2024 M.A.P. Program Cohort
FORT SMITH, AR — The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) Mentoring and Achievement Preparation (M.A.P.) Program has been recognized with the 2025 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award by Insight Into Academia magazine, the nation’s oldest and largest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.
The award honors exceptional institutional programs that encourage and support the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented students in all STEM fields — including science, research, technology, engineering, and math. ACHE will be featured alongside 57 other award recipients in the June 2025 issue of the magazine.
Launched to address disparities in access to health education, the M.A.P. Program focuses on educating, encouraging, equipping, and engaging students from underserved and underrepresented populations who are considering careers in occupational therapy (OT) or physical therapy (PT). The program aims to build a more inclusive and compassionate health care workforce while reducing health disparities across communities.
“This award is a testament to our mission-driven approach,” said Christopher Smith, Ed.D., ACHE Assistant Provost & Director of DEI. “We know that rural, underrepresented, and underserved communities need compassionate health care providers they can relate to. The M.A.P. Program reaffirms that we’re on the right track in shaping a more inclusive and responsive future for health care.”
LaTisha Standokes, Ed.D., Executive Director of Admissions for the College of Health Sciences, echoed that sentiment: “This award demonstrates how we are aligned with the mission of this institution. One of the first things in the ACHE Mission Statement is that we are here to educate and train a diverse group of students. That’s exactly what this program was created to do. Reach students who are interested in OT and PT but may not feel those careers are within reach. The M.A.P. Program helps them see that goal as attainable and increases representation in health care fields where it’s urgently needed.”
Insight Into Academia recognized ACHE’s M.A.P. Program for its innovative and intentional approach to workforce development. “We know that STEM programs are not always recognized for their dedication to inclusion, equity, and access,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of the magazine. “We are proud to honor these college, university, and industry STEM programs as role models for other institutions of higher education.”
The ACHE M.A.P. Program continues to grow. In December 2024, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM) was awarded a seed grant from the National Board of Medical Examiners to expand the M.A.P. Program. This expansion is set to launch in August 2025. “That’s one of the things that we’re so excited about because it’s just reassuring that the mission works,” said Smith. “And it’s indicative of the success that we’ll be able to attain.”
Standokes added, “We’re proud of the program, and it’s now award-winning — which makes it even better! We look forward to continuing to enhance it, grow it, and carry forward the mission of this institution.”
For more information about the ACHE M.A.P. Program or to get involved, please email map@achehealth.edu or visit achehealth.edu/ache-map-program.
