COAHEC H.O.P.E. Program
COAHEC H.O.P.E. Program is one of two parts of COAHEC H.O.P.E. High school students engage in a series of live, monthly virtual sessions with like-minded individuals with shared interests and goals in health careers. Typically, these sessions occur during the high school academic year.
During a session, students learn from educational presentations, activities, and discussions highlighting health issues and related careers. Activities will provide hands-on opportunities to understand how healthcare professionals use their skills and knowledge to increase community wellness. Discussions will introduce students to students in different regions, facilitating a cohort of like-minded individuals with shared interests and goals.
For more information about this program please contact Dyllon Mills, Community Health Programs Associate at Southwestern Colorado AHEC, at [email protected] or [email protected].
H.O.P.E Schedule

It is with great honor and excitement to announce that the Southwestern Colorado AHEC and Colorado AHEC proudly invite high school students to apply to the 2022-2023 Colorado AHEC H.O.P.E. Program. Through a series of live, monthly virtual sessions, this high school health occupations programming provides a learning experience for high school students, grade levels 9th through 12th, with interest in healthcare or health sciences careers.
SESSION DATES AND TIME
February 13, 2023 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM
The Influence of Culture: healing health disparities in Native Americans
March 13, 2023 from 6:00 to 7:30PM
Oral Health Including Health Equity
April 10, 2023 from 6:00 to 7:30PM
Health Communication, Public Health Programming
The COAHEC H.O.P.E. Program will cover the following topics:
• Fentanyl
• Enhancing Health Equity and Reducing Health Disparities
• Stigma Reduction and How to Trauma Impacts Health
• Culture
• Oral Health including Health Equity
• Health Communications and Public Health Programming.
Eligibility & How to Apply
High school students, grade levels 9th through 12th, with interest in healthcare or health sciences careers are encouraged to apply. Please fill out the form and submit it. To access the form, scan the Q.R. Code or click on the following link: https://formstack.io/885F8
Watch Sessions from the 2021-22 COAHEC H.O.P.E. Program
Public Health Epidemiology: Disease Detectives presented by Kate Hartzell, MA, MAT, MPH, the Executive Director at Southwestern Colorado AHEC
Nutrition presented by Eva Muniz Valdez, RN, BS, ADS, the Health Programs Manager at Southeastern Colorado AHEC
Health Equity presented by Alexis LaPrelle, MS, CHES, the Health Education Coordinator at Front Range Colorado AHEC
The Power of Addiction: the effect on community present by Charlotte Ledonne, RN, BSN, MA, LPC, the Nursing Education Coordinator at San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center
Bouncing Back: healthy and strong post-covid presented by Terry Chase, ND, MA, RN hosted by Western Colorado AHEC
Community Health present by Samantha Vernon, the Program Assistant at Centennial Area Health Education Center