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Boston Area Health Education Center

The Boston Area Health Education Center (BAHEC) is a youth pathway to health careers program. BAHEC believes in inspiring Boston high school students to pursue health careers. It provides hands-on learning and exposure through year-long and summer programming.

BAHEC's mission is to increase racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity among Boston's healthcare workforce. It focuses on raising the proportion of youth from underserved populations who pursue careers in health and public health.

About Us

The Boston Area Health Education Center is a youth to health careers pipeline program in the Division of Child Adolescent Health. It is part of the Massachusetts Area Health Education Center Network. The network is a statewide system to address health disparities focused on workforce development.

The program, founded in 1978, was the first program of its kind in the city of Boston. The mission is to increase racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity in Boston's healthcare workforce. They achieve this by raising the proportion of youth from underserved populations who pursue careers in health and public health.

The program develops, implements, and disseminates enrichment programs for middle school and high school aged youth. Its programming fulfills the Boston Public Health Commission's mission: 

"protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable."

The program accepts students entering the 9th to 12th grade. Students must live in Boston to be eligible to apply for the program. Accepted students receive a stipend to take part in the program. The program has 2 components namely a summer enrichment program as well as an after-school academic year program.

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Programming

BAHEC offers programs year-round. These programs support its vision of diversifying the pool of health professionals. Programs focus on academic enrichment, professional development, and health career exploration. 

Academic Year

Students who join us during the academic year participate in academic enrichment, professional development, and health career exploration. Courses vary from year to year but have included:

  • Introduction to Medical Careers
  • Public and Global Health
  • EMT
  • Dentistry
  • Physical Therapy
  • and more
Summer

BAHEC's summer enrichment program is a six-week program. It consists of:

  • various math courses
  • various science courses
  • public health courses
  • electives
  • field trips
Stay Woke Video

Youth to Health Careers Program

BAHEC's Youth to Health Careers (Y2HC) Summer Enrichment Program is a six week program for teens entering grades 9 through 12. The program caters to teens interested in pursuing careers in public health and the health sciences. The goals of the Summer program is to:

  • strengthen the desire to pursue health careers
  • increase awareness of health disparities
  • promote academic development
  • promote professional development

     

BAHEC Scholars…

  • Take interactive classes in math and science
  • Participate in internships in hospitals, community health centers or health agencies
  • Go on weekly field trips
  • And receive a stipend

Summer Application

Join us over the summer!
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