprofessional, transformative practice who serve those who need it the most,” said Stephanie Taylor, Director of the West Central Missouri AHEC. “These students will collaborate with other students representing various health professions including nursing, medical, dental, pharmacy, therapy, and allied health fields and position themselves to join or lead a diverse and culturally competent health workforce. We are very excited to include students from UMKC programs in this group.”

AHEC Scholars is funded by the Health Resources and Administration Association (HRSA) with support from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. For more information about the AHEC Scholars program contact Stephanie Taylor at 816-634-3346 or email stephanie.taylor@hccnetwork.org.