Perspective Chapter: “You Can’t Be What You Can’t See” - A Longitudinal Health Sciences Mentorship Program for Rural Schools

Most rural communities in Washington state are medically underserved. Without health care providers in the community to serve as role models, most rural youth do not envision themselves pursuing health care careers. Increasing the number of students from rural communities pursuing health care careers is arguably the best way to increase the number of providers returning to rural communities to practice. This chapter is a review of an ongoing longitudinal mentorship program designed to expose students in rural and underserved communities to health science careers and to help them develop the academic skills and personal traits needed for success. The program builds across all years of middle and high school and is designed to equip high school graduates for immediate employment or for post-secondary education in the health sciences. The program also has positive effects on the mentors and educates them on the challenges faced by rural and underserved communities. While the impact of the program is being qualitatively assessed, the outcomes on career choices will not be fully known until students graduate and ultimately enter the workforce. There is a high level of confidence that the program will increase the number of ‘home grown’ health care professionals to serve these communities.