AHS strengthens partnership with University Center of Lake County through course offerings and outreach
Introduction
This semester, AHS has deepened its presence at the University Center of Lake County and marked a significant milestone: the installation of a new program plaque at the UCLC campus. A ceremony in February marked AHS’ formal commitment to expanding health science education in Lake County, increasing access to high-quality UIC degrees for residents who may not be able to study on the Chicago campus.
AHS dean Carlos Crespo and BHIS department head Kal Pasupathy traveled to UCLC's Grayslake campus to hang the plaque and highlight the two online health information management programs that have been available to UCLC students since the fall semester of 2024.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is designed to prepare graduates for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam. This career-focused yet transfer-friendly program prepares students for roles such as health information analyst, medical data specialist and electronic health records coordinator. The Master of Science in Health Information Management is a 39-credit-hour graduate program that can be completed in 20 months. It readies working professionals for leadership positions in data governance, health care informatics, compliance and health IT operations.
Both programs open the door for Lake County residents to the benefits of a nationally recognized public research university, while the fully online structure offers the flexibility and local access these students need.
Since the plaque installation, AHS has participated in multiple community engagement efforts on the UCLC campus. In March, assistant dean for recruitment Mario Diaz joined Crespo and Pasupathy for a meeting with leaders from UCLC and Endeavor Health to identify gaps in Lake County's health care workforce and explore how AHS offerings could help address them. The gathering included more than a dozen administrators and workforce development professionals.
Diaz also participated as a panelist at Endeavor Health's ASPIRE Lake County Career Discovery Day on March 19, an event to help high school students understand their next steps to get into the health care industry. Joining Diaz were representatives from the College of Lake County, UIC's Urban Health Program and Rosalind Franklin University. The event drew high school students from the region as well as participants from YouthBuild, a program for underserved youth in Lake County. Panelists offered students an introduction to health care careers and fielded questions on topics ranging from the college application process and scholarships to what it takes to be a competitive job applicant.
Together, these efforts reflect AHS' sustained commitment to building accessible academic pathways and strengthening a partnership that is already delivering results for Lake County residents.