This summer teaching role is ideal for:

  • Current health professions students in medicine, PA, nursing, public health, and related fields.
  • People interested in mentoring the next generation of healthcare providers.
  • Teachers interested in healthcare pathways development.

Interested in inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders?

Position overview

Instructors play a key role in delivering engaging, inclusive, and hands-on learning experiences for high school students exploring careers in health and medicine. This stipend-based role is ideal for current health professions students (medicine, PA, nursing, public health, or related fields)who are interested in teaching, mentorship, and healthcare pathways development.

Instructors serve as near-peer educators and mentors, leading curriculum delivery while helping students envision pathways from high school to college and into health professional training. 

°®¶¹´«Ã½ the Academy

The UC Santa Cruz Premed Postbacc Program is expanding its mission to address the national and California healthcare workforce shortage by launching a six-week High School Health Pathways Summer Academy. The Academy provides early exposure to health careers, a foundational human biology course, public health advocacy, and pathways into medicine and the health professions, with a strong emphasis on equity, access, and service to underserved communities.

The Academy integrates academic instruction, hands-on clinical simulation, mentorship, career exploration, field-based experiences, and a capstone project. It is designed to strengthen the regional health professions pipeline while aligning UC Santa Cruz with statewide workforce development efforts.

Key responsibilities

  • Facilitate instructional sessions aligned with academy curriculum, including:
    • Public health and health advocacy topics
    • Health professions career exploration
  • Support hands-on learning activities, including clinical simulations and group projects
  • Engage students through interactive discussions, activities, and experiential learning
  • Serve as a near-peer mentor, sharing educational and career experiences in health professions
  • Assist with classroom management and student engagement during daily academy hours
  • Collaborate with program staff and guest speakers
  • Support field trips, guest speaker sessions, and the student capstone projects
  • Foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment that reflects °®¶¹´«Ã½¡¯s equity-focused mission

Preferred qualifications

  • Current graduate student pursuing a health-related field (medicine, PA, nursing, public health, etc.)
  • Interest in health education, mentorship, or healthcare workforce development
  • Experience working with high school students, tutoring, teaching, or mentoring (preferred but not required)
  • Strong communication, professionalism, and teamwork skills
  • Commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds

Time commitment | compensation

  • Stipend-based position: $6,000 flat-rate stipend
  • Required availability for all program dates and scheduled training/orientation sessions
  • In-person participation required at the °®¶¹´«Ã½ Silicon Valley Campus site

How to apply

Please email a cover letter and resume to dsnair@ucsc.edu and sharri15@ucsc.edu. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of March 15.