Student/Resident Experiences and Rotations in Community Health (SEARCH)

The Florida AHEC SEARCH program provides opportunities for health professions students and residents to serve on multidisciplinary health care teams in underserved communities throughout the state of Florida. Florida AHEC SEARCH supports the mission of the National Health Service Corps Program (NHSC) which is to ensure access to primary health care services by underserved communities and vulnerable populations through the recruitment and retention of primary health care professionals in federally designated primary care, dental and mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

Florida AHEC SEARCH provides opportunities for students to put their classroom experiences in practice in a health care setting and to train on multidisciplinary primary health care teams. The SEARCH curriculum is designed to nurture the development of culturally competent, community focused primary care and allied health care providers.

Florida AHEC SEARCH students will select one of five clinical track rotations for a 6-week community-based clinical experience at a community health center. Students will form interdisciplinary teams comprising of three students each.  Florida AHEC SEARCH scholars will receive a $3,000 stipend payable upon the successful completion of clinical rotation requirements.  In addition to the clinical experience, students will be required to complete the following: a community project proposal, an assessment of the community, a community project as part of the interdisciplinary team and participate in three webinars prior to the summer experience. A project report or PowerPoint presentation and a 2 page reflection paper on the student’s experience will be required as well.  Students are expected to participate in a statewide networking meeting with other scholars and preceptors and participate in the group presentation of their community project.

Eligibility

NHSC-scholars and non-NHSC scholars from the following health professions will be recruited to participate in Florida AHEC SEARCH:

• allopathic and osteopathic residents in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and psychiatry;
• medical students, dentists and dental hygienists;
• clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurse specialists, marriage and family therapists;
• family/primary care nurse practitioners;
• primary care physician assistants; and
• certified nurse-midwives.

Students completing at least one year of the health professional training program that are in good academic standing are eligible to apply.

How to Apply: Florida SEARCH 2011 

Applications are being accepted for June - July, 2011 SEARCH Rotations

Applications are due by March 15, 2011

Follow this link to start the application process:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SEARCH2011 
SEARCH Application For Reference Only – PDF Version

For more information, contact:

Debbie Hawkins, SEARCH Project Manager
dhawkins@ufl.edu
UF AHEC Program Office
2750 Suite 102, NW 43rd Street
Gainesville, Florida 32606
352-273-8530 or 352-392-1022 (fax)

This program is funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. http://www.flahec.org/FloridaSEARCH.asp