We are working to resume the internship for 2008. If you are interested in participating, please contact us.

There are many ways you can get involved with Baltimore REACH

Baltimore Community Health Internship

2006 Program Brochure [Formerly the Open Society Institute's Soros Service Program for Community Health (SSPCH)]

Program Description

For our nation's medically underserved populations, the urban safety net and community based organizations (CBO) play a critical role in keeping people healthy. These organizations and the people who work in them are at the forefront in trying to address and impact the social determinant of health and disease, advocating for their patients, soften the impact of poverty, racism, and disenfranchisement that many of our communities face.

Some 2005 Participating CBOs

•  Beans and Bread Outreach

•  Chase-Brexton Community Healthcare Network (CHN)

•  Franciscan Center

•  Health care for the Homeless

•  Paul's Place

•  Shepherd's Clinic

•  St Michael Outreach Center

This initiative seeks to enhance the exposure, perspective, and commitment of medical students interested in service to vulnerable and special-need populations in Baltimore City. Working with Baltimore REACH, a network of health and social service "safety net" providers, the initiative aims to develop education opportunities for students to gain experience and an appreciation for providing care and becoming advocates within underserved community settings. The initiative also supports the Consortium and its capacity to advocate on behalf of vulnerable and disenfranchised populations and to be a resource for health professions training that imparts a community-based perspective on the education experience.  

This initiative consists of four components: Direct service; specialized curricula on vulnerable populations including the working poor and those with HIV/AIDS; A collective research project; and mentoring by health professionals including physicians, nurses, and social workers.

Summer Internship Program

The Baltimore Summer Internship Program is an intensive eight-week program for medical students between their first and second years of medical school.   The internship provides an opportunity for selected students to actively pursue a professional interest in community health, underserved populations health care, health justice and advocacy. One community-based organization (CBO) serves as the primary host for each student during the internship, with opportunities to also rotate through other organizations with similar missions and population foci. In addition to community placements, students attend weekly seminars led by mentors and faculty from participating organizations and area medical schools, as well as other experts. These seminars introduce students to key concepts related to medical professionalism and to providing healthcare in diverse, medically underserved urban communities. Examples of seminar topics include: Health care to Homeless persons, Health care to working poor families, HIV/AIDS care in the community, Substance Abuse care in the community, and immigrant health care.   Finally, all of the summer students participate in a group project that consists of conducting a community-based access to care survey and drafting a report and policy recommendations that are presented at an end-of-session press conference.