2023 TAAHP Conference Presentations from TMDSAS and TXHES

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Healthcare, Community Service and Employment Activities Among Matriculated Applicants

Filomeno G. Maldondado, TXHES Executive Consultant

Maldonado's presentation addressed two key questions: 

1. Have matriculants’ behaviors around healthcare, community service, and employment activities changed over the last four years?
2. How have activities changed through the pandemic?

The presentation and takeways are listed below:

1. Despite the impact of COVID and the apparent stress and burnout of physicians, nurses and other health professionals, students were not deterred from applying to the health professions.
2. Applicants to medical, dental, and veterinary medicine remained focused on getting the experience needed to demonstrate their passion and motivation.
3. Skilled-based experience appears to be of high volume and the activity of choice.
4. Applicants have evolved from shadowing to experiences requiring skill, certification and high-level responsibility.
5. An important dimension of evaluating candidates to the health professions is the commitment to service and demonstrating genuine altruism and empathy. Matriculated applicants across the  professions exhibited a determined responsibility to help those in need despite the risk to themselves during the pandemic.
6. SES A and B matriculated applicants across the professions demonstrated an unexpected or astonishing commitment to community service, a testament not only to their drive and unselfishness but also to their promise of making a difference, especially in their unique communities.
7. Matriculated applicants across the professions held jobs at a consistently high rate in activities requiring skill and certification because of limited shadowing and volunteer activities during COVID. Apparently, the practice continued into 2022.

TXHES Presentation

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Inside Health Education

• Topics: Advisors
• Authors: TXHES Admin
• Date:  March 10, 2023