Youth Programs

Recruitment & Educational Assistance for Careers in Health (REACH)

What is REACH l Why is it important? l Who can participate? l What are the components?


What is the REACH program?

GSAHEC is actively promoting and implementing the REACH program in local high schools with established Health/Medical Small Learning Communities or Health/Medical Academies. The REACH program is designed to provide minority and/or underprivileged students interested in health careers a rare and unique opportunity to explore a variety of health care occupations. Additionally, REACH strives to assist such students in establishing a health career path.

Why is the REACH program important?

Across the United States, there is an acute shortage of minority and/or underprivileged health professionals. This situation is especially significant due to the lack of available resources in the areas of the country where large numbers of medically underserved minorities and/or underprivileged persons live. At local, state, and national levels, educational and training programs for health professionals continue to show an under-enrollment of minority and/or underprivileged students. The REACH program works to improve this outcome by sharing and exploring available information about health careers with interested students. Exposure to such careers is of paramount importance as is knowledge of educational and training requirements, opportunities, locations, and other special services.

Who can participate in the REACH program?

Any high school student interested in learning more about health careers is invited to participate in the REACH program. There is no cost to participate in this program.

What are the Components of the REACH Program?

Our program is designed to provide a nurturing, fun, and stimulating learning environment for all students.

Information on Health Careers

Student Enrichment Activities

  • Skills training for resume writing and job interviewing
  • Medical terminology training
  • Projects
  • Researching health careers, interviewing primary health care professionals
  • Students-teaching-students prevention programs
  • Organizing a Health Fair

Guest Speakers

  • Practicing health professionals
  • Health profession students

Field Trips

  • Opportunities to visit health professions training programs and health care settings to increase students' understanding of these environments

Summer Internships

  • Students involved with the REACH program are eligible to apply for Summer Internships. These shadowing/mentoring opportunities will provide them with hands-on health career experience

Summer Camps

  • Expose students to a wide variety of health careers

USF ACCESS Days

  • Inform students of career opportunities in health professions available at USF

USF Health Professions Summer Academy

  • Two week residential academic program intended to increase the college preparation skills of high school students interested in health professions careers

 

Return to top


For more information, contact:

Joan Beatty-Lee
Recruitment & Youth Programs Coordinator

jbeatty@health.usf.edu

(941) 361-6602

Register for GSAHEC Events
Give to GSHAEC