SOAR Program Gives Oakland Youth a Hands-On Look Into Healthcare Careers at Samuel Merritt University

This summer, Samuel Merritt University (SMU) welcomed a new cohort of aspiring healthcare professionals to the Oakland campus through the Strengthening Opportunities in Advancing Regional Healthcare (SOAR) Program, an initiative led by Roots Community Health in partnership with SMU, the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), and Umoja Health.

Supported by a $1 million grant from the Gilead Foundation, SOAR is investing in the next generation of healthcare leaders by expanding access to health careers and preparing youth to become champions for community health. Throughout the summer, the cohort earned paid stipends while gaining hands-on experience at Roots, receiving community health advocate experiences through Alameda County Public Health and Umoja Health, and exploring a wide range of healthcare careers through immersive learning experiences at SMU. 

Over the course of the summer, SOAR participants visited SMU several times to experience a breadth of opportunities within the health professions. Students explored human anatomy in SMU’s anatomy lab, learned about careers in physical therapy and social work, participated in blood draw and IV insertion demonstrations, connected with physician assistant (PA) students through a career panel, explored careers in maternal and birth health, and visited the Motion Analysis Research Center (MARC). They also completed an opioid overdose simulation at SMU’s state-of-the-art Health Sciences Simulation Center (HSSC) and participated in a vascular health workshop led by UCSF Champions, where they practiced blood pressure measurement and suturing techniques for anastomosis. 

“With healthcare where it is today, giving them this kind of exposure early lets them see what’s actually possible for their lives,” explains William Hathorn, BSN ‘27, who volunteered multiple weeks in a row with the program, teaching the youth how to draw blood and playing one of the roles in the overdose simulation. “And as an African American man in this space, I know representation matters. If even one of them looks at me and thinks, ‘I can do that too,’ then we’ve already changed something. It’s fun, and that’s the genius of how this program is built. Nobody learns sitting bored in a chair. When you make it hands-on, when you make it come alive, that’s when it sticks.” 

During the most recent campus visit on July 13th, the SOAR interns were joined by students from Mentoring in Medicine & Science (MIMS), thanks to a former SOAR intern who now works with MIMS. After participating in last year’s program, she wanted another group of aspiring healthcare professionals to experience the same inspiring day of learning on SMU’s campus. 

“Too often, unpaid opportunities create barriers for talented young people who could become incredible healthcare professionals,” said Allyson Emmarene, Program Manager for SMU’s Center for Community Engagement (CCE). “Providing paid pathway programs helps ensure that students from all backgrounds can explore healthcare careers without having to choose between gaining experience and supporting themselves or their families. We love welcoming youth to our campus because they bring incredible curiosity, energy, and purpose. We hope that when they leave SMU, they can picture themselves here one day as future students and future healthcare leaders serving their communities.”