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AHEC offering minorities health career opportunities The South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium Future Health Professionals Academy is offering two tracks for high school graduates interested in a health professions career, pre-nursing and pre-dentistry.   The academy was created three years ago with a pre-nursing track in the hopes of providing minority, under-represented or disadvantaged students with the information, contacts, mentors, and tools to successfully prepare for and complete a professional degree in nursing.   In addition to providing a unique and challenging experience for students, the academy also helps place minorities on the path to joining the fight in ending health disparities. The academy is designed to increase the retention and graduation rates of minority and disadvantaged students within the nursing and dentistry professions.   “The idea is to expose them to the kinds of skills, tools, and contacts that they’ll need to make it through a nursing or dentistry program,” said Angelica Williams, SC AHEC Student Development and Diversity program director. “This program also serves to eliminate any surprises within the curriculum or requirements that these students might encounter and shows them positive role models within a particular field. We’ve had a wonderful time with the students each year and look forward to hosting this year’s expanded program.”   This year’s program dates are June 5 – 16, with the first week at MUSC and the second at Furman University in Greenville. All applicants must be high school graduates by June with a GPA of 3.0, a South Carolina resident, and considered to be minority, under-represented or disadvantaged. Those who participate in the nursing track must be currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited college or university for fall 2006 with an interest in pursuing a career in professional nursing.   Those interested in the newly formed dentistry track must have completed a minimum of 12 academic credit hours from an accredited college or university with an interest in science or pre-health/pre-dental.   Applications are due by April 7 and must include a $10 application fee, a two-page essay, two letters of recommendation, transcripts, and immunization documentation along with the filled-out application form. For information or to get an application, contact Williams at 792-4432 or visit http://www.scahec.net and click on the Student Development and Diversity link.   The academy is a collaborative effort of South Carolina AHEC, the MUSC College of Nursing, the MUSC College of Dental Medicine, REACH 2010, and Project EXPORT of MUSC.     Friday, March 24, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.