College of Health Professions, Pulaski Tech Team Up with Internship Program
Interns from Pulaski Technical College learn about the radiologic technology program at UAMS.
Dec. 18, 2013 | A group of 10 students from Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock spent three intensive days at the College of Health Professions in October with presentations about available programs to continue their education and many hands-on activities to acquaint them with the possibilities.
The group of 10 interns have some fun, posing with “ICU” the unofficial mascot of the College of Health Professions.
Organizers of the first Pulaski Technical College-UAMS College of Health Professions Internship proclaimed the program a success and hopefully the start of an annual event. In the three days spent on the UAMS campus, the students participated in two-hour sessions with six programs: Emergency Medical Sciences, Ophthalmic Medical Technology, Radiologic Imaging Sciences, Laboratory Sciences/Cytology, Respiratory Care and Surgical Technology.
An intern from Pulaski Technical College works to place a breathing tube down the trachea of a manikin.
The emphasis of each session was with hands-on activities, giving the interns the chance to look at X-ray images, gown up for surgery on a manikin and try to insert a breathing tube into the trachea of a manikin. In addition to meeting with program representatives, the interns also visited with the college’s Welcome Center and advisors to find out how they might enter one of the UAMS programs.
“I was fortunate to have had two wonderful and impactful internship experiences while I was an undergraduate that helped guide my career,” said Susan Williamson, the College of Health Professions’ college recruiter. “Pulaski Technical College includes many first generation college students and others who just may not be aware of career opportunities in the health professions — and I’m hopeful this internship could serve as a gateway.”
The selection process for the internships was based on criteria including grade point average, a minimum of 16 credit hours in science and math subjects and a personal essay. More than 40 applications were narrowed down to the first group of 10 interns.
“Our students were excited about the chance to find out more about careers in the health professions and really responded to the hands-on aspect of the internship sessions,” said Martha Eshleman, M.D., an instructor of anatomy and physiology in the Biology Department at Pulaski Technical College. “This is a great fit for Pulaski Tech and UAMS to promote career opportunities for a group of motivated and exceptional students.”
Pulaski Technical College, with an enrollment of more than 11,000, is a comprehensive two-year community college with a focus on offering programs to aid workforce development and university-transfer. The institution also is a federally funded minority serving institution and the internship could be a student recruitment resource for the college to reach underserved communities and students from underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged students, Eshleman said.
Click here to see a set of photos from the internship on Flickr.
