High School Mentorship in Academic Health Care Administration

Each time you go to the doctor’s office, you interact with an assortment of different people: a receptionist, a nurse, a doctor, maybe even a radiologist or pharmacist. But did you know that there are teams of professionals making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes?

You Don’t Have to be a Physician to Make an Impact in Health Care

Academic Health Care Administrators play a vital role in managing and coordinating operations within academic medical centers, outpatient clinics, laboratories, and clinical trials. The Department of Surgery's mentorship program offers high school students a unique opportunity to explore the various career paths in academic health care and medical research administration. Participants will gain valuable insights into key functions such as program management, regulatory compliance, budgeting, human resources, and strategic planning. Through hands-on experiences and mentorship from experienced administrators, students will discover how effective management supports the mission of the Stanford School of Medicine to excel in medical education, research, and clinical health care services.

Whether you excel at writing, finance, or graphic design, you’ll be introduced to a function that suits your skill set all while learning how to engage professionally with people of all backgrounds and experiences.

At the conclusion of the program, Mentees will work together on teams to prepare a presentation for all Mentors and Team Leads and take a final exam. Stanford will present each Mentee with a certificate of completion signed by our Chair, Dr. Mary Hawn.

In today’s ever-changing healthcare landscape, the need for skilled professionals who can navigate the complex intersections of healthcare policy, research, education, operations, and patient care has never been more critical.

Throughout the program, you will be paired with students from other high schools and will work alongside the dynamic Stanford Surgery staff, gaining insights into their daily activities and responsibilities.

Are you committed to leading change and innovation in today's complex health system? Apply here!

This program is 100% virtual. *If the mentee does not have a laptop, we will work with them to obtain a loaner laptop from a public library.

Application Requirements

• A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Completion of the online application
• Current high school transcript
• A one-page essay describing why they are interested in academic healthcare administration
• One letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or guidance counselor (no family members)

Deadline: May 12, 2025