Merrimack Valley AHEC Health Scholars Program

In collaboration with Merrimack College

Merrimack Valley Area Health Education Center (MV-AHEC) is pleased to offer the AHEC Health Scholars Program in collaboration with Merrimack College (MC) in North Andover, MA. AHEC Health Scholars is a program for nursing and health sciences students interested in supplementing their education by gaining additional knowledge and experience in local community need. This program offers a defined set of academic and community-based activities that is supported by interdisciplinary curricula.

Why become an AHEC Scholar?

• To enhance interdisciplinary skills to better support patient centered care
• To have opportunities to work with students, faculty and community professionals outside the traditional classroom
• To create networking opportunities, both within a discipline and outside it
• To receive hands-on learning and education that will prepare you to work in medically underserved communities, which have a high need for trained professionals
• To receive regalia recognition upon program completion, and have a distinction from a nationally recognized program added to your resume

How will the program be offered?

Through lecture, hands-on activities, simulations, local field trips, guest lectures, and simulations that will expose, engage and facilitate patient centered focus in health care delivery. Students have discussions, work on community projects, and reflect on the impact the topics have on patients, community and healthcare providers.

Program duration is 2 years

Who is eligible to become a Scholar?

Any sophomore or junior student in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences after taking Introduction to Public Health. Students are required to apply for this program. For more information, contact:

Ashley Hall, MS
AHEC Director and Adjunct Faculty
hallan@merrimack.edu
(978) 722-2864

Traci Alberti, PhD, FNP-B
Associate Dean of Nursing
albertit@merrimack.edu
(978) 837-5221

Program description

The Lawrence Family Medicine Residency Program and the Merrimack Valley Area Health Education Center are delighted to present a unique two week live-in program with the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center Spanish Immersion Program.

The program blends the practice of medicine with an immersion experience. It allows medical students to improve their medical Spanish while deepening their understanding of Hispanic culture in the United States. The students will spend most mornings seeing Spanish speaking patients in a setting with a completely bilingual care team. The afternoons will be dedicated to formal small group Spanish language didactics, as well as attendance at cultural events. Each student then spends the evening and the night with their carefully chosen family.

The Spanish immersion program is part of a four-week rotation. Here is information about the two week live-in experience:

• Who can apply: Medical students in their fourth year looking to increase their knowledge of the Hispanic culture as well as their interaction skills with Latinos.
• Program start/end: Your two week live-in experience starts on the second week of your rotation on a preset date and ends the week after on a preset day.
• Environment: Spend the day interacting with the Latino culture. Be prepared to have fun learning Spanish and Spanish-related customs. Participate in activities such as dancing Caribbean music, cooking Spanish food, shopping in Latino stores, etc.
• Classes: Formal Spanish classes will be available depending on participants’ language skill levels.
• Transportation: Participants are responsible for their own transportation.

Weekday Schedule

• Mornings: Clinical work at GLFHC or other activities as scheduled
• Afternoons: Language and cultural activities
• Evenings: Activities with host family or clinical work

Apply now

Request an application by emailing aortiz@glfhc.org.

For more information

Merrimack Valley AHEC
c/o Greater Lawrence Family Health Center
34 Haverhill St.
Lawrence, MA 01841

Sponsors:

• Greater Lawrence Family Health Center
• Merrimack Valley Areaa Health Education Center
• Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
• MassAHEC Network / UMass Chan Medical School

At GLFHC, we offer culturally-competent Spanish translation services that go beyond mere communication. We understand that reaching out to consumers in this area requires more than just words – it requires respect and effectiveness.

Our team is led by Ana Ortiz, a highly experienced Cultural Language Specialist with over three decades of experience at GLFHC’s Area Health Education Center (AHEC). With her wealth of regional and cultural knowledge, she is an invaluable resource in translating our health center’s internal and external marketing materials.

Whether you’re aiming to expand your reach with the Hispanic and Latinx market segment or to effectively communicate with your Hispanic and Latinx employees, our AHEC Spanish Translation Services can help you connect with this population in culturally-competent Spanish.

For more information, please contact Ana Ortiz via email at aortiz@glfhc.org.

Merrimack Valley AHEC offers health literacy classes for patients and health literacy training for healthcare professionals.

Health Literacy (HEAL) Program for ESOL Adults

The HEAL Program is a FREE eight-week course for adults that aims to increase their knowledge, confidence, and skills in basic health care topics and practices.

In the course, students learn how to:

• Describe symptoms to a doctor
• Read and understand medication instructions
• Use Urgent Care instead of the ER when appropriate
• Fill out medical forms
• Ask questions to better understand diagnosis,prescriptions, and next steps
• Make lifestyle changes that can improve health

Who should take the class?

• The HEAL Course is taught in English because the goal is to improve ESOL skills.
• Learners should have basic verbal, writing, and reading English skills.

After the program completion, HEAL learners in Lawrence had a 15% increase in their confidence, including:

• Being able to ask the doctor or pharmacist questions
• Making changes to improve their personal health
• Deciding when to go to the hospital emergency room

Benefits of the HEAL Program:

• Improved patient health, safety, and satisfaction
• Improved patient engagement
• Fewer hospital admissions and readmissions
• Reduced length of hospital stays
• Decreased use of emergency services
• Significantly reduced health care costs

If you want to learn more about about the HEAL learners program, contact Ashley Hall, AHEC Director and HEAL instructor, at ashley.hall@glfhc.org  or (978) 722-2864.

Health Literacy (HEAL) Program for Healthcare Professionals

About the Presentation

This Health Education and Literacy (HEAL) training raises awareness of low health literacy and provides practical tools and strategies to work with patients and the community you serve. Key topics include:

• Identifying patients with low health literacy
• Communicating clearly, effectively, and respectfully
• Creating easy-to-read materials
• Checking for comprehension
• Being culturally sensitive

About the Presenter

Ashley Hall, MS, is Director of Merrimack Valley AHEC. She is a HEAL Certified Instructor & Certified Health Literacy Specialist at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.

For questions or to schedule your presentation today, contact Hall at ashley.hall@glfhc.org  or (978) 722-2864.