INTRODUCTION

Dear Scholars:

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is pleased to announce the 2008 Annual Scholar Orientation Conference. The Conference Planners have designed the conference with you in mind, and it promises to provide several opportunities for you to meet NHSC staff, participate in Recruitment Fairs, and to network with each other. We urge you to take full advantage of the mandatory sessions. The topics are timely and geared toward providing additional information and resources to assist you as you prepare to provide quality health care to our nation's underserved and most vulnerable populations throughout the United States and its territories.

The NHSC-approved Sites will have the opportunity to network with other NHSC-approved Sites to share "lessons learned" and to meet with and recruit NHSC clinicians who are committed and ready to provide quality primary health care to our nation's most vulnerable populations.

GOALS AND OUTCOMES

GOALS:

• To support the Presidential commitment to expand primary health care access to the underserved by uniting the commitments of the NHSC and the Consolidated Health Center Program.
  
  
• To encourage NHSC Scholars to select employment opportunities at Scholar-eligible NHSC-approved Sites throughout the United States and its territories.
  
  
• To provide NHSC Scholars and NHSC-approved Sites with resources that will ensure a seamless and effective site-selection process.

OUTCOMES:

• NHSC Scholars will understand the importance of cultural/linguistic diversity and sensitivity when working with our nation's most vulnerable populations.
  
  
• Participants will develop a network among like-minded clinicians and Sites to ensure better NHSC Scholar matches and improved retention.
  
  
• NHSC Scholars will meet and interview with NHSC-approved Site representatives during two scheduled Recruitment Fairs.
  
  
• NHSC Scholars and NHSC-approved Sites will be better prepared for the interview process.