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Colorado Talent Pipeline

°®ÒºAƬ nursing student Angie Peterson practices on a mannequin in the °®ÒºAƬ Health Sim Lab

By Lynne Winter ’17

As part of °®ÒºAƬ’s Health Scholar Program, Dihemah Gardner found belonging, community and the financial support critical to staying on track to earn her degree.

“I am more confident in myself,� said the Health Care Management major, who wants to work as a case manager in a homeless shelter. “I see the connection between my education and my career goals.�

The Colorado Access Foundation’s recent $750,000 grant will prepare students like Gardner to become the next generation of healthcare professionals. The funding expands the capacity of the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute and scales and sustains the Health Scholar Program, advancing the University’s mission to build a diverse and culturally responsive healthcare workforce.

With opportunities to network, build relationships and develop professional skills, Gardner is one step closer to guiding families through complex systems so they can build sustainable lives.

“I want to be the person who helps families see that homelessness does not have to define their future,� she said. “The support from Colorado Access is helping me work toward becoming that person.�