High School Program Offers Healthcare Career Insights to Students

Aaliyah Zuniga, a senior at Bremen High School in Midlothian, participated in distributing produce and vegetable plants at TCA Health in Dolton. The event included information about local food pantries and assistance programs. This initiative was part of a hands-on program for students with an interest in healthcare careers. Zuniga expressed her enthusiasm for gaining insights into the medical field and aspires to become a nurse working with newborns someday.

Zuniga was among 19 students from Bremen High School District 228 in the Cook County Department of Public Health’s Community Healthcare Worker High School Pipeline Program, now in its second year. Students received training from Sinai Urban Health Institute in the spring of 2026, with eight students moving on to a six-week summer internship from June 22 through July 31. “At the clinic, we learned about HIV tests they offered. It was cool to see how they did it,” Zuniga remarked.

For Zuniga, the program provided an opportunity to explore public health within her community. She emphasized the importance of community collaboration for improving health. Aside from TCA Health, interns worked at Arab American Family Services in Worth and Family Christian Health Center in Harvey. They engaged in practical lessons in CPR/AED, first aid, ‘Stop the Bleed’, and trauma-informed care.

This year’s program was funded by Bremen School District 228, Cook County Department of Public Health, and the Michael Reese Health Trust, following the non-renewal of funding by the Centers for Disease Control. Alongside these activities, students from Bremen, Tinley Park, and Hillcrest high schools produced a video addressing vaping dangers. Overseen by Efrat Stein, Cook County Department of Public Health’s director of communications, the video was part of a broader campaign against vaping. Students contributed to production, acting, and speaking roles.

Xandria Hair, associate program director at the county health department, highlighted Efrat Stein’s role in helping students explore public health communication. Hair remarked that the program demonstrated the active role young people could play in shaping health messaging for their peers.

“What impressed me most was their willingness to give public health a chance and to use their voices to positively influence their peers and communities,” Hair noted.

Renee Mack, director of career readiness for District 228, explained the district’s decision to provide training and internships due to growing student interest in healthcare careers. Ryan Red, a junior at Bremen High School, remarked that the program served as a good starting point for his healthcare career aspirations. He learned fundamental healthcare procedures and etiquette, such as refusing gifts from patients.

Christopher Roman, a senior from Markham, shared that the program taught him to handle specific situations in healthcare settings, including notifying a trusted colleague if he felt uneasy visiting a patient’s home. Students also gained practical knowledge in patient outreach.

Analy Calderon, a Bremen High senior, naturally gravitated towards the medical field due to her inclination to help people. This program supported her interest. Janice Neumann contributed this report as a freelance journalist for the Daily Southtown.