Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP): Coaching Colorado's Underserved Students Toward Promising Health Careers.

To increase and diversify the US healthcare workforce, MSU Denver developed the health equity-based Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). It provides scholarships/stipends, proactive advising, mentorship experiences, and training in key areas to first-generation, low-income, and students of color seeking health careers. In its first three years, program retention (95.6%) and university retention (90.6%) have been remarkably high. Students (n=130) reported high levels of support (93.2%), program engagement (94.2%), and confidence in career goals (94.1%) but lower engagement with other HCOP scholars (67%). Many want to work with patients experiencing health disparities (86.4%), and 36.9% want to serve in rural areas. Students responded most to proactive advising, mentorship experiences, and the health equity curriculum, suggesting these high-impact practices foster successful transition into health careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]