Must be accepted to or enrolled in high school and be 16-17 years old by the application deadline.
Junior Health Scholars Program
Healthcare career exploration for high school students.
Shadow healthcare professionals, develop essential skills, and build a strong foundation for your future in medicine.
Overview
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What You'll Get:
Skills You'll Gain:
This program is designed for individuals pursuing any healthcare career, such as:
Pre-Med & Pre-Health Pathways
Healthcare Administration
Nursing & Allied Health Professions
Public Health & Community Care
Medical & Clinical Support Roles
Certificate of Completion:
Patient Experience and Health Professions Studies
Program Requirements
Attendance at a mandatory 3-day training is required upon acceptance.
Health insurance meeting ACA “minimum essential coverage” is required.
Must provide current immunization records, including MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Tdap, TB screening, and seasonal flu vaccine.
Additional health screenings may be required based on program site regulations.
Some sites may restrict concurrent enrollment for current volunteers or employees—contact admissions for site-specific policies.
Program sites enforce substance-free learning environments, and drug testing may be required.
Physical Requirements
Participation in the COPE Health Scholars Program may involve clinical and support activities that require a moderate level of physical activity. Scholars must be able to safely perform the following essential physical tasks, with or without reasonable accommodation:
- Lift, move, or assist with equipment or materials weighing up to 50 pounds or more.
- Bend, stoop, kneel, and reach as needed while assisting in patient care environments.
- Stand or walk for extended periods of time during shifts in clinical settings.
- Push or pull equipment such as wheelchairs, gurneys, or supply carts when directed by staff.
- Respond quickly and safely in active patient care environments, including moving between patient rooms and clinical areas.
These requirements are intended to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and Scholars in fast-paced healthcare settings. Individuals who require reasonable accommodations to perform these essential functions are encouraged to contact the site Program Manager to discuss available options in accordance with applicable laws and institutional policies.
Benefits & Discounts
Key Dates
California
| Location | Application Deadline | Training Dates | Start Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emanate Health | April 30 | June 12, 14 & 20 | July 1 |
| Providence St John's Santa Monica | April 30 | July 1 |
Hawaii
| Location | Application Deadline | Training Dates | Start Dates |
|---|
Oregon
| Location | Application Deadline | Training Dates | Start Dates |
|---|
Washington
| Location | Application Deadline | Training Dates | Start Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multicare Spokane | April 30 | June 13, 14, & 20 | July 1 |
| Multicare Tacoma | April 30 | June 13, 14, & 20 | July 1 |
FAQ
Admissions
(Q) I am having trouble submitting my application through the web portal, what do I do?
(A) Please contact admissions@copehealthscholars.org and an admissions counselor from our team will reach out to you shortly.
(Q) I was not accepted. Can I reapply?
(A) Yes, you may re-apply. In your new application, highlight new insights or learning you have had since your last application. Please don’t re-submit the exact same application.
(Q) What can I do to increase my chances of admission?
(A) Take the application and interview process seriously. Spend time on your essay to demonstrate why you want to be in the program. Prepare for your interview and dress professionally. Your high school career counselor is a good resource for preparing for applications and interviews.
Safety
(Q) What do Scholars observe while shifting on the floor?
(A) Junior Health Scholars are given the opportunity to observe care in various clinical environments. Some of these environments may have graphic content, including but not limited to: patient nudity, graphic skin conditions, open wounds, injuries due to weapons, patients in distress, and graphic language. Junior Health Scholars will have sufficient training in how to react to situations in which graphic content is present upon beginning his or her rotations.
Guardians will be asked to sign off on a graphic consent form during enrollment.
Program Specifics
(Q) Can I transfer from one site to another site?
(A) Yes, you can transfer from one site to another site, depending on space availability at the new site. There is a transfer fee.
(Q) How often will I rotate into a new clinical or administrative department? Do I choose the department?
(A) Scholars rotate into new departments every three months after they complete a minimum of 48 hours in the current department. Scholars will fill out a department preference survey each rotation and are placed in new departments as space is available.
(Q) Why do some sites have more clinical areas than other sites? Why do some sites have only one or two clinical areas?
(A) The number of clinical areas varies based on several factors: the length of time the site has been open, the size of the site, and the needs of the site. New sites (opened within the last two years) typically introduce one to two clinical areas every three months. Smaller sites, such as acute care facilities with fewer beds, will have fewer clinical areas overall. Additionally, some sites may require more students in specific clinical areas, which can limit the number of open clinical departments.
Tuition
(Q) Do you accept scholarships from outside organizations?
(A) Yes, we do accept scholarships from outside organizations. If you have a scholarship from an outside organization, contact us at admissions@copehealthscholars.org for instructions on how to remit payment for the scholarship.
