WED-029 - Tracking Success: Evaluating AHEAD Participants in Pursuing Allied Health Careers
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM PST
Location: Plaza Foyer, Plaza Level
Area of Responsibility: Area V: Advocacy Keywords: Advocacy@@@Career Development and Professional Preparation@@@Empowerment, Subcompetencies: 4.4.5 Identify implications for practice., 4.4.4 Draw conclusions based on findings. Research or Practice: Research
Instructor Louisiana State University Shreveport Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Analyze at least three barriers that underrepresented minority students face in pursuing allied health professions and evaluate strategies pipeline programs use to reduce these barriers.
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Describe three evidence-based approaches, including mentorship, academic preparation, and community-building, that can be applied to strengthen equitable pathways to allied health careers
Describe how to implement support structures in allied health pipeline programs.
Brief Abstract Summary: The Allied Health Education and Development (AHEAD) Program was designed to support and inspire underrepresented students to explore and pursue careers in allied health professions. Despite the growing need for a diverse healthcare workforce, many students face barriers to accessing higher education and successfully transitioning into healthcare pathways. This study, Tracking Success: Evaluating AHEAD Participants in Pursuing Allied Health Careers, examines the educational and career trajectories of program alumni. Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected through surveys, follow-up interviews, and a focus group to assess participants’ academic progress, healthcare career aspirations, and perceived facilitators and barriers. Results highlight the program’s role in expanding students’ awareness of healthcare career options, fostering mentorship connections, and improving preparedness for academic success.
Detailed abstract description: Attendees will gain actionable insights into how targeted pipeline programs can transform access to allied health professions for students who are often overlooked in traditional pathways. This session highlights the outcomes of the Allied Health Education and Development (AHEAD) Program, an initiative designed to support underrepresented students as they navigate higher education and pursue healthcare careers. By attending, you will learn how intentional programming, mentorship, and exposure to allied health options can shift career trajectories and build a stronger, more diverse healthcare workforce.
You will hear directly from data that captures the voices and lived experiences of program alumni. Through surveys, interviews, and a focus group, the evaluation identifies not only the successes of participants but also the barriers they faced, such as financial strain, lack of awareness of career requirements, and balancing work, school, and family obligations. These findings bring to life the real challenges that aspiring healthcare professionals encounter and offer strategies to address them head-on.
