The Urban Health Fellowship (UHF) started in 2014 out of the Powerful Health Peer Leadership Program (PHPLP), serving 30 young males of color with the skills to prevent heart disease and stroke. UHF began as a six-week summer program and, in 2019, transitioned to a school-based, credit-based program.
UHF is now a credit-bearing, school-based course serving Augustus Hawkins High School students interested in pursuing a career in the allied health or medical fields.
Urban Health Fellowship Participants Can Earn a Certificate in Health and Medical Disciplines After High School
UHF prepares young men and women of color to transition into 2-year, 4-year and certificate programs in health and medical disciplines following graduation while also addressing health disparities by training youth to become health advocates. The UHF program offers:
- Opportunities for internships
- Field trips to universities and health-related facilities, such as Cedars Sinai Medical Center
- Guest speakers who share their career journey in their respective medical sector
- Youth-led Participatory Action Research
In addition to exposure to the allied health and medical fields, Social Justice Learning Institute supports youth in applying for college, financial aid, and scholarships.
Urban Health Fellowship Partners with Local and Leading Universities and Community Organizations for Hands-on Experience
Our partnership with Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science has helped make the UHF program a success, where three physicians meet with our students weekly and help guide the program with various lab demonstrations, such as sutures, phlebotomy and more. Students get the hands-on experience they need to be successful in the world of medicine.
Additional partners include:
- Children’s Hospital LA,
- USC Keck School of Medicine,
- USC Med-COR program, and
- Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health.
- Black Male Coalition
- LA Clippers
- UCLA
Continuing to secure partnerships is vital to the Urban Health Fellowship’s ability to provide career resources and materials for our young men to enhance the trajectories of their future health careers.
Testimonies
Lavelle is one of our UHF alumni that has been a part of our organization since 2017. Since joining the program, he has passed the written exam for the Red Tails Foundation scholarship. Before receiving this news, he planned to take the semester off as he couldn’t afford the spring semester fees at Tuskegee University. After receiving the call, he mobilized by contacting different organizations, departments and mentors for support. He and his mom started a GoFundMe, and a family friend connected him to someone at the Black College Expo. From that connection, Black College Expo paid the remaining amount on his balance, and Lavelle was able to continue his education at Tuskegee.
Want to Join the Urban Health Fellowship?
Contact Julius Young or Lesly Sanchez.