The program features sessions led by healthcare professionals across a variety of disciplines, offering students the opportunity to interact directly with practitioners and gain insight into current practices in the field. Sessions run from January to June yearly and culminate in final student presentations exploring either a healthcare profession of interest or a course topic that had the greatest personal impact.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between FLIP, Saint Michaels Indian School, and Xavier University of Louisiana. It is designed to offer all interested Saint Michaels students an early exposure to the range of opportunities in healthcare, delivered in hybrid format—both virtually and in-person—by current practitioners. Sessions include introductions to a wide variety of healthcare careers delineating the educational roadmap featuring practitioner's personal stories on motivation to pursue these careers. This is combined with interactive hands-on workshops providing life skills such as first aid, layperson CPR, stop the bleed training, wound care, hand hygiene, ultrasound skills, and pharmacy compounding labs among many others.
Volunteer and teaching opportunities within the program are open to all interested Mass General Brigham staff, learners, and external collaborators who wish to contribute to student learning and mentorship. Participation is based on professional experience and interest in supporting healthcare career exposure for high school students.
Rural and Indigenous communities often face healthcare provider shortages, particularly of those with long-standing ties to the community. By introducing students to health careers early and providing role models from a variety of backgrounds, the program aims to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals who are committed to community-based and culturally-informed care.