HCC MISSION
To inspire and empower greater numbers of undergraduate students to choose healthcare and public health careers by providing real world exposure, experience and support that assists them in achieving their goals. Our ultimate aim is to improve healthcare services provided to our population by motivating and developing greater numbers of value driven, capable and diverse leaders and public health profesionals.

BACKGROUND
The aging of our population and continued medical advances will dramatically increase the demand for healthcare and career opportunities in the field. As the demand for healthcare increases, so will the need for well-trained, capable healthcare leaders and professionals.

The combination of increasing demand and cost, shrinking resources and workforce shortages will exacerbate already critical problems such as access, coverage, and the ability of organizations to provide quality care and remain viable. To address these problems we must have leaders capable of delivering innovative solutions. A significant number of these leaders must come from diverse ethnic backgrounds so that they are capable of understanding and fulfilling the healthcare needs of our increasingly diverse population. Most minority groups are seriously underrepresented in healthcare leaderships and professions.

College students have limited exposure to the numerous rewarding healthcare opportunities and how to pursue them. In addition, the field has high barriers to entry, lacks well-defined career and educational paths and entry positions, which makes it difficult for even motivated students to acquire needed education, experience and job opportunities. Given these challenges it is important to reach students at the college level or earlier to expose them to healthcare career option and begin mentoring them to obtain the education, experience and support they need. At the same time there is often greater awareness of many other career options and industries that are appealing and easier to pursue. As a result, it will be difficult to attract the leaders and public health professionals we need and many people who may be well suited for healthcare may not even know it exists.

THE HCC SOLUTION
Health Career Connection (HCC) is the connection between undergraduate students and the information, experiences and support they need to discover and make well-informed choices about healthcare and public health career options. HCC has been created by a group of healthcare executives who are committed to attracting and assisting young people to pursue healthcare careers. HCC is developing an education, leadership and training program with a mission of improving healthcare services by motivating and developing greater numbers of value driven, capable leaders. HCC will:

1. Address the need for more well-trained health care leaders
2. Address the under-representation of people of color in the health professions
3. Foster the development of emerging leaders capable and committed to providing innovative solutions to today’s complex health care challenges

HCC achieves these goals by connecting students to internships, mentors, leadership development, professional networks and web accessible information and contacts on healthcare management careers and educational options.

HCC’s programs and outreach efforts will initially target undergraduate students interested in health care. A priority emphasis will be on students of color.