The scarcity of disadvantaged and Latino people in the health professions has long been realized. This project will address the shortage of disadvantaged and Latinos practicing in the health care field in the San Luis Valley and how the Summer Health Careers Institute and the Student Health Careers Guild can address this problem.  “Grow Your Own” Summer Health Careers Institute and Student Health Careers Guild, is an evidence-based program which identifies, selects, enrolls, educates and tracks high school students in the pursuit of health careers.  It commences in mid June and continues through the entire regular school year thereafter.  It is designed to work with high school students from the San Luis Valley in an academic environment for a summer and the subsequent school year.  This program has been administered at the San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center since 1979.  In a twenty five year survey of this program completed on June 2008, possibly the most significant finding was that 44% of high school students who have participated in this program are today employed in a health careers occupation!

Summer Health Careers Institute
Making aspirin in Chemistry class		Suturing a pig’s foot!
2008 SHCI Students		2009 SHCI Students

Summer Health Careers Guild
Session on college student services with Parents and Students		Session on “College in Colorado” with Parents and Students
Session on Critical Thinking with Parents and Students		Session on “College in Colorado” with Parents and Students