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PacifiCare Latino Health Scholars Program

Encouraging Bilingual Students to Select the Health Professions

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• Severe underrepresentation of Latinos and Spanish-speakers in the health professions including medicine, nursing and allied health

• Growth of the Latino population in the United States requires training and recruitment of an ever-greater number of bilingual and bicultural professionals

Latinos & Health Professions

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Health Care Career Opportunities

• Health care is a fast and growing field with a high demand for bilingual professionals

• An expedited curriculum allows you to learn the necessary skills to enter the job market quickly

• Potential to earn between $19,000 - $42,000/ annually after graduation

• Medical careers often allow for flexibility in work schedules• The national vacancy rate for RNs is 11% which is an extreme

shortage. • The demand for bilingual nurses and doctors is a high due to

the increasing population of Latinos in the U.S.

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Latinos & Health Professions• Shortage results in a negative impact on the delivery

of health care services to the Latino community

• Communities need culturally competent and culturally sensitive professionals in all disciplines to address their needs with appropriate programs and services.

• Need for health professionals is outpacing the number of Latino physicians entering the healthcare system

• Bilingual, mid-level and ancillary professionals can support physician shortage

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Problems and Challenges• Underrepresentation of Latinos in the educational

pipeline of the health professions• Lack of adequate mechanisms for identifying,

recruiting, retaining and promoting Latinos in health and science professions

• Underfunding for Latinos in health & science education programs

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Key Strategies

• Promote the advancement of Latinos into the health professions• Disseminate information on financial assistance, such as

scholarships• Support and encourage Latino and Spanish-speaking students to

pursue careers in the health professions through community outreach efforts

Note to school districts: In selected areas PacifiCare may have

representatives available to provide an in-service on the advantage of

careers in healthcare. You may also post our link on you web-sites so

that students can more easily access the application and other

information available to them

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Latino Health Scholars Program• PacifiCare will grant (70) scholarships of $2,000 each to high school

seniors

• Requirements:

– Minimum 3.0 GPA (B average)

– Must have applied full-time to an accredited university, community college or technical school in a health care program

– Must speak Spanish fluently

– Demonstrate commitment to a career in the health care field

– To receive funds, you must provide proof of acceptance to an accredited college

– You must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or residency

Note to applicants: It is not a requirement to be Latino in order

to qualify for a scholarship, however, you must have the ability

to communicate effectively in English and Spanish.

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Latino Health Scholars ProgramFreedom Award

In addition to the 70 $2,000 scholarships in

2005 we will be awarding two $25,000 “Freedom

Award” scholarships in honor of U.S. Marine Sgt.

Rafael Peralta, who lost his life while saving the

lives of 5 other soldiers in Iraq. These awards will go to

the two most deserving bilingual and bicultural

students dedicated to pursuing careers in health care.

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Application Process• If the applicant meets the requirements, he/she must submit 2

copies of the following materials:– Typed, completed and signed application form.

– Transcripts from high school with cumulative GPA of 3.0 and above or minimum “B” average or better.

– Letter of recommendation from high school teacher or advisor

– Typed bilingual personal statement of not more than 2 pages describing your personal and academic accomplishments, community involvement, volunteer and leadership activities, academic plans and the reason you want a career in the health care field. (The same essay must be written twice. Once in English and the second in Spanish).

– Copy of permanent resident card (if applicable)

• Application deadline: May 31, 2005

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Approved Health Career Programs

• Programs may include, but are not limited to:– Nursing (RN, LVN) – Medical Interpretation– Health Claims Examiner– Health Information

Technology Programs– Pharmacy Technician– Public Health– Psychology– Pre-Med

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Summary• YOU are in demand!• The opportunity for YOU to be a part of the health

care industry is readily available!• Make a difference in someone’s life by working as a

health professional• If you qualify, apply for the Latino Health Scholars

program

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“Preocuparnos por su salud es importante, y hacer algo al respecto

es aún mejor”

• Caring is good. Doing something is better.