Summer Health Institute

This five-week program is a collaborative effort with Salinas Valley Health, and Hartnell College, and R.O.P./Health Academies. Our purpose is to expose high school students, recruited primarily from local health academies, to health-careers through classroom presentations, job shadowing, and group research projects. During the program, students develop an understanding of hospital organization, diagnosis, care plan development, patient assessment, and treatment.

We strive to inspire students to pursue health careers and solidify their desire to achieve a career in a health-related field into a more clearly-defined plan. Salinas Valley Health has presented the program since 2003, with the help of the following participating agencies throughout the years: Hartnell College, Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association & Hospice, Mission Trails R.O.P., Stanford School of Medicine, University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), and NASA/Ames Research.

Participants are selected through a competitive application process between February-March and must be a high school Junior or Senior at the time of application to be considered. Application materials are distributed through local R.O.P., Health Academy instructors, and Career Centers or calling Salinas Valley Health Medical Center Volunteer Services at 831-755-0772 or emailing SHI@SalinasValleyHealth.com.