With a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, San Diego has a growing need for medical professionals who are trained and prepared to enter the job market with knowledge and compassion. Established in 2014 to address this need, Rady Children’s Summer Medical Academy program was founded for high school students to: expand their knowledge of the breadth and depth of healthcare opportunities, experience practical skills in an immersive hands-on format, and explore real life career paths through direct connections with clinical specialists. Supported by more than 125 faculty from Rady Children’s Health and other healthcare facilities, Summer Medical Academy is strategically inspiring and developing the next generation of healthcare workers and leaders. Join us for an overview of the inception of Summer Medical Academy, to its expansion as a highly sought-after opportunity for high school students across the region and beyond. Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen student interest in pursuing a career in healthcare and learn how to use local projected workforce needs to improve program content and logistics.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify key lessons and best practices for effectively engaging and preparing youth for a career in healthcare

2. Develop actionable strategies to strengthen collaboration between clinicians, academic entities and healthcare facilities