Abstract

Health and educational disparities are national issues in the United States. Research has shown
that health care professionals from underserved backgrounds are more likely than others to work
in underserved areas. The Association of American Medical Colleges’ Project 3000 by 2000, to
increase the number of underrepresented minorities in medical schools, spurred the West Virginia
School of Medicine to start the Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) in 1994 with
the goal of supporting interested underrepresented high school students in pursuing college and
health professions careers. The program was based on three beliefs: (1) if underrepresented high
school students have potential and the desire to pursue a health professions career and are given
the support, they can reach their goals, including obtaining a health professions degree; (2)
underserved high school students are able to predict their own success if given the right resources;
and (3) community engagement would be key to the program’s success.

In this perspective, the authors describe the HSTA and its framework and philosophy, including
the underlying theories and pedagogy from research in the fields of education and the behavioral/
social sciences. They then offer evidence of the program’s success, specifically for African
American students, including graduates’ high college-going rate and overwhelming intention to
choose a health professions major. Finally, the authors describe the benefits of the HSTA’s
community partnerships, including providing mentors to students, adding legislative language
providing tuition waivers and a budgetary line item devoted to the program, and securing program
funding from outside sources.