Over the past year, the COVID-19 global pandemic has highlighted the critical role that health professionals play in our society. This report looks closely at ADT [Associate Degree for Transfer] awards in health fields and discusses practices and challenges relayed by administrators at campuses with high rates of ADT conferral and acceptance in…

The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to determine if and to what extent there was a difference between Generation Z and Millennial dental hygiene students' preferred learning styles in Southern California and on social media platforms in the United States. Using the generational theory and the Felder-Soloman Learning Styles…

Community engagement concepts incorporated into service-learning experiences help students in the health professions to connect classroom work with clinical practice and learn strategies and skills to improve community health. Service learning improves team skills, allows students to gain knowledge about communities where they train, and connects…

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the delivery of education as many occupational therapy (OT) programs temporarily transitioned to remote learning. The purpose of this article is to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) pass rates. A mixed methods research design was used…

Student success has been a prevalent topic among the nation's community colleges. Guided pathways and its four pillars are part of the community college effort to enhance student success. The California community college system is host to many preparatory athletic training programs which also serve as Sports Medicine Preparation Pathways (SMPPs).…

To assess the self-reported professional identity of healthcare majors at a large public university, and to understand the degree to which the students perceive their healthcare programs support the development of this identity. An online, modified version of the Professional Identity Five-Factor Scale (Tan, Van der Molen, and Schmidt [2017]. 'A…

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine if exposure to a short-term ultrasound basic biology and anatomy course can promote interest in health careers and other science-related endeavors among DHH students. Design/methodology/approach: This was a single-site, prospective observational study of DHH high school students at a Southern…

Ableism is an inconspicuous phenomenon within the allied health field which may play a role in the lack of quality care often observed for people with disabilities (PWD). Since individuals' general perceptions and attitudes toward people with disabilities develop in the early stages of their academic life, it is critical to examine the education…

Background: The mental health of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT), and Doctorate of Occupation Therapy (OTD) students was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigators explored the impact of the pandemic on the students' mental health. Methods: The study included 90 students from the DPT, MOT, and OTD…

Today, we revisit our initial stance of eliminating standardized test scores from the college admissions process to improve equity and student diversity. With refreshed data about test-optional admissions, we address the import of institutional responsiveness to redress persistent equity gaps that impact our state's workforce diversity and hiring…

An aging population coupled with changing technology means there are growing dentistry needs across the country--and community colleges are there to train the workforce. Dental accreditations and degrees are currently available at two-year colleges nationwide--including the farthest reaches of Alaska--pointing to an industry very much in demand.…

Purpose: With a growing need to assess multiple aspects of healthcare education, the goal of this study was to develop an innovative web-based application to streamline assessment processes and meet the increasingly complex role of the educational manager. Design/methodology/approach: AARDVARC (Automated Approach to Reviewing and Developing…

Community college faculty have always been more than classroom teachers, but during the pandemic their roles as counselors, navigators and sources of needed referrals perhaps have never been more paramount--or appreciated. Beyond the dizzying logistics and scrambled pedagogy involved in switching from in-person to online learning, faculty have…

In 2019, the California Future Health Workforce Commission released "Meeting the Demand for Health," a report that highlights recommendations for addressing California's workforce gaps: the state does not have enough of the right types of health workers in the right places to meet the needs of its growing, aging, and increasingly diverse…

This report outlines key data elements related to the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), and Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) for the 2021-22 academic year and is a core resource for policymakers, institutional leaders, counselors and other stakeholders across the region. This report…