Youth Programs

REACH Summer Internships

Across the United States there is an acute shortage of minority and/or underprivileged health professionals. As the diversity of the population continues to increase it is essential that health care providers reflect that diversity in order to insure better health outcomes for medically underserved populations. 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.

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. Students that participate in the REACH program are eligible to apply for a summer internship. Gulfcoast South AHEC partners with health care organizations and academic health centers in the counties of DeSoto, Charlotte, Manatee, and Sarasota to provide internships. The hands-on health care career experience allows them to learn from experienced health professionals, increases their knowledge about health careers, and motivates the students to develop effective short and long term health career plans.

For more information, contact:

Joan Beatty-Lee
Recruitment & Youth Programs Coordinator

jbeatty@health.usf.edu

(941) 361-6602