On July 8, Codman Square Health Center (CSHC) launched its 14th annual Healthcare Pathways Summer Internship Program with its largest cohort ever: 39 high school students from Codman Academy, the Randolph Public Schools, and TechBoston Academy.
The program, a longstanding collaboration with Codman Academy, has expanded in recent years to include additional partner schools—reflecting CSHC’s deep commitment to youth development, allied healthcare workforce development, and community wellness.
Interns—all high school-aged youth primarily from Dorchester and surrounding communities—are placed within a range of employer partner situations, including pharmacy, urgent care, pediatrics, patient registration, family medicine, lab, and radiology. The positions span places like Codman Square Health Center, Boston Medical Center, and Tufts Medical Center, Fenway Health and local farms where interns work under the guidance and supervision of healthcare providers and professionals in their fields.
This summer’s program introduced an exciting new component: an Urban Agriculture and Climate Resilience track, where three interns work in Codman’s community gardens, help manage a youth-led farmers market, and explore the intersection of farming and renewable technologies as pathways to sustainable and rewarding careers.
“This internship has helped me understand what it’s like to have a professional job and how helping the community can be good for everyone,” said Patrick Germain, a dental intern from the previous year.
More than just a summer job, the program offers hands-on learning, financial literacy workshops, and weekly “Lunch and Learn” sessions with healthcare professionals and community leaders.
The initiative also promotes health equity by exposing local youth—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—to healthcare careers early in life.
“There are so many ways to get into the healthcare field. Hearing my managers’ stories helps me see a path for myself,” said intern Shana Pinnock.
Communities of color remain underrepresented locally in nearly every healthcare role—from frontline clinicians to administrators—contributing to health disparities and limited access to culturally competent care. The Codman Healthcare Pathways Program tackles this challenge head-on by investing early in local youth, exposing them to viable career options, and empowering them with the confidence and skills to pursue higher education and professional success.
“Our internship program is more than just a summer opportunity — it’s a powerful investment in the future of healthcare,” says Codman Square Health Center CEO Guy Fish, MD, MBA. “This program is enabling us to build a more diverse and representative workforce, one that reflects and understands the communities we serve, and in the longer term, will build a stronger, more vibrant Dorchester community.”
The program has also become a popular learning ground for college-level interns. This year, two students from Dartmouth College are supporting the team and engaging meaningfully with the high school interns as both peers and role models.
“It is imperative that we sow the seeds of purpose and possibility in the hearts and minds of our community youth so they recognize the potential in these rewarding careers,” said Chetna Naimi, program director of the Codman Healthcare Pathways and Internship Program, adding, “Once our community youth begin to see themselves as professionals, they rise to the occasion and good stipend also serves as a strong motivation.”
Funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the John Hancock MLK Summer Scholars Program, Liberty Mutual Foundation, and The Babson Foundation, the CSHC internship continues to grow in both size and impact. program will culminate in a celebration event in mid-August, recognizing the achievements of these young leaders and the power of early investment in community talent.
