San Diego/Imperial Counties. Imperial Valley Welcome Back Center Opens Its Doors!

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1 WELCOME BACK CENTER San Diego/Imperial Counties V o l u m e 3, I s s u e 1 Imperial Valley Welcome Back Center Opens Its Doors! S P R I N G WBC Staff San Diego *Bob Yarris, M.B.A., M.A., P.T. Project Director *Rolando Castillo, Ph.D. Program Director *Anita Holt, R.N., M.S.N. Nursing Coordinator *Elisabeth Hamel, ED.D., R.N. Nursing Manager *Kevin Campbell, B.A. Program Manager *Laura Ann Fernea, M.P.H. *Pearl Lopez, M.A. *Lorena Quiroz, M.A. *Amaliya Blyumin, M.A. / GC Academic Counselor *Paola Alfaro Clerical Assistant SR *Debbie Smith, B.A. Employment Advisor *Anna Franco Supportive Staff WBC Staff Imperial Valley *Diahna Leon, M.A. Program Coordinator/ *Heribertha Castillo Program Assistant Our Imperial Valley Welcome Back Center (IVWBC) opened its doors on February 13, 2006 and has been providing educational case management, career counseling and support services to Internationally Trained Healthcare Workers living in the region. IVWBC will attempt to increase a healthcare workforce diversity in under served, under represented and rural healthcare communities. Our office is located at the El Centro One Stop at 2695 S. 4 th St. in El Centro, CA IVWBC is currently offering a Prep to Prep bilingual review course designed for Spanish Speaking International Nurses and a Vocational English as a Second Language (VESL) course in partnership with Central Union High School District. Additional Prep to Prep, Certified Nurse Assistant, and Medical Assistant review courses are planned for Summer The Imperial Valley Team is represented by two full time staff members: Heribertha Castillo, Program Assistant and Diahna Leon, Program Coordinator/. Ms. Castillo has an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and is currently finishing her Bachelors of Science in Human Services Management at the University of Phoenix. She came on board with 3 years experience in the health field Heribertha Castillo working as a Clerical Coordinator in the Emergency Room at El Centro Regional Medical Center. Diahna Leon Ms. Leon has been working in the area of Workforce Development for the last six years in both administrative and direct service capacities. Ms. Leon holds an Associates Degree in Social Science and a Bachelors degree in Business Management and is currently pursing a Masters Degree in Public Administration at San Diego State University. All Welcome Back participants in the region are encouraged to contact our WBC team in Imperial Valley by calling (760) I n t e r n a t i o n a l H e a l t h W o r k e r A s s i s t a n c e C e n t e r A p r o j e c t o f t h e R e g i o n a l H e a l t h O c c u p a t i o n s R e s o u r c e C e n t e r ( R H O R C ) S a n D i e g o / I m p e r i a l C o u n t i e s a n d f u n d e d b y T h e C a l i f o r n i a E n d o w m e n t ( T C E ), H R S A & T h e C a l i f o r n i a W e l l n e s s F o u n d a t i o n ( T C W F ).

2 P a g e 2 New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology Offers: Émigré Physician Program The New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM) of New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) located in Old Westbury, NY would like to invite applications for our Émigré Physician Program (EPP). The Émigré Physician Program is a four year re training program in medical education specifically geared towards the needs of foreign trained physicians. After completion of this program the candidate will have earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Osteopathic medicine is similar to allopathic medicine (M.D.) in most ways. Both types of physicians are licensed to practice medicine, write prescriptions and perform surgery in the United States. Osteopathic physicians acquire additional training in a holistic philosophy of patient care with an emphasis on preventative care and treatment of the whole person, as well as training in Osteopathic Manual Manipulation (OMM) which is a hands on technique for manipulating the body systems towards health used for treatment and diagnosis. If you are interested in learning more about osteopathic medicine please visit the American Osteopathic Association website: The application requirements for the Émigré Physician Program are: Completion of the application located on the NYCOM website under the EPP section of Admissions (download it and then send the completed application directly to our office by May 15, 2006). Results of the TOEFL exam (not older than two years) Proof of US citizenship or permanent residency (in possession of a green card) An evaluation of foreign credentials by one of the approved agencies listed on our website under the EPP section of Admissions. Welcome Back Center participants are encouraged to use the International Education Research Foundation (IERF The evaluation must show that you hold the equivalent of the United States M.D. degree. These requirements along with additional information regarding the Émigré Physician Program can be found on the NYCOM website at: Admissions_EPP_Program.htm For more information please contact Taryn C. Croot at NYCOM Admissions Office at: W E L C O M E B A C K C E N T E R

3 V o l u m e 3, I s s u e 1 P a g e 3 NCLEX Prep to Prep Review Course February 2006 Re: FNP Welcome Back Program AKA Prep to Prep course for Spanish speakers By Tonie Brown, RN, M.A. Originally this program was started to improve the need for Hispanic nurses in San Diego County. As the founder of the Hispanic Nurses chapter in S.D., I have always been concerned with the lack of competent Spanish speaking Healthcare Professionals in S.D. The number of Hispanics in S.D. has increased, but the number of Hispanic nurses has not increased proportionally within this population. We started the first program with the purpose of preparing nurses to continuing climbing the ladder to other advance courses; however I found out that after completing this prep course, the population tends to come back to this course over and over. The reasons given by students varied, but overall, feeling supported and enjoying the company of other Spanish speaking classmates was given most over other reasons. From the first original program, 4 students passed the NCLEX after taking it for the first time. They only took the prep to prep 3 times. 5 other students were able to obtain employment in the nursing field and pass the CNA test. These were students with very limited English skills at the beginning, but very dedicated to studying. We started the program in Imperial County with the same purpose and for the same reasons. Actual numbers are not available because we only completed one course and no student from that group has yet taken the NCLEX exam, however through the program, some have been able to obtain employment at the main Hospitals in El Centro and are working as CNA s to advance to RN s or LVN s after taking the NCLEX Exam. I am very excited about continuing the program which has proven, that after passing the NCLEX and attending a refresher re entry program where these nurses learn about the American clinical way of nursing, they are very successful practitioners. This concept is not new to me since I have been involved in several other foreign nurse projects including the original California project in San Francisco in If we continue with this project that encourages nurses to advance, we may accomplish our goal of increasing the number of Hispanic nurses in S.D. and Imperial County which will hopefully reflect the increase in the Hispanic population. Working closely with the Chapter of Hispanic nurses in San Diego, the program has been able to introduce Imperial County and Welcome Back students to the chapter s activities and students have been able to regularly attend the chapter meetings. This year, I personally will encourage the Welcome Back students to attend the National Association of Hispanic Nurses conference in Arizona, where students will have the opportunity to network with other nursing students as well as Hispanic nurses from others states. I hope this will give the reader a better understanding of this project and encourage others to help in the advancement of Hispanic Nurses. I will be happy to provide details of the course and curriculum by request. Respectfully submitted by Tonie Brown RN, MA instructor and founder of S.D. chapter of Hispanic Nurses.

4 Employment Services * Debbie Smith P a g e 4 Do you think 20 hours of your time is worth $10,000? It was to Erika, an active SDWBC participant, who recently passed her NCLEX RN Board s examination and became a Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) in California. Erika was working as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and did not feel comfortable interviewing or negotiating her salary as a new RN. Erika completed the Job Search Workshop at the East County Career Center and used her newly acquired job seeking skills to landing her a position in the exact department she desired, a $4,000 signing bonus and advanced training paid by the employer. As a SDWBC participant, you are encouraged to come and invest some of your precious time in a Job Search Workshop and see how much of a bonus you could pay yourself in your next position. Contact your (ECM) at the SD Welcome Back Center to be referred for an appointment with Debbie Smith for employment services. Where will your next job be? ACCESS: Academic Counseling for Welcome Back Participants at Grossmont College. Hello, my name is Amaliya Blyumin. I am originally from Baku, Azerbaijan one of the republics of former Soviet Union. I immigrated to the USA ten years ago. I have my Bachelor s Degree in Psychology and my Master s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Counseling from Community Based Block (CBB) Program, at San Diego State University (SDSU). I speak three languages fluently: Russian, Azeri and English. CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES I feel privileged to work with Welcome Back participants in San Diego. The Welcome Back Program offers incredible opportunities to help professional immigrants continue working in the medical field. A member of my family has graduated from the Welcome Back Program, and I am thankful that I can provide support to new Welcome Back participants in their educational pathway to achieve their academic goals. Amaliya is also available to provide Educational Case Management services at the Welcome Back Center. *USMLE Step 1 Basic Sciences Prep Review (A) March 25, 2006 May 21, 2006 Saturdays and Sundays, 8:00 am 5:00 pm (Eight Weekends) *USMLE Step 1 Basic Sciences Prep Review (B) June 12, 2006 August 6, 2006 (Eight Weekends) Saturdays and Sundays, 8:00 am 5:00 pm *NCLEX Prep to Prep Review/San Diego May 6, 2006 June 17, :00 am 5:00 pm/saturdays *NCLEX Prep to Prep Review/Imperial Valley May 3, 2006 June 14, :00 am 5:00 pm /Wednesdays *Accelerated C.N.A. Program (Nursing Career Ladder Level 1) May 12, 2006 August 12, 2006 Fridays, 5:00 pm 9:00 pm Saturdays, 7:00 am 3:30 pm FOR MORE INFORMATION (REGISTRATION, LOCATION, ETC.) PLEASE CONTACT THE WELCOME BACK CENTER IN SAN DIEGO. TESTIMONIALS FROM WELCOME BACK CENTER PARTICIPANTS Yolanda Gomez I liked Prep to Prep National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) review course a lot. I have a lot of nursing experience in my country, Colombia, but nursing is different in the U.S. It was like starting over but Prep To Prep was the door to becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). Finding the Welcome Back Center made it possible for me to find the pathway to becoming an RN. Prep To Prep was basic but that was good enough as my English was limited. I would recommend that all International Nurses go to Welcome Back and allow the guidance offered at the Center to assist you in order to achieve one s goal of becoming a Nurse in California. Erika Ramirez Prep To Prep is great for ESL Nurses from other countries beginning to study for NCLEX. I liked the fact that there was a transition from Prep To Prep to NCLEX advanced review course as my English improved. San Diego Welcome Back Center: 3955 Bonita Road, Building A, 1st Floor, Bonita, CA Tel: Fax:

5 V o l u m e 3, I s s u e 1 P a g e 5 Matching Program: Medical Residency Highlight Congratulations to Welcome Back participants Dr.Yuri Reznik and Dr. Seman Ahmed for obtaining a Residency Match on March Dr. Reznik will start medical residency at the University of Nevada, School of Medicine in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a graduate of the Autonomous University of Baja California in Tijuana, Mexico. After interviewing at 8 medical residency programs across the United States, Dr. Reznik was able to find a residency close to home. Dr. Ahmed, from Ethiopia, graduated from the University of the Punjab in Pakistan. Dr. Ahmed was accepted as a medical resident at New Jersey Medical Center in New Jersey. We wish them the best in their medical career and hope their success will inspire others to follow the same path! Celebratory Dinner for Accelerated RN (ARN) Cohort #1: A celebratory dinner meeting hosted by Bob Yarris, MBA, Director of RHORC was held March 30 th at La Piñata Restaurant in Old Town to celebrate the accomplishments of this cohort and offer continual academic support in the form of education pathways to the graduates. Fifteen out of the 34 graduates attended the function. This cohort has an 86% passing rate for NCLEX RN; hence, 97% of the new RNs are employed within the San Diego County community. This cohort was sponsored through the ARN program by Sharp Healthcare. Among participants who attended were Dr. Elisabeth Hamel, ARN manager, Dr Rolando Castillo, Director of the Welcome Back Center, Dr Ted Martinez, and staff of the Welcome Back Center. Dr. Anita Hunter, Director of the Master s Entry Program RN BSN from the University of San Diego (USD) was the keynote speaker. She shared her nursing background with the graduates and related other options for the different tracks available for Advance Practice Nursing at USD. The graduates were strongly encouraged to volunteer to meet community needs such as the mentoring and tutoring at the Welcome Back Center. Ramiro Gonzalez, RN, a graduate from this cohort, was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation for volunteering his time at the Welcome Back Center. He coordinated the efforts of other nurse volunteers to assist with handson activities for students in the VESL program. This 8 week program, taught by Susann Seldan, English instructor, is offered at Welcome Back Center through El Cajon Adult School and Grossmont Health Occupations. The Light at the End of the Tunnel: Accelerated RN (ARN) Cohort #2 Twenty nine nursing students in the ARN program under the direction of Dr. Elisabeth Hamel are scheduled to become A.D.N. graduates by July They will then become eligible to sit for the NCLEX RN. These nursing students, sponsored by Scripps Healthcare, will be completing final nursing courses, including a preceptorship program in a designated hospital. The purpose of the preceptorship program is for the nursing student to work under the supervision of an experienced RN and to put into practice what he/she has learned during the course of the nursing program. Manuel Moreno, a nursing student in the ARN WB II cohort at Grossmont College was selected to receive the Alice Newell Joslyn Scholarship through the BECA Foundation. He has been funded for two years as long as he pursues his nursing education. He will be honored at a dinner sponsored by BECA Foundation on July 15 th. Congratulations, Manuel! W E L C O M E B A C K C E N T E R