Twenty-four high school students completed the Inaugural Family Health Center HEAL (Health Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership) Academy in August. During their six-week journey, HEAL Scholars participated in classroom instruction and health-related activities and received career pathway and higher education support from FCM faculty, staff, and trainees.
Under the guidance and leadership of FCM residents and faculty, led by Dr. Cazandra Zaragoza, Sheila Reynoso, and Claire Brekhus, the scholars have had various rich clinical and allied health exposures, discussions about growth, development, and sexual health; personal and community health; mental, emotional, and social health; substance use and harm reduction. Fellows have also created podcasts for other youths around these topics where, in their own words, they describe the impacts and solutions.
HEAL was created in an effort to establish a high school health professions pipeline program with clinical shadowing for students from our most low-income areas of San Francisco. Partnership with MYEEP/SFYouth Works and funding from HEARTS Grant enabled HEAL to expand access to clinical shadowing opportunities at FHC.
HEAL will continue to support the scholars with opportunities. Our post survey found that all plan to pursue something in health care. HEAL has ongoing mentorship activities with each cohort and ongoing recruitment for next year.
Shout out to all involved in HEAL, especially the residents who served as HEAL coordinators:
Dr. Naiby Rodríguez
Dr. Jennifer Chinchilla
Dr. Armando Navarro
Dr. Tamaara Bostwick
