Open AccessService-Learning in the Virtual Space: Mixed Method Analysis of STEPS Pipeline Program
Author(s) -
Katherine Ceglio,
Julianne Stout
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
purdue journal of service learning and international engagement
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2331-9143
pISSN - 2331-9135
DOI - 10.5703/1288284317420
Subject(s) - health care , service learning , pipeline (software) , medical education , economic shortage , pandemic , service (business) , covid-19 , medicine , business , psychology , computer science , political science , marketing , pedagogy , linguistics , philosophy , disease , pathology , government (linguistics) , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , programming language
North Central Indiana Area Health Education Center (NCI-AHEC) aims to develop the healthcare infrastructure by encouraging rural students to pursue healthcare professions. In light of rural healthcare shortages found in Indiana, they implemented a pipeline program, Successfully Training and Educating Pre-medical Students (STEPS). This program offers mentoring and educational assistance to pre-health-professional undergraduate students at Indiana University – Kokomo. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Purdue research team partnered with NCI-AHEC to conduct a completely virtual mixed method study that examined the initial impact of the STEPS program and made recommendations for improvement. The opportunities for virtual collaboration created during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for thorough evaluation of NCI-AHEC’s STEPS program. Initial evaluation suggests that the STEPS program is beneficial in assisting rural students on their path to a career in healthcare. Using the actionable recommendations that came from this study, NCI-AHEC will contribute to a growing generation of capable, well-prepared healthcare providers in rural Indiana.