Idaho AHEC Health Professions Pathway Coalition
The Idaho AHEC Health Professionals Pathway Coalition (IHPPC) is supported by the Blue Cross Foundation of Idaho for the purpose of:
- Engaging key collaborators who operate, or have a vested interest in, health professions pathway activities
- Creating a high-touch onboarding model for sustainably developing new pathway programs in Idaho
- Consulting on the development of an interactive map of existing pathway projects in Idaho
- Helping sustain and expand existing pathway programs, like Doc' for a Day, Scrubs Camp, and Hand-on Health Care
The strength of IHPPC comes from collaborating with partners throughout our state. Our members are a vital contributor to the successful expansion of pathway programs in Idaho.
Katie Bosch-Wilson
STEM Education Coordination Officer, Idaho STEM Action Center
Office: 802 West Bannock Street Suite 900 Boise, ID 83702
The Idaho STEM Action Center plays a pivotal role in supporting healthcare pathway work by fostering a robust foundation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. It actively collaborates with schools, industry partners, and community organizations to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue careers in healthcare. Through targeted initiatives, the center offers grants, professional development opportunities for educators, and hands-on learning experiences for students.
Additionally, the Idaho STEM Action Center organizes events, workshops, and externships that connect students and educators with healthcare professionals, providing real-world insights and mentorship. This comprehensive approach helps to build a pipeline of skilled healthcare workers, addressing workforce shortages and enhancing the overall quality of healthcare in Idaho.
Dana Gaudet
Assistant Director of Enrollment and Student Services, Idaho State University
Office: 1311 E Central Drive Meridian, ID 83642
Margie Gonzalez
Executive Director, Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Office: 2399 S. Orchard Street, Suite 204 Boise, ID 83720-0006
Our role as a state agency representing the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the state of Idaho focuses on addressing the challenges around healthcare.
We work towards promoting equality and serving as a liaison between the community and government entities. Working toward economic, educational, and social equality, the Commission identifies and monitors programs and legislation, and research problems and issues facing Idaho's Hispanic community. The Commission identifies solutions and provides recommendations to the governor, legislature, and other organizations concerning issues facing the State's Hispanic population.
We hosted the first Hispanic/American Indian Healthcare Conference in 2023 identifying barriers amongst the two disparate populations in Idaho, our Hispanic and American Indian.
Health disparities that have existed for many, many years.
Hispanic population at 37% uninsured, American Indian 15% Uninsured.
Kasey Kasper, CMA (AAMA)
Medical Assisting CTE Teacher, Bingham Academy High School
Office: 1350 Parkway Drive #30, Blackfoot, ID 83221
At the heart of our mission lies a steadfast commitment to fostering healthcare pathways, ensuring students have equitable access to quality healthcare education and career opportunities. Bingham Academy is a STEM high school designed to support aspiring healthcare professionals at every stage of their journey.
Our initiatives begin by engaging with students early in their academic pursuits, offering mentorship, resources, and experiential learning opportunities to ignite their passion for healthcare. We provide guidance and support as they navigate various educational pathways, whether pursuing degrees in medicine, nursing, allied health professions, or healthcare administration.
Through ongoing collaboration and innovation, we strive to build a robust pipeline of talented healthcare professionals equipped to address our communities' evolving needs and drive positive change in the healthcare landscape. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare, one pathway at a time.
Dana Kelly
Student Affairs Program Manager, State Board of Education
Office: 650 West State Street Boise, ID 83702
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Mitch Kron
Health Program Manager, Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Office: 450 W State Street - 4th Floor P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036
Mitch and his colleagues at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care (BRH-PC) are dedicated to providing resources to improve access to healthcare in Idaho's rural and underserved areas. BRH-PC does this through efforts such as clinician loan repayment programs, National Health Service Corps technical assistance, healthcare workforce initiatives and recruitment opportunities, educational resources, and critical access hospital and rural health clinic technical assistance, to name a few. BRH-PC is also responsible for Health Professional Shortage Area designations (primary care, mental health, and dental health), which serve as qualifiers for various resources. Lastly, BRH-PC houses the Idaho Healthcare Directive Registry, which allows Idahoans to safely create, store, and share their Advance Directive and Physician Orders for the Scope of Treatment.
Stephanie Mai
Program Quality Manager, Health Professions and Public Safety, HOSA State Advisor Idaho Division of Career Technical Education
Office: 650 W. State St., Suite 324, Boise, ID 83702
As the Program Quality Manager for Health Professions and Public Safety at the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education (IDCTE), I support teachers, administrators, and programs in the related pathway areas. IDCTE, in partnership with our stakeholders, provides leadership and coordination of programs in career technical education which prepare Idaho’s youth and adults for high-skill, in-demand careers. My role is to ensure all pathways meet high quality, industry-validated, standards to ensure students have opportunities to both explore health careers and become certified in the field, if they choose.
Alexis Morgan
President, Idaho PTA
Alexis Morgan is a current Ph.D. student at Boise State in Public Policy and Administration, holds a Master's degree in Adult/Organizational Learning and Leadership from the University of Idaho, and began her educational journey at BYU with an undergraduate degree in History and Geography Teaching. She is the charismatic host of the Our Kids Our Schools podcast, where she focuses on how to foster a thriving school community. Her dedication shines through her role as the PTA President for the Idaho PTA, where she advocates fervently for Idaho's children. Beyond her professional pursuits, Alexis is a former school board director, reflecting her deep commitment to educational excellence and student welfare.
On a personal note, she is a wife and mother to four children. She and her family have lived in several places in the US, a favorite being Hershey, PA, where two of her children were born. Alexis finds joy through hobbies such as hiking and family trips, shopping at ribbon stores, and sweating it out in the sauna.
Dr. Kendra Witt-Doyle
Executive Director, Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health
Kendra is the Executive Director of the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. A recognized expert on community health, Kendra provides strategic oversight and leadership across the Foundation’s efforts to create a healthier Idaho through innovative, community-led health initiatives.
As an Idaho native and mother of two young boys, Kendra’s passion for improving the health of Idaho’s youth is integral to both her professional and personal life, motivating her to become active in community health organizations and coalitions. Kendra is a first-generation college graduate and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Boise State University; a Master’s in Public Health from University of Texas School of Public Health; and a Ph.D. from University of Texas El Paso.
Dr. Danielle Wylie
Director, Idaho State University TRIO Upward Bound Programs
Office: 921 South 8th Ave, Stop 8344 Pocatello, ID 83209
Danielle is a first-generation college graduate from a low-income background, a TRIO alumna, and an advocate for students from underrepresented and under-supported backgrounds. After growing up in rural Appalachia, becoming a TRIO McNair Scholar at Indiana University of Pennsylvania was critical to her success in attending graduate school. She earned her Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2014. She then taught and researched at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Mississippi State University. At Mississippi State, Danielle was a philosophy professor and the Undergraduate Coordinator for philosophy majors. She enjoys working with Idaho AHEC to provide a healthcare careers camp to the Upward Bound students each summer. She has been with the ISU TRIO Upward Bound Programs since 2020.
Amy Yun
Director of Clinical Education, St. Alphonsus Health System
Liz Bryant, Director
North Idaho Area Health Education Center
Dori Taylor, Program Coordinator
North Idaho Area Health Education Center
North Idaho AHEC (NI-AHEC) is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals. We facilitate innovative career exploration events designed to encourage middle school and high school students, particularly those from rural communities and/or
underrepresented backgrounds, to consider medicine or other healthcare careers. Our tailored workshops, such as Doc for a Day, AHEC of a Class, and Hands-On Health Care, provide students with invaluable high-touch experiences. Students learn about the pathway to becoming a healthcare professional through a customized blend of presentations, panel discussions, and interactive activities such as suturing, ultrasound and CPR. If you are a North Idaho healthcare or educational institution interested in partnering with us to host a workshop at your site, we invite you to contact us today. Together, we can inspire and shape the future of healthcare.
Connor Johnson, Director
Southeast Idaho Area Health Education Center
Dawson Keller, Program Coordinator
Southeast Idaho Area Health Education Center
cjohnson@siph.id.gov; dkeller@siph.id.gov
Southeast Idaho AHEC (Area Health Education Center) is dedicated to strengthening healthcare pathways in our community, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Our programs are designed to inspire and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals, from high school students exploring career options to college students pursuing advanced medical training and professionals working to stay up to date in their careers with continuing education.
We work to prepare high school students for healthcare careers through immersive learning experiences such as Scrubs Camp, and Health Profession Presentations, with other avenues being explored to continue to build healthcare pathways. These programs provide students with hands-on experiential components where they are able to participate in daily tasks that various providers perform on a daily basis.
I firmly believe the earlier you can garner interest for health careers in middle and high school students the more likely they are to find an avenue that fits them best. The exposure we work to provide students with shows the various levels and avenues in which they are able to enter a health care environment that they did not previously think was possible.
Katrina Hoff, Director
Southwest Idaho Area Health Education Center
Leila Richardson, Program Coordinator
Southwest Idaho Area Health Education Center
khoff@jannus.org; lrichardson@jannus.org
The Southwest Idaho AHEC (SW ID AHEC) team is dedicated to nurturing and advancing the healthcare workforce from start to finish. We inspire high school students, support health profession students, enhance the education of new physicians, and keep seasoned providers informed about the latest evidence-based practices. Throughout their journey, we are committed to constructing and refining the pathway they navigate.
At the trailhead, we introduce students of color and/or disadvantaged backgrounds to the possibility of becoming a physician or primary care provider through Doctor for a Day. This program, delivered in partnership with Full Circle Health, a local family medicine residency and teaching health center, includes presentations from medical residents and practicing physicians, and hands-on learning experiences like using an EKG machine, performing CPR, and practicing suturing. Doctor for a Day also features an Inter-professional Day, allowing students to connect with various healthcare professionals, including social workers, pharmacists, community health workers, and dental hygienists. Participants learn about the Idaho healthcare landscape and the high need for physicians and other providers, especially those dedicated to serving medically underserved populations.
Further down the path, we support health profession students participating in AHEC Scholars, a nationally recognized inter-professional education program focused on eight fundamental domains and team-based care for rural and medically underserved communities. AHEC Scholars complete the two-year program alongside their academic studies, graduating fully prepared to deliver team-based care to diverse populations.
Finally, SW ID AHEC partners with Full Circle Health and the University of Idaho Office of Continuing Education to deliver continuing education to healthcare professionals and students throughout Idaho via Zoom. Topics align with the eight focus domains, include evidence-based learning, and aim to enhance inter-professional team-based care. From high school to retirement, SW ID AHEC inspires, supports, and enhances Idaho’s healthcare workforce.