The Academy of Health Professions (AHOP)

     

    The Academy of Health Professions (AHOP) program is an exciting course providing students with the opportunity to begin their education and career in the medical field, while still enrolled in high school.  Students exit the program with multiple certifications and a strong background in the sciences and practical experiences for healthcare professionals.  Instruction focuses on anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, patient care skills, and current healthcare issues. Additional areas of study include body mechanics, vital signs, principals of infection control, and the care of the hospitalized patient. The AOHP program can lay the groundwork for students wishing to pursue medical school and a career as a doctor, nurse, therapist, or a variety of other healthcare careers. Students who complete the program and pass the Maryland Board of Nursing exam will be certified nursing assistants.

     

    First year of the program students complete the following foundational courses:

     
    • Foundations of Medicine and Health Science
    • Structures and Functions of the Human Body
    • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) course

     

    Second year of the program students complete the following Advanced Level (Honors) courses:

    • Medical Science with Clinical Applications course
    • Guided Research course
    • Internships at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Bethesda Health and Rehabilitation Center

     

    Students receive Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training and may be eligible for certification as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPPA) certification. Students may also be eligible to take the Geriatric Nursing Assistant examination upon completion of the program.

    The Academy of Health Professions meets the graduation requirement for completion of a career development program.  Students completing the full program will earn a total of six credits.  Students successfully completing the second year, first semester of the school-based Medical Science program may be invited to participate in a second semester clinical rotation at a local hospital and long-term care facility.

     

     

    Program Entrance Requirements

    The student must:

    • Be 16 years of age by December of the school year of application
    • Be a rising high school junior for the school year of application
    • Have a minimum cumulative, unweighted Grade Point Average of 2.5
    • Have completed Biology A & B or Chemistry A & B, achieving a grade of "B" or better for each semester. (Students can be enrolled concurrently in one of these courses if not taken previously)