A-HEC of a Summer
- 3 Week Program
- 12+ Rotations
- Approximately 105 Volunteer Hours
- Program is held at a hospital in your home parish. Participant must have transportation to and from the program site daily.
What You Will Learn
- An overview of health care careers and medical specialties and more
- Patient care basics and how health professionals work as a team
- Real-world insight into hospital operations and medical settings
- Education and training pathways for careers in health care
- Job readiness skills, professionalism, and CPR certification
Who Should Join
- High school freshman, sophomore, or junior students interested in a health care career
- Students who enjoy hands-on learning and real-world experiences
- Those who want to volunteer and give back to their community
- Those seeking early exposure to clinical environments and professional standards
- Motivated, dependable students willing to commit to the full program
Requirements
- High school freshman, sophomore, or junior interested in pursuing a health care career, with a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average
- Resident of one of the eligible parishes: Ascension, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Grant, Iberville, LaSalle, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Helena, Vernon, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, and Winn
- Available for all scheduled program dates, typically late May, June, or July, including a mandatory family orientation held one evening before the program begins
Explore This Program
Overview
About This Program
The A-HEC of a Summer Program is a free and exciting opportunity for high school students who are interested in pursuing a health care career. Students explore different career opportunities in medicine by volunteering at local hospitals, learning about health issues, patient care, and health care career options, as well as education and training pathways, volunteer work, and job readiness skills. The program requires a commitment of approximately 105 hours as a health care volunteer, and concludes with an awards and recognition event.
Why Join This Program?
Impact
Students make a meaningful impact by supporting local hospitals and serving their communities while gaining real-world experience in health care settings. The program also strengthens the future health care workforce by inspiring students to pursue careers in medicine and related fields.
Purpose
The purpose of A-HEC of a Summer is to expose high school students to the realities of health care professions through hands-on learning and observation. The program helps students make informed decisions about their academic and career pathways in medicine.
Value
Participants gain early exposure to professional health care environments that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting. This experience adds long-term value by enhancing college readiness and clarifying career goals.
Benefits
Students earn ½ high school AHEC elective credit, CPR certification, and valuable volunteer hours. Additional benefits include mentorship, career exploration, and skills that strengthen college and scholarship applications. Scrub suits are provided free of charge.
Curriculum
What You’ll Learn
A-HEC of a Summer runs across three weeks at a hospital in your home parish. Each week layers classroom instruction, morning hospital rotations, workshops, and field trips, building from orientation through to a final poster presentation.
Week 1
Hospital site orientation
CPR certification
Medical terminology and abbreviations / Test #1
Field trip #1
Workshop #1 (vital signs, suturing, injections, resume, mock interviews)
Morning hospital rotations
Anatomy and Physiology, Disease Process
Infection Control
Week 2
Medical terminology and abbreviations / Test #2
Field trip #2
Workshop #2 (vital signs, suturing, injections, resume, mock interviews)
Morning hospital rotations
Anatomy and Physiology, Disease Process
Infection Control
Health Care Professional Degree Research
Resume
Mock Interviews
Week 3
Medical terminology and abbreviations / Test #3
Field trip #3
Workshop #3 (vital signs, suturing, injections, resume, mock interviews)
Morning hospital rotations
Anatomy and Physiology, Disease Process
Poster Presentation
Blood Typing
Health Care Professional Degree Research
Resume
Mock Interviews
Testimonials
Program Impact: Student Perspectives
Participants from past A-HEC of a Summer programs share that the experience helped them gain confidence in their career goals and better understand what working in health care is really like. Students often say the program opened their eyes to new medical career options and confirmed their interest in pursuing a future in health care.
Angelo Palencia
This wasn’t just good — it was exactly what I needed.
Sarah Lin
A-HEC of a Summer definitely opened my eyes to what the medical field really is. The experience is something that people rarely get until they are too far in to back out. It was overall a wonderful experience.
Abigail Clingfost
My experience as a whole really showed me as a person and a future healthcare provider that there’s so much more to the field than we as patients may see. I’m grateful and thankful for this experience.
Julia Chiasson
I learned so much, not only about medicine, but also about professionalism, workforce settings, and leadership. I made lasting friendships and professional relationships that can never be replaced.
Trusted By
Our hospital sites include Avoyelles Hospital, Baton Rouge General Health System, Bunkie General Hospital, Byrd Regional Hospital, Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Hardtner Medical Center, Lane Regional Medical Center, LaSalle General Hospital, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth, Pointe Coupee General Hospital, Prevost Memorial Hospital, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Trinity Medical, West Feliciana Parish Hospital, and Winn Parish Medical Center.
Secure Your Spot Today
Discover your future in health care with A-HEC of a Summer. Spots are limited, so apply by March 1st by 11:59 pm. A completed online application must include the application itself, a clear photo ID or student ID, one letter of recommendation from your teacher, counselor, or high school principal, and a copy of your most recent high school transcript from your counselor. Program dates for individual program sites are announced in March.
FAQ & Contact
Need Help?
Have questions about the schedule, requirements, or certification? Our FAQ covers the most common concerns, and our support team is always ready to help. Reach out anytime and we’ll guide you through the process.
When does the program take place?
Typically in June or July, with some hospital sites beginning in May after the last day of school in their parish.
Where does CLAHEC offer this program?
Our hospital sites in our service area include: Avoyelles Hospital, Baton Rouge General Health System, Bunkie General Hospital, Byrd Regional Hospital, Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Hardtner Medical Center, Lane Regional Medical Center, LaSalle General Hospital, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth, Pointe Coupee General Hospital, Prevost Memorial Hospital, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Trinity Medical, West Feliciana Parish Hospital, and Winn Parish Medical Center.
What is the dress code for this program?
Students are provided with scrubs to be worn each day throughout the duration of the program. Only scrubs provided by CLAHEC may be worn. In addition to the scrubs, students may wear neutral-colored undershirts (black, white, tan, grey). Students MUST wear socks and closed toe shoes, and minimal jewelry throughout the program. Hoodies and sweatshirts are not permitted.
Can I purchase additional sets of scrubs?
Not at this time.
Are all 15 days of the program mandatory?
In order to comply with the Louisiana Department of Education and course requirements set by the state of Louisiana, students must attend all identified program dates.
Can students have their cell phones during the program day?
Students are not permitted to use their personal cell phones during the program day. Students will turn in phones in the morning. Students will have the opportunity to use their personal cell phones at lunch, but must turn them in again after lunch prior to the afternoon sessions. Parents and guardians will have access to an alternate number to be able to communicate emergency information to their child during the program.
Is transportation provided?
Transportation for this program is not provided. Students must have adequate transportation to and from the hospital site daily, in addition to a mode of transportation for any local field trips during the program. Transportation is provided only on the full day field trip.
Get in Touch
If you have more questions or need personal assistance, feel free to contact us:
info@clahec.org
Drop us a message anytime, we’ll get back to you shortly.
Phone: (318) 443-2855
Available Monday to Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
CLAHEC Headquarters
1308 Dorchester Drive Alexandria, LA 71303
