The Medical Career Collaborative ( MC 2 ) program propels high school students toward careers in healthcare through hands on experiences and professional development opportunities . Applicants are selected in the spring of their sophomore high school year by a committee with great emphasis placed on selecting a diverse group of students from a range of backgrounds and high schools in the Denver metro area . Increasing diversity and providing opportunity to underrepresented populations in the health professions has become identified as paramount to the nation ’ s need to eliminate inequities in the quality and availability of health care for underserved populations .

As part of the MC 2 program , students complete an internship on site under the guidance of hospital team members . Internships include a weekly seminar focused on personal and professional development . Students create a culminating Presentation of Learning that is shared with families , staff and the community . Career and college coaching is available to students , including access to clinical certifications , college application and scholarship writing workshops . Students who pursue post-secondary healthcare studies are given the opportunity to return to an MC 2 Site as college interns .

The MC 2 program benefits from generous community support and , in 2022 , this included the following philanthropic donors : Bart and Mary Schmitt Endowment for the Medical Career Collaborative Program , Carson Foundation , LAARK Foundation and additional donors who wish to remain anonymous .

In the 2021-2022 academic year , MC 2 participant demographics were as follows :

Of participants are students of color

Of students are bilingual

Of students are from low-income households *

In the 2021-2022 academic year , MC 2 achieved the following outcomes across the current program sites at Children ’ s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health :

16 2022 PCS Annual Report

* Using Colorado ’ s income guidelines for free and reduced lunch eligibility