Volume 03 | July-Sept. 2020
July-September 2020
Omaha AHEC Newsletter
In this Issue:
  • AHEC & AHA COVID-19 Community Conversation Webinar

  • Urban Health Opportunities Program (UHOP)

  • Opioid Use Disorder Training Modules
AHEC & AHA COVID-19 Community Conversation Webinar
The Omaha AHEC and American Heart Association hosted a COVID-19 Community Conversation Webinar on April 20th (English) and April 21st (Spanish). This webinar explored:

  • The AHA's response to COVID-19
  • What heart disease / stroke patients should to protect themselves amidst COVID-19
  • Tips & strategies to support health and wellbeing as our community practices social distancing
  • Local resources for testing and volunteering to support COVID-19 control


Speakers included Armando De Alba Rosales, MD, MPH from UNMC's College of Public Health, Maya Saenz from KMTY 3 News Now, and Malka Sierra from the American Heart Association.

If you were unable to join us and are interested in viewing this webinar, please click the links below to fill out a registration form for access:


URBAN HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
(UHOP)
Former and current UHOP students attending the 2019 Annual UHOP Dinner. Not all UHOP Scholars were in attendance.
In 2016, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) began its partnership on an exciting new venture: the Urban Health Opportunities Program (UHOP). This program provides a unique opportunity for incoming freshman students pursuing a career as physicians. This competitive program offers tuition assistance at UNO starting freshman year for UHOP scholars, automatic UNO Pre-medical Committee sponsorship, mentoring by UNMC medical students, MCAT preparation assistance, opportunities to provide mentorship and successful program completion results in guaranteed admission to the UNMC Medical Doctorate (M.D.) program.

The purpose and mission of the UHOP is to "diversify the urban Nebraska primary care medical workforce by identifying and preparing qualified students from underrepresented groups to enter and succeed in medical school."

The Omaha AHEC, housed in UNO's Allwine Hall, has recently completed construction providing a study space for current UHOP students, equipped with technology, group and individual work spaces and comfortable seating. Dr. Paul Davis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology at UNO is the Director of the UHOP Program. Omaha AHEC director, Clare Maakestad, works one-on-one with first-year UHOP students acting as a mentor, providing support and advice for success. Health Careers Resource Center's lead pre-health advisor, Nadira Ford-Robbins works with UHOP students to ensure they are on the right track in terms of course registration and grades, while Health Careers Resource Center interns Jamie Bish, Shelby Rice and Savana Nawojski provide tutoring as needed in various subjects.

Requirements and Eligibility:

  • Apply as a high school senior
  • U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency
  • Nebraska Residency
  • High School GPA ≥3.0 and ACT Composite and Math Score ≥24
  • Recommendation letters
  • Demonstrate a strong interest in a career of medicine

For more information, please visit the UHOP Webpage by clicking on the button below or email premed@unomaha.edu . The next application cycle opens September 15, 2020 and applications are due on December 15, 2020.
OPIOID USE TRAINING MODULES
In the United States, 130 people die from an opioid overdose every day. In order to address this national crisis, it will take a concerted effort involving all members of the community through education, interventions and support. Two educational modules were developed by the Nebraska Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program and the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN). They were designed to provide an opportunity for the community to learn the best practices for providing and initiating treatment of opioid use disorder.

To access training modules, please click the button below. Modules will be available until November 21, 2020.

T hank you for subscribing to our newsletter. For any updates, upcoming events or Omaha AHEC news, please visit our webpage.