Omaha AHEC Newsletter

January- March 2022 | Volume 009

• In the Spotlight: UHOP Scholar Eternity Gines
• COVID-19: Boosters Shots
• AHEC Scholars Workshop

• Where does your interest in the medical field stem from?

My main interest in the medical field stems from a passion for science and people. I knew from a young age that a career in healthcare is what I want to achieve. These passions have been furthered due to the amazing experiences and relationships I have formed with my own healthcare providers. My healthcare providers have inspired me to do something more with my interests and have provided great examples of what a good healthcare professional looks like. 

• What do you like about UHOP?

I like that UHOP provides me with constant support. It provides me not only with a cohort that I can now consider close friends, but with mentors and professionals that are always pushing me to do my best. I’m always given the ability to reach out if I’m struggling with anything school-related or not!

• What are your hobbies?

I am a very artistic person and I enjoy things like playing the piano and painting. Although I have a heavy course load being a pre-med student, I am still able to enjoy my hobbies and spending time with those I love. This is a good reminder for every pre-med student that you still have time for the things you enjoy!

Get your COVID-19 Booster, Today!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending booster shots for those eligible. You can find more information below or visit the CDC COVID-19 webpage to learn more.

Who should get a booster shot?

Everyone over the age of 18 years old.

When am I eligible for a booster shot?

If you received the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine, you are eligible 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series (dose 1 & 2). If you received the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, you are eligible 2 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination.

Which booster should I choose?

Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the USA. The CDC now allow for mix & matching doses for booster shots.

Where can I get a booster shot? How do I schedule an appointment?

Check out the links below to sign up for your booster shot.



Vaccines.gov | Douglas County Health Department | Nebraska Medicine |

Hy-Vee Pharmacy | CVS | Walgreens

AHEC Scholars Fall Workshop

The Omaha AHEC hosted its Fall Workshop on Thursday, December 9th in partnership with OneWorld Community Health Centers. This workshop focused on discussions of social determinants affecting health outcomes, and how to actively apply cultural respect and humility.

Our OneWorld presenters included:

Andrea Skolkin - CEO

Nikki West - Social Work Supervisor

Tasha Conley - Director of Nursing

Jeremy Howe - Physician and Associate Director of OneWorld Satellite Clinics

Mindee Swanson – Nurse Practitioner (Expert in children and adolescent care)



Panel 1: Social Determinants of Health

According to Health People 2030 "social determinants of health are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks."

Our OneWorld panelists provided examples of social determinants of health that they have personally witnessed with their patients. This includes food insecurities, language barriers, barriers to accessing resources of fear of government, their living atmospheres, transportation issues, and paying for appointments. They also provided examples of challenges they have encountered on addressing social determinants that relate to their own health, and how to stay educated.

We learned that OneWorld tries to remove some of the barriers by:

-Offering transportation to appointments

-Medical-Legal Partnership with Immigrant Legal Center

-Medication Assistance Program

-Food pantries on site & food deliveries

Our panelists were able to offer advice to our AHEC Scholars on how to identify and intervene when they spot social determinants at play. This includes being sensitive, creating a therapeutic relationship with patients, being aware of your body language and communicating with compassion and sensitivity, and overall treating the person not the medical problem.

Panel 2: Cultural Competency & Humility

According to the American Psychological Association "cultural competence is loosely defined as the ability to understand, appreciate and interact with people from cultures or belief systems different from one's own."

Our panelists gave us their definitions of what it means to be culturally competent, especially in relation to the healthcare field. These examples included displaying empathy and trying to put yourself in the patients' shoes, balancing your cultural competence with individuality, being aware of the patients' culture and their practices, removing personal biases, understanding our own cultures, and asking the patient questions.

They provided examples of how to display cultural competency and humility when working with patients. Our panelists discussed that asking open-ended questions is important. Further, showing that you care and displaying respect are vital in order to make the patient feel at ease.

To learn more about OneWorld, please visit OneWorld (oneworldomaha.org).

Connect with us:



@omahaahec