FY25 Alaska Indians into Medicine (InMed) - The Alaska Indians into Medicine (InMed) project, implemented by the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), aims to address key gaps and remove barriers to support Alaska Native students to enter health professions and ultimately serve other Alaska Natives (AN). While the American Indian/Alaska Native population is the largest minority group in the state, making up 16% of Alaskans, only 4-5% of those enrolling in higher education for health training are AI/AN. Alaska has significant health needs (the highest teen suicide rate in the nation, almost 20% of the population abusing alcohol, 98% of the state’s land area and population considered underserved, etc.) that are not being met, especially in the most rural areas. Recruiting and retaining qualified Alaska Native health workers is the best way for the state to meet the ever-increasing health needs of its rural communities. To achieve this purpose of increasing the number of Alaska Native health professionals serving other Alaska Natives, Alaska InMed will focus on three high-impact projects aimed at supporting students and removing barriers in three different stages of the health student pipeline: 1. Health career exposure programming for kindergarten through 8th grade- By partnering yearly with 3-5 Alaska school districts, Alaska InMed will provide introductory exposure to health careers to 50-100 rural elementary and middle school students each year. These health career camps and courses will spark interest in the state’s youngest students and earliest members of the health profession pipeline, showing them early in their educational journey what is possible for them. In addition, partnership with the Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association to provide virtual career exposure opportunities to reach 100 AN middle schoolers annually. 2. Della Keats summer intensive for 11th and 12th graders- AN high school upperclassmen from all six regions of Alaska (around 15 per year) who are interested in pursuing a health career will be able to participate in a residential program that provides students with invaluable enrichment in math and science, college credits, experience living a college-like lifestyle, and build confidence that they can succeed in a college health program. 3. Alaska Native health student learning community for undergraduate students- Alaska InMed will create an unprecedented learning community for AN undergraduate students interested in pursuing a health career. It will support 100% of UAA’s AN students with services for academic skills, mental health and cultural well-being, and career preparation. The goal is to increase the graduation rate within 6 years of enrollment by 20%. The Alaska InMed programs aim to reach the state’s small and spread out Native population not with high numbers of participants, but with programs that significantly impact the future of the young people who participate. All three programs will be guided by an advisory board including AN representation from around the state and key industries. In addition, qualified AN students and community members will be recruited and hired for needed support positions. Through these three programs, Alaska InMed will support AN students and young health professionals in an enormous state with significant needs, thus responding to workforce disparities and assisting in transforming Alaska Native healthcare.
