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Mass General Brigham Youth Program

Helping young people in our communities live healthier lives and prepare for future careers.

male technician holding medical equipment with his hand smiling next to two female students

What we do

female student in scrubs in laboratory setting
Begine Derilien gaining hands-on experience in perioperative services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The Mass General Brigham Youth Program offers students from Boston, Revere, and Chelsea a unique opportunity to explore careers in healthcare through real-world experience. Through hands-on activities and mentorship from healthcare professionals, students build skills, confidence, and connections that shape their futures. 

Beginning in 10th grade, students embark on a multi-year journey that includes career exploration, paid internships during the academic year and summer, college and career advising, and alumni support.

The Mass General Brigham Youth Program is part of a larger partnership between Mass General Brigham and the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers (EMK).

How it works: Opportunities at every stage

We support students from high school through college, offering meaningful experiences, mentorship, and career exposure every step of the way.

  • Explore healthcare fields and career paths and build community in 10th grade
  • Paid internships, skill-building and post-secondary planning support in 11th and 12th grade
  • Continued mentorship, career navigation support and alumni network after graduation

100%

In 2025, every student in the Youth Program graduated from high school.

Line drawing of a graduation cap

Our history

students with researchers in laboratory setting
Our students shadow in a variety of different departments, including the Chemical Neurobiology Lab at Mass General Brigham.

For years, the Youth Scholars Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Student Success Jobs Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital supported students in Boston, Revere, and Chelsea in exploring careers in healthcare and building valuable life skills.

These programs created spaces for connection, learning, growth, and real-world experience through internships, job shadowing, summer jobs, and workshops. They provided opportunity, community, and a sense of purpose.

Now, as part of Mass General Brigham’s commitment to supporting our communities, these programs are coming together as one unified Mass General Brigham Youth Program.

Specific offerings

We support students from high school through college, offering meaningful experiences, mentorship, and career exposure every step of the way.

male researcher watching female student in laboratory
Holly Hatleberg gaining hands-on experience in the Wellman Center for Photomedicine.

Summer jobs 

Mass General Brigham offers paid summer jobs for students from our partner high schools. These positions focus on healthcare careers and give students hands-on experience in areas such as:

  • Emergency medicine
  • Nursing
  • Neurology and neurosurgery
  • Radiology and imaging
  • Psychiatry and behavioral health
  • Anesthesia and sleep medicine
  • Pulmonary and respiratory services
  • Pathology and clinical laboratories
  • Research labs and global health initiatives

Students also gain experience in many other departments across hospitals, health centers, and community-based programs.

Supervisors are trained to mentor youth, and students participate in weekly workshops focused on personal and professional development.

Our program sites include:

  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Brigham and Women’s Hospital
  • Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital
  • Mass Eye and Ear

Alumni program 

We continue to support alumni of the Youth Program throughout college through:

  • One-on-one advising
  • Workshops
  • Scholarships available

How to apply

Mass General Brigham Youth Program

The application link will be available in Spring 2026. Please check back for updates on how to apply.

Mass General Brigham Summer Jobs Program

We partner with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) to recruit students for summer job opportunities.

If you’re interested in applying, please contact your school’s PIC career specialist or visit the Boston PIC website for more information.

Who can apply?

Each year, 75 students from Boston, Revere, and Chelsea are accepted into the Youth Program. We look for students who are curious about careers in healthcare, research, or science and are eager to grow academically and professionally.

Eligible students must be sophomores enrolled at one of the following schools: 

  • Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers
  • Revere High School
  • Chelsea High School
  • Any Boston public school

You don’t need straight As to join, but you do need to take school seriously. Being a Youth Program scholar is a meaningful commitment. We encourage you to consider your schedule, workload, and current activities before applying.

Frequently asked questions

Students can only join in 10th grade.

Applications open in the spring, and selections are finalized in the summer. If you attend one of our partner high schools, please speak with your guidance counselor for more details.

No. EMK students are not automatically enrolled. You must still go through the application and selection process to join the program.

Not at this time. Currently, we only accept students from Boston Public Schools, Revere High School, and Chelsea High School.

Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders from Boston Public Schools can apply through the Boston PIC. Revere and Chelsea High School students who are already part of the Mass General Brigham Youth Program are also eligible to apply.

Applicants must:

  • Be a 10th grader at one of our partner schools
  • Have an interest in exploring healthcare careers
  • Be available for afternoon program hours
  • Be committed to academic growth (we expect students to maintain good grades, but we encourage all motivated students to apply regardless of current GPA)

Some departments may offer youth programs independently, but we do not maintain a central list of these opportunities. You may also explore volunteer opportunities through the Mass General Junior Volunteer Program.

What students and supervisors say

Hear directly from students and supervisors about the impact of the Youth Program.

From supervisors:

"It has been so rewarding to work with our summer students! Their brightness and diligence have benefited our group in just a few weeks...When a young student myself, I benefited immensely from early mentorship experiences, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to invest in our students' futures."

Paloma Tuttle-Vasseur

"It’s been incredibly rewarding to provide guidance and support to the next generation of healthcare workers. I encourage everyone in health care to find a way to mentor and motivate young people who are interested in our professions."

Chris DiPrima

From students:

"Mass General Brigham Youth Scholars has been a program that introduced me to so many unique STEM careers and parts of the hospital. I am so grateful I got to see and experience so much that many never see... while still in high school!"

Holly Hatleberg, Class of 2025

"Mass General Brigham Youth Programs didn’t just give me a job — it gave me structure, guidance, and support. Little by little, the program has been helping me grow. I learned how to be on time — not just physically showing up but being mentally present and prepared. I became more organized, learned how to prioritize my tasks, and started seeing how these small habits made a big difference. The program gave me mentors, tools, and confidence to take responsibility for myself and for my future. Now, in my current role, I see how much I’ve changed. I’ve grown into someone who takes pride in my work, who asks questions, who pays attention to detail, and who enjoys being part of a team."

Hamsi Abdikadir, Class of 2027

Contact

Mass General Brigham Youth Program
youthprograms@mgb.org