CSUB partners with COPE Health Scholars

New program will show pre-health students variety of healthcare careers

By California State University, Bakersfield

March 8^th, 2021

When students think of a career in healthcare, they might first think of becoming a doctor or a nurse. But the field is much wider, with many more career paths, than students might initially realize. California State University, Bakersfield’s new Department of Education grant-funded Pathways Adelante pre-health programming will help students see the other possibilities, and so will CSUB’s new collaboration with the COPE Health Scholars program.

The COPE Health Scholars program will give first- and second-year, pre-health students hands-on experience in a variety of hospital and clinic settings. Over 15 months, students will rotate through different departments to see what jobs are out there and what jobs they might like to pursue.

“This program will directly provide the experiences and professional networking that will give a student confidence in their career decision or provide a different path to explore,” said Esteban Campa, Senior Program Manager at COPE Health Solutions, which oversees COPE Health Scholars. “What better way to prepare for graduate school and/or a future career than by gaining real-world experience in your field of interest, networking and building professional relationships while completing your undergraduate studies?”

The university’s School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering will fund first- and second-year pre-health students’ participation in the COPE Health Scholars program through the $3 million Title V grant it received from the Department of Education. This grant will fund a new public health degree and career exploration for pre-health students.

“Many of our students have a desire to work in a profession where they can serve their community and help improve the quality of life,” said Dr. Todd McBride, interim dean of NSME. “Getting your foot in the door and making connections within the healthcare field can be intimidating and may discourage students from pursuing their goal. The COPE Health Scholars program eliminates that barrier and is a tremendous opportunity for our students to get real-world, hands-on training in multiple health-related professions. It provides a window into what is possible and sets students on paths that otherwise might not be followed.”

CSUB and COPE have worked together since 2018, first starting a program in partnership with Adventist Health Bakersfield. Although COPE Health Scholars has long offered similar programs for future nurses and doctors to get experience in different specialties, this is the first it has created to highlight other health careers.

“The career exploration goals of the Pathways Adelante grant is in line with our regular programming; however, students will gain experience in broader areas of healthcare that will include clinical units, healthcare administration departments, care coordination roles and community health projects,” Campa said. “All of these areas encompass various different careers that students may not be aware of yet.”

Students in the program will rotate into a new area in the healthcare field every three months. More than just observing professionals at work, the students will fulfill key roles that contribute to patient and community care needs. The program will help students focus in on specific career paths and give them entry-level job experience that will help them get jobs after graduation.

“CSUB and the COPE Health Scholars program are looking for students who are interested in the healthcare field, are passionate about helping people and are open to growing as a professional,” Campa said. “We recognize that many students don’t have prior healthcare experience and this may be their first time getting involved. Lack of prior healthcare experience is not a barrier and we recommend that students still apply.”

To apply to the COPE Health Scholars program, students should visit copehealthscholars.org and submit an application. From there, a group of students will be chosen for interviews before being offered a spot in the program.

First- and second-year CSUB pre-health students should also fill out a second application for CSUB funding to support participation in the COPE Health Scholars program at bit.ly/COPEwaiver.

Participation in previous offerings of the COPE Health Scholars program has already led to success for CSUB students. Campa said Adventist Health Bakersfield recently hired eight program participants as nursing assistants to support the increasing demand of patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“CSUB students represent the future healthcare workforce for Kern County, and they will play a major role in improving the health of our communities,” he said. “Our partnership will provide the needed experiences and exposure for students in preparation for graduate school or entry-level jobs.”

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