Youth Immersion Program
For High School Students Exploring Their Career Options
Participating youth shadow/observe health professionals, gain on-the-job experience in allied health occupations, learn and develop skills such as job etiquette and conflict resolution, and plan a path to college, certification/licensed training, or the workplace. This program takes place throughout the year (summer and academic school year) with support for access to designated education and career goals directly after high school.
BACH Fellows Program prepares the next generation of Baltimore’s healthcare workforce by introducing approximately 35 local high school students annually to careers in the industry. Working with partner organizations, we provide juniors, seniors and recent graduates with exposure to the inner workings of a hospital or other healthcare institution. BACH Fellows participate in a five-week paid internship during the summer.
They have the opportunity to shadow/observe health professionals, gain on-the-job experience in allied health occupations, learn medical technology, develop essential job skills and conflict resolution skills, and plan a path to college, certification/licensed training, or the workplace. Students who have participated in this program come from schools around the Baltimore area, including Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, REACH! Partnership School, Western High School, Edmondson Westside High School, Patterson High School, Mergenthaler High School, Baltimore City College and Green Street Academy.
The BACH Fellows Program has been supported over the years by partnered healthcare institutions hosting students for these opportunities. Some of these institutions include MedStar Health (Harbor Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital), St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Total Health Care, Mercy Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland Medical System (University of MD Medical Center and University of MD Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute), and LifeBridge (Sinai Hospital), and Keswick Multi-Care Center. Additionally, the program is in collaboration with supportive resources and educators from Baltimore City Public School System.
The BACH Fellows program has been replicated by nonprofits around the country.
BACH Fellows Experience Program exposes high school students to the healthcare environment by introducing approximately 15 local high school students annually to career exploration opportunities within the industry. Working with partner institutions, we provide juniors and seniors exposure to the inner workings of a hospital or other healthcare institution.
These BACH Fellows participate in an unpaid internship experience through volunteer services and are afforded the opportunity to earn Service-Learning Hours required for High School graduation. Much like the BACH Fellows summer program, they have the opportunity to shadow/observe health professionals, gain on-the-job experience in allied health occupations, learn medical technology, develop essential job skills and conflict resolution skills, and plan a path to college, certification/licensed training, or the workplace.
Students who have participated in this program come from schools around the Baltimore area, including Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, City Neighbors High School, and Western High School. The BACH Fellows Program has been supported over the years by partnered healthcare institutions hosting students for these opportunities. Some of these institutions include, Total Health Care, St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Mercy Medical Center, and Keswick Multi-Care Center
FAQ
This program allows rising high school juniors and seniors to participate in a six-week fellowship with some of Baltimore’s premier healthcare institutions. The goal is to introduce healthcare careers and opportunities to youth who may be interested in choosing a career in healthcare.
Up to 60 Baltimore City students who are rising high school juniors and seniors are selected. Allied health program students are preferred. Student Fellows will be selected based on the quality of their application, current GPA, teacher recommendation, attendance record, and an interview.
The first week consists of an orientation for all Fellows. Over the remaining weeks, Fellows work approximately 25 hours per week at their assigned health care institutions. Although students are not allowed to administer patient care, they get valuable shadowing and on-the-job experience in the pre-allied health occupations. They also learn about healthcare culture, job etiquette, punctuality, and conflict resolution.
Each hospital site has a full-time Baltimore City CTE teacher-mentor to provide on-the-job guidance, supervision, and weekly professional development workshops for the BACH Fellows.
Fellows produce a journal that they submit at the completion of the work experience. They also work with other students on a group project that is presented at the closing ceremony.
Interested students must complete the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) Summer Work Program Application. Although dates change every year, the time to apply is usually between January and March for a five-week program that starts in late June or early July.
There is no charge to participate in this program. Fellows are only responsible for the cost of their transportation, and, if required, the cost of a uniform.
BACH Fellows are expected to attend all activities and complete all assignments. Unless otherwise indicated by the student’s assigned healthcare institution, they must wear a uniform of khaki pants, a white polo shirt and white tennis shoes. Students will also be required to meet healthcare institution and City Schools requirements related to TB testing, drug testing, and parental permission.
Yes, Fellows receive a stipend equal to the prevailing hourly minimum wage through the MOED Youthworks program.
Participating healthcare institutions include Mercy Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Sinai Hospital, and Levindale Geriatric Center and Hospital.
The BACH Fellows program is a great way for students to learn about the field of healthcare.
There are more jobs in healthcare than in any other employment sector in Baltimore. Many of the vacant jobs are a strong match with allied health programs. And healthcare institutions offer good wages. For example, the average hourly wage for pharmacy technicians in Baltimore is $19.05 and the average hourly wage for surgical technicians is $27.81. In addition to salary, hospitals and some other healthcare institutions help employees move up the career ladder by paying the cost of their college tuition.
BACH partners with several agencies to make the Summer Fellows program a success. Baltimore City Schools (BCPS), through its Office of Career Technology Education (CTE), assists with the recruitment and selection of student Fellows, serves as the lead partner for the student orientation and hires the teacher/mentors. The Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) provides salaries for the Fellows through its Youthworks Summer Jobs Initiative. Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) provides a location for the student orientation week.