REACH will change the way you view the American health care system...guaranteed. Now I realize how much is at stake for the linguistically isolated, the economically disadvantaged, and the medically uninsured - and the moral imperative for us to stand up for their rights.
- Chris Su, 2009 AHS REACH Intern
Real-world Exposure and Advocacy in Community Health (REACH) Summer Internship Program
Real-world Exposure and Advocacy in Community Health (REACH) is a 9-week paid summer internship program off red by Asian Health Services (AHS) for those who are interested in pursuing a career in public health or healthrelated fields. Through direct clinical experience, community health advocacy activities, and self-directed projects, REACH will expose interns to the dynamic environment of a community health center so that they can gain a better understanding of how health care is delivered to an underserved population.
The goal of REACH is to train pre-health professionals to encourage them
to choose career paths that will serve the Asian
underserved community. REACH is intended for college students and
graduates who are at a career crossroads. The internships
are designed to bring students to the frontline of community medicine,
and to expose them to the inner-workings of a
community health center.
Combining clinical rotations, special projects, and
community health seminars, the REACH program is designed on the
belief that interns benefit the most when given a balance of structure,
direction, and creative freedom.
REACH is a program of the AHS Pipeline Committee,
an advocacy group of AHS employees formed in 2006 to
address the ongoing need for linguistically and culturally competent
health care professionals in our community.
In the summer of 2010, REACH will start its fourth cycle.
To learn more about REACH, check out the Components of REACH.
You can also check out our 2009 REACH Summer Intern Profiles below, and the 2009 Community Health Seminar Series.
If you are interested in the internship program, you can apply online.
Please contact Dr. Nghe Yang
if you have further questions about the internship program or application process.
REACH Summer 2010 Application
Upper-level college students and graduates who are considering careers in medicine, public health, community health advocacy, and any allied health profession are encouraged to apply. Candidates should also exhibit a strong interest in working with the Asian underserved, have basic knowledge of Asian health issues, and have experience in basic data analysis and research. Fluency in an Asian language is required, with priority for Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Korean.
Our application is now available online. As soon as you finish the online application process, you must also provide the following:
- Two letters of recommendation are required, one from an academic source (former or current professor, teaching assistant, research director) and a second from a non-academic source (program director, civic leader, employer). Both may be sent directly by each recommender.
- A curriculum vitae that includes employment history and any community or research involvement.
- A recent college transcript sent directly from the Office of Admissions.
- A personal interview will be granted to selected individuals and required for acceptance. On-site interviews will be conducted from April 5-16, 2010. Telephone interviews may be arranged on an individual basis.
Please mail documents to:
Asian Health Services, REACH Internship
Attn: Nghe Yang, MD
818 Webster St.
Oakland, CA 94607
The application and all items listed above must be received by March 12, 2010.
Important Dates
March 12, 2010: Application postmark deadline
April 5th - April 16th, 2010: Interviews
April 26th, 2010: Acceptance Notifications
June 14th - August 13th, 2010: Internship
August 11th and August 12th, 2010: Final Presentations
August 12th, 2010:: Finale Celebration
REACH Summer 2009 Intern Profiles



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