The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help students develop career opportunities in public service.
In August, UMES entered a Memorandum of Understanding with HHS’s Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) and its Pathways to Public Service Program (PTPS), for up to three academic years.
PTPS’ mission is to “develop a pipeline of diverse, qualified, highly motivated students to become the next generation of public servants providing effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services through paid internships and entry-level positions,” according to its website.
“The partnership between UMES and (ASTP/ONC) is a great opportunity for students, especially those who are STEM majors, to acquire skills, knowledge and experience in their field of studies,” said Dr. Theresa Queenan, the director of the Career & Professional Job Development Center at UMES. “It is rewarding to know our students will graduate with hands-on experience and exposure to the workforce.”
The ASTP/ONC collaborates with agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help equip students from minority-serving institutions just like UMES.
As part of the program, UMES students will be eligible to participate in virtual fairs and professional development workshops where they will learn about the mission of the HHS, the federal government’s Pathways Programs, and the federal hiring process.
Through the new agreement, an HHS campus ambassador program will also be established to help with on-campus recruitment efforts. The ambassadors will receive training to operate on behalf of the program.
UMES will assist in identifying up to three students to serve as the ambassadors for the program’s outreach efforts.
For more information about the ASTP/ONC program, go to www.healthit.gov.
