High School Medical Career Academies and Pathways: An Educator's Perspective 
Curriculum Development
In order to create and deliver appropriate health care programs of study, teachers require an understanding of design elements for effectve curriculum that supports health and medical sciences academy and pathway programs.
Below is a list of several available resources for curriculum development.
Connect Ed http://www.connectedcalifornia.org/ offers a Model for Multidisciplinary Integrated Curriculum in Health Science Academies. Curriculum integration allows academies to use their unique school-within-a-school structure to engage all students in learning.
In November, 2008 ConnectEd presented at a San Diego Science Alliance workshop and provided educators with the framework and curriculum to successfully introduce or enhance integration in their health science academies. See ConnectEd’s presentation here and also review ConnectEd’s Toolkit that is designed to help integrate career technical and academic education in a career academy. ConnectEd offers free online access to 10 integrated health science curriculum units. |
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Professional Development Opportunities
Teachers and support staff recognize that interest and enthusiasm alone are not enough to fuel the growth and development of successful academies. As part of a larger goal of creating robust science curriculum that includes "real world" applicability, teachers need opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills related to science, health and medical topics.
Below is a list of several places to locate timely and topically appropriate professional development opportunities.
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Career Academy and Pathway Information
Several studies have shown the
benefits of Career Academies in helping students succeed. From those studies a variety of support networks, collaborative organizations and general knowledge bases have emerged to further support and assistance to newly developed and expanding academies and pathway programs.
Below is a list of a few for review.
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San Diego Specific Outreach Opportunties
The San Diego region is fortunate to have many educational, industry and community based organizations supporting the over two dozen high school health science academies and pathway programs. The San Diego Science Alliance’s, Health Science Initiative works with several local organizations who share our mission to support high school health academies or pathway programs and enhance diverse students’ health and science education experience.
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In partnership with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Tech Prep / Career Pathway Connections to support Career-Technical Education (CTE) linkages between the K-14 systems and community colleges, RAHSI provides information about high schools in the San Diego region, health career opportunities and much more. |
Palomar Pomerado Health System GoMed Program |
“Grow Our Own Medical Employee Development” offers various curriculums to local high school and college students through health academies, internships, scholarships, and mentoring. |
Talent Search at San Diego State University’s Precollege Institute |
Identifies qualified youths and guides them in the process of enrolling in an institution of post-secondary education and providing information on the availability of financial aid. The program provides academic, career and financial counseling to students in selected schools in the San Diego City Schools and Sweetwater Union High School District. |
Gear Up at San Diego State University’s Precollege Institute |
A federally funded college preparatory program for educationally underserved students. It provides counseling and mentoring, test preparation, field trips and activities, and college campus visits. |
Scripps Health/San Diego Border Area Health Education Center |
Engages youth in health activities that promote health careers and collaborates with several local schools and community-based organizations to develop and implement programs like the School-to-Health Career Mentoring Program and Camp Scripps that provide youth with positive mentoring experiences. |
San Diego and Imperial Counties Regional Health Occupations Resource Center |
Hosted by Grossmont College, provides workplace skills and assessments, curriculum, computer-based training and distance education and access to the regions community colleges. |
Sharp HealthCare |
Partners with local high schools to develop science curriculum, as well as delivering the “Mediversity” program for job shadowing at Sharp Memorial Hospital. |
Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) |
Funded by the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, the Howard Hughes Mentor Institute (HHMI) and the Health Resources Services Administration's Health Careers Opportunity Program, COPC is designed to develop students' understanding of and ability to do scientific inquiry. The program applies the National Science Education Standards to the teaching curriculum and aims to supplement and improve academic achievement, enhance scientific literacy and prepare seventh- through twelfth-grade students from disadvantaged backgrounds for a career in a science- or health-related field. |
The UniversityLink Medical Science Program |
Includes lectures on health sciences, minority health and culturally competent medicine, study skills and standardized test taking training and long-term mentoring and career guidance to ensure academic success. |
UCSD Health Sciences Institute: Research Methodology Training Lab (RMTL) |
In order to address health disparities, RMTL trains students from disadvantaged backgrounds to conduct research in a biochemical science lab to prepare them to enter graduate programs in the health sciences. |
Amylin Pharmaceuticals |
Participates in the San Diego High School and Technology Fair; High School Job Shadow Fair, provides support for the UCSD, Preuss School, and has provided funding to train students as math and science teachers at UC schools. |
Biogen Idec |
A San Diego biotech company that has a Community Lab where students can experience working with a Biogen Idec scientists. It is open to middle and high school students and their teachers. The lab provides students with an opportunity to conduct science in a professional laboratory outside of the classroom with both scientists and teachers providing instruction. |
BioBridge at University of San Diego |
Contains several initiatives to bring scientists, leading technology companies and science educators to many of San Diego’s high school health academy and pathways. |
San Diego Science Festival |
A month long event that concludes with the San Diego Science EXPO in Balboa Park where industry, higher education and organizations showcase hands-on science activities to the public.
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