Pathways to Health Careers (PHCA) is an enrichment program in which High School Students from SPA (Service Planning Area) 6 and SPA 8, who are interested in improving community health through healthcare professions, develop skills to prepare them for higher education and building networks within health professions.
Students in 10th-12th grade accepted into this program participate in educationally enriching experiences that include a paid 4-week summer program, which includes public health and mental health course curriculum, Rites of Passage, Math Enrichment/SAT Preparation, and college preparation courses.
The program offers internships with Community-Based Organizations, mentorship, and tutoring during the year. Specifically, students are matched with local organizations providing public, mental, and behavioral/SUD-related health prevention services. Students support community service activities such as planning and implementing community health services, including direct outreach to clients, and preparing for advocacy campaigns, among others. Students may also support organizational capacity assessments, cultural competence assessments, and other external factors/barriers to success. Organizations also participate in the quarterly convening of internship sites to learn from each other and collaborate to address usual challenges and support activities, including student community action projects. Internship activities and resources help students envision becoming, and practicing serving as public, mental, behavioral/SUD-related, and other health professionals and decrease barriers to accomplishing their goals.
PHCA 2024-2025 Program Timeline
PHCA Cohort 7 Application Dates
Application is open from Dec 1st, 2023, to April 30th, 2024. Selected participants will be notified by May 15th, 2024. All accepted students must commit to a full year of programming!
Application Review Process & Student Interviews
As part of the selection process, selected applicants will receive an invitation to schedule a virtual interview. Students will be notified via email regarding their application status by May 15, 2023, which will indicate if a student has been accepted, waitlisted, or denied.
We highly encourage all students to check their emails frequently to ensure important emails and next steps are not missed.
Spring Session 2024
Scholars complete their internships and tutoring.
May 2024
- May 15th, 2024: Last day for internship
- May 18th, 2024: Program Culmination 9:00 am -12:00 pm (tentative)/Laptop Returns 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
- May 20th, 2024: Science Day
Summer Academy 2024
Classes take place from 9:00 am-2:30 pm on Tuesdays through Saturdays.
June & July
- June 15th, 2024: Program Orientation 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Complete HIPPA/FERPA Training
- June 18th – July 25th, 2024: Summer Programming
*During the Summer 2024 Session, tutoring is offered on Saturdays from 12:30 – 2:30 pm.
Fall Session 2024
September – November 2024
- October 1st, 2024: CBO Internships Begin.
- Once students complete the summer program, they will receive an in-person internship placement at a local community-based organization, and they are required to complete 182 hrs. (5.5 hrs./week) throughout the program year. Once students receive their placement, they will work directly with the internship site to create a custom schedule.
- HCOP mentor/mentee mixer – Location TBD
Mental Health Enrichment Workshops
Program Duration – From Oct 12th, 2024 – Nov 16th, 2024. Classes take place from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm on Saturdays tutoring follows from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
Program Duration – From Oct 12th, 2024 – Nov 16th, 2024. Classes take place from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm on Saturdays tutoring follows from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
Winter Session 2025
Public Health Enrichment Sessions
January – March 2025
Program Duration – From Jan 25th, 2025 – March 8th, 2025. Classes take place from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm on Saturdays, and tutoring follows from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
*HCOP Information Session – Location TBD
Spring Session 2025
Scholars complete their internships and tutoring.
May 2025
- May 15th, 2025: Last day for internships.
- May 17th, 2025: Program Culmination 9:00 am -12:00 pm (tentative)/Laptop Returns 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
- May 20th, 2025: Science Day
* Please note: Dates and times for programming are subject to change.
If you have additional questions regarding the internship, please email us at phca@cdrewu.edu.
