The Medical Career Collaborative (MC²) is a robust, multiyear program that provides high school students with experiences in healthcare to give them a jumpstart on their careers, as well as ongoing personal and professional support as they begin their career journey.

A collaboration between Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health, MC² introduces students from under-represented backgrounds to the wide variety of career opportunities in the field. The program also helps students enhance their personal and professional skillsets as they plan for post-secondary education and their career paths.

From paid internships and an alumni network to public speaking training and resume coaching, MC² broadens students’ horizons and builds a strong foundation for their career.

Many graduates of MC² have gone on to pursue healthcare and bioscience careers, including in medicine, nursing, laboratory sciences, public health, medical interpreting and biomedical research. Graduates often say that participation in the program had a significant impact on their trajectory, opening their eyes to new possibilities and discovering their own interests and strengths.

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What to expect in the program:

MC² not only provides programming for students during high school, but it continues to support students after they’ve graduated as program alumni.

The high school programming takes place during a student’s junior and senior years with activities at the host hospital and the surrounding area. The programming is designed to familiarize students with healthcare, expose them to a variety of careers in the industry and assist them in exploring and preparing for post-secondary education programs. Activities include:

• Paid internships at Children’s Colorado or Denver Health
• One-on-one mentoring with hospital team members
• Monthly field trips
• Workshops and trainings
• Certifications in Mental Health First Aid, CPR and Basic Life Support, Seizure First Aid and bleeding control
• Personal and professional development seminar sessions
• Post-secondary coaching

After completing the high school programming, participants have access to:

• Free clinical certification opportunities to facilitate early entry into the workforce, such as certified nursing assistant (CNA), emergency medical technician (EMT), pharmacy technician and phlebotomist
• Individualized support for education and career goals
• Targeted networking opportunities with MC² alumni network
• Professional development guidance, such as resume and cover letter writing and interview preparation
• Job placement assistance at Denver Health and/or Children’s Hospital Colorado, when appropriate

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• MC² is offered at Denver Health and several Children’s Hospital Colorado locations, including Anschutz Medical Campus (Aurora), North Campus (Broomfield), South Campus (Highlands Ranch) and Colorado Springs. Learn more about our locations. Applicants only need to fill out one application to be considered for any of the MC² program site locations.
• Applicants must be current high school sophomores at the time of application who attend school in the Denver metro or Colorado Springs areas. If accepted, students begin the program at the start of their junior year.
• In an effort to build a workforce that better represents the communities served in healthcare, MC² focuses on recruiting students from groups that are underrepresented in the healthcare industry.

Students are chosen by a committee that reviews all the applications. The selection committee takes the following into consideration when selecting participants for the program:

• Student essays
• School activities
• Community involvement
• Student need and representation
• A recommendation
• GPA