Building Pathways into Health Careers

NEMO AHEC helps to build pathways into health careers for high school students. We then connect professionals to the rural and underserved communities that need them. The end result is a healthier community for all.

Pipeline Programming

Student programs are called pipeline programs. Pipeline programs are designed to support students who may face challenges in applying to or entering health professions training programs due to race, ethnicity, income, or other disadvantages.

Mystery Diagnosis and Dissection

  • This brand new program is a great opportunity for students to get one-on-one time with a specimen and anatomy fellows from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. These events are open to 9-12th graders.
  • Here is how they go:
    • Pre-test and lab safety are discussed.
    • Presentation begins covering the system to be explored (e.g. cardiovascular, gastrointestinal (GI), urinary, etc.)
    • Anatomy fellows provide a case file of a simulated patient with a specific disease or injury.
    • Students will be challenged with diagnosing the patient and working collaboratively to create an appropriate treatment plan.
    • Students will learn the appropriate vital sign ranges and learn how to take basic vital signs (Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, etc.)
    • A led dissection begins, in correlation with the case file, pointing out all the vital structures of the system.
    • Once all vital structures have been found, exploratory dissection begins.
    • Clean-up and evaluations.

Mash Camps

  • Missouri AHEC Science and Health Camp (MASH Camp) is a multi-day day camp where students entering 9-12th grade in the fall get to learn about health careers by engaging in activities, talking to healthcare professionals, touring facilities, and more.
  • Camp typically runs in the summer between June and August. Locations are shifted between counties in the NEMO AHEC region to ensure equitable access for all students.
Mystery Diagnosis and Dissection 2025

Contact Us

NEMO AHEC
312 S. Elson Street
Kirksville, MO 63501

Phone: (660) 665-6404
Email: tschlecht@nemoahec.org