Ninety-five percent of this summer's high school participants left more convinced than ever that a career in healthcare is in their future, proof that Pacific's Summer High School Institute (SHSI) is doing exactly what it set out to do.   

This summer, 62 high school students took part in University of the Pacific’s School of Health Sciences (SHS) SHSI program, which aims to introduce them to various health professions while experiencing campus life. 

SHS hosted two 10-day sessions in June. In the first session, students explored all ten SHS departments, experiencing courses and labs taught by faculty from the Athletic Training, Audiology, Health Sciences, Nursing, Nutrition, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Social Work, and Speech-Language Pathology departments. Students spent one full day learning about each profession, discovering the unique contributions each discipline offers to patient care.  

This session was directly supported by California’s Health Care Access Information (HCAI) grant. Since receiving the grant in 2022, SHS has continuously supported the SHSI programs. This year, the HCAI grant covered transportation costs between Stockton and the Sacramento Campus when the students visited the Nursing and Physician Assistant departments.   

"The HCAI Pathways to Healthcare Careers grant was written to advance initiatives like SHSI," said Assistant Clinical Professor and Director of the grant, Dr. Chelsey Louw. “The students who participate in SHSI today will become tomorrow's clinicians, providing compassionate care to Central Valley communities for generations to come." 

In the second session, a new group of students took a deep dive into one of our fastest-growing departments: Nursing. Learning from practicing nurses, faculty, and current graduate students, the high school students gained hands-on experience across a range of nursing specialties, including maternity, pediatrics, medical-surgical, community health, mental health, and emergency nursing. Using state-of-the-art clinical simulation labs, they learned and put their new nursing skills into practice.  

“One of my favorite parts was seeing students engage, ask thoughtful questions, and reflect on how healthcare professionals make a difference in the lives of others,” said Nursing student Annette Soleto Rodriguez. “Experiences like these remind me why I chose nursing and how important it is to invest in and encourage future healthcare professionals.” 

Throughout the entirety of their program, the high school students were led and guided by SHS Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Tanisha Sparks. She served as the program’s faculty lead, ensuring the students felt safe and supported, fostering a sense of belonging, and creating a space for students to show up as their authentic selves. “Being able to afford them the opportunity to believe that pursuing higher education is possible, and that it is for them, was one of my priorities in this role,” said Dr. Sparks.  

The students concluded the program by showcasing skills learned from the various departments. Among other topics, some demonstrated methods for controlling severe bleeding with wound packing techniques and tourniquets; applying athletic tape correctly for joint stabilization and injury prevention; using a goniometer to measure joint range of motion; and emphasizing the importance of assistive devices for individuals with disabilities to help maintain or enhance their functional abilities.   

At the SHSI graduation, Dr. Sparks delivered handwritten letters to each student—a tradition she has kept since her first year leading the program. The gratitude went both ways, as many students surprised her with notes of their own. Here are a few of their messages:  

“Your extraordinary kindness has inspired me, making me a better person. I will miss this class and especially you. You stood out as a guardian figure to me as I was away from home and my family. Thank you for all the care and support.” 

“This program has given me an eye-opener on nursing and the pathways I can take. This has been a great experience, and I am glad to have taken part in this program.” 

“I remember freaking out the entire day and night before coming here, but as soon as I walked into the classroom, I immediately felt secure. I was simply a girl with no insight into any of these professions, but now I’m walking out with so much knowledge. So, from the bottom of my heart, Dr. Sparks, thank you for everything.”  

“The School of Health Sciences offers a glimpse of what is possible for these students," Dr. Sparks commented. “We can—and do—make a meaningful difference in the early stages of their lives.” 

The School of Health Sciences is excited to host the sessions again next summer, marking its fifth year. Find out more about the Pacific Summer High School Institute here.