Harvard University
“The world is calling; heal the world and
in the process heal yourself, find the
human in yourself by finding the citizen,
the activist, the hero.”
– Tony Kushner
Summer Fellow Applicant
Information Packet
Summer 2013
Questions? Contact the University Coordinator at Harvard University, at
harvard@healthleadsusa.org.
I. About Health Leads
Health Leads is a national movement that mobilizes the nation’s undergraduates to provide
high-impact services to low-income families and, in the process, to transform our healthcare
system into one that is more effective and more just. Health Leads envisions a healthcare
system that addresses all patients' basic resource needs as a standard part of quality care.
Health Leads’ mission is to catalyze this healthcare system by connecting patients with the
basic resources they need to be healthy, and in doing so, build leaders with the conviction and
ability to champion quality care for all patients.
Health Leads believes that undergraduates have what it takes to make real change – for
individual families and for our country’s healthcare system. We are always seeking passionate,
committed, social justice-minded students to join our movement. To learn more about our work,
our vision, and more, visit www.healthleadsusa.org.
II. About Health Leads Boston
Health Leads Boston is the oldest and largest region in the organization's six-city network. It has
grown from a card table in the waiting room at Boston City Hospital staffed by 10 students, to a
robust operation that last year alone mobilized 160 college students to serve over 2,000
families.
The Health Leads Model
The Health Leads Desk is a resource and advocacy program that helps families’ access
community resources critical to their health, safety, and economic survival. Operating in clinics
and hospitals, the Health Leads Desks use a patient’s visit to the doctor as an opportunity to
address the non-medical issues that have an impact on health. At the desk, Health Leads
Advocates talk with individuals and families about their resource needs and connect them with
appropriate services related to food, housing, health insurance, childcare, adult education, job
training, and other services. The Advocates then follow-up with these clients to provide further
assistance that will ensure success in accessing resources and to provide further assistance –
easing the frustration of bureaucratic systems, language barriers, and administrative errors that
often obstruct families’ access to services.
… what people say about Health Leads…
“This [Health Leads] is exactly the kind of social innovation and entrepreneurship we should be encouraging all
across this country.” – First Lady Michelle Obama, TIME Magazine100 Most Influential People Gala
“Health Leads is a part of our team. I can’t do it all. We’re just barely staying above water. The students have
excellent listening skills, aren’t limited by time, realize this work is important, and are passionate about it.” - Dr.
Barbara Philipp, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center
“My classmates think you write a prescription, and you’re done. I ask, can the patient read the prescription? Does
she need transportation to the pharmacy? Does she have food at home to take with the prescription? These are not
questions you learn to ask in medical school, but I learned them at Health Leads.” - Mia Lozada, M.D. Health
Leads alumna, Internal Medicine Resident, UCSF
Questions? Contact the University Coordinator at Harvard University, at
harvard@healthleadsusa.org.
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III. Summer Fellows Program
Program Overview
The Summer Fellows Program at Health Leads Boston offers undergraduate students an
opportunity to gain experience in a clinic setting, develop casework skills in working with
patients, learn about the changing health care landscape, and explore what a community of
people committed to social change can achieve together.
Based in outpatient clinics at Boston Medical Center and local community health centers,
Summer Fellows work a minimum of 20 hours a week, connecting clients to the resources they
need to be healthy (e.g. food, housing, employment). Each Fellow participates in a team with 712 other students from the same clinic setting. A full-time Program Manager, a paid Health
Leads staff member, oversees and supports each team.
Each Summer Fellow brings commitment, creativity, tenacity, and humility to work with clients,
and, through this work, strengthens her/his conviction and ability to champion quality care for all
patients.
Eligibility and Position Availability
Health Leads Boston is accepting 45 Summer Fellows for Summer 2013 from a variety of
universities, including Harvard. You are eligible to apply if you are:

Currently enrolled an undergraduate (graduating seniors may apply!);

Able and willing to work a minimum of 20 hours a week from Tuesday, June 18th
through Friday, August 9th; and,

Available to attend both, full days of the mandatory Pre-Service Training held for
Summer Fellows on Saturday, June 15th and Sunday, June 16th 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Many Summer Fellows take on a part-time job or a class in addition to their work with Health
Leads. If you do so, you must schedule these activities around your commitments to Health
Leads.
If you have already committed to a summer job or class, please consult with the University
Coordinators at harvard@healthleadsusa.org before applying to the Summer Fellows Program.
Commitments

Available to work from Tuesday, June 18th through Friday, August 9th.

Able and willing to work a minimum of 20 hours a week, including three 3-hour shifts in a
clinic setting each week and at least 5 hours of client follow-up each week. Note:
additional time will be required for travel to and from the clinic setting and other required
activities.
Questions? Contact the University Coordinator at Harvard University, at
harvard@healthleadsusa.org.
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

Available to participate in regularly scheduled activities, held at a location at Boston
University, at these times:
o
Every Wednesday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (On-going Training, Case Support Group, and
Desk Planning)
o
Four (4) Tuesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 PM (Social Change Seminar)
Available to attend both, full days of the mandatory Pre-Service Training held for
Summer Fellows on Saturday, June 15th and Sunday, June 16th 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Responsibilities

Attends three (3) shifts per week in a clinic setting, spending this time working with patients
in-person. Shifts are available weekdays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Shift length varies from
2.5 to 3 hours, depending upon the clinic.

Conducts at least five (5) hours a week of phone follow-up with clients independently.
Undertakes the additional follow-up activity needed to maintain consistent, high quality
service to clients.

Attends activities designed to enhance service to clients and further skill development, held
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM every Wednesday at Boston University. These activities are comprised
of Ongoing Training, Case Support Group, and Desk Planning sessions.

Attends Social Change Seminars, held four (4) Tuesday evenings 6:30 to 8:30 PM at Boston
University, to extend learning by relating the fellowship experience to broader health care
policy, poverty reduction, and community development issues.

Maintains clean and up-to-date client records, and documents hours of volunteer service
weekly.

Responds promptly to questions/requests by email, phone, and in-person.

Participates in a mid-summer evaluation with the Program Manager.

Completes a Volunteer Experience Survey at the end of the summer fellowship.
Summer Fellows will be excused from no more than two (2) days of work.
Clinic Assignment
Health Leads staff will assign Summer Fellows to clinic settings. Unfortunately, requests to
serve in a particular institution cannot be honored.
Questions? Contact the University Coordinator at Harvard University, at
harvard@healthleadsusa.org.
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Housing Arrangements
Health Leads is delighted to offer on-campus housing free of charge to students from Harvard
University. Students are responsible for completing the steps needed to access this housing
once notified of their acceptance as Health Leads Summer Fellows.
IV. The Application Process
Applications

All students interested in the Summer Fellows Program must submit an
application. This requirement applies individuals who are currently serving as
Advocates and those who have worked as Advocates and/or Summer Fellows in the
past.

Applications must be submitted via our online application system and are due by
Tuesday, March 12th no later than 10:00 PM EST.

To request a link to the application, please email the University Coordinators for Harvard
University, at harvard@healthleadsusa.org, with “Harvard University Summer
Application” in the subject line and your first and last name only in the body of the
email. You will be sent a unique link tied to your email address. Caution: Do NOT
forward this link to anyone else or their answers could overwrite yours!
Medical Tests and Background Checks
Before beginning work at Health Leads, Summer Fellows must submit health documentation to
be cleared to volunteer in the clinic setting. This is a process mandated by the hospitals and
health centers with which Health Leads works. If you are offered a Summer Fellow position, you
will be asked to submit this information by Friday, May 10th.

The documentation results of a tuberculosis skin test (TST) administered within the
last three (3) months. This documentation must include the date the test was given,
the date it was read, as well as the millimeter (mm) of duration.
Most Summer Fellows will need to obtain a second TB test within the first three
weeks of starting the fellowship. The second test can be from any time within the last
12 months.

A copy of your immunization records. These records must include: 2 MMR vaccines and
a Varicella vaccine or proof of Chicken Pox Disease.
Questions? Contact the University Coordinator at Harvard University, at
harvard@healthleadsusa.org.
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
A completed form allowing Health Leads to obtain a Criminal Offender Record
Information (CORI) report for you from the Massachusetts Department of Criminal
Justice. We will provide you with this form and guidance in completing it.
Interviews
Interviews will be conducted by Health Leads’ University Coordinators and will last
approximately one half hour. If you are selected for an interview, it will be scheduled on one of
the following days:


Monday, March 25th
Tuesday, March 26th
Applicants who have worked with Health Leads in the past are exempt from the interview
requirement.
Final Decisions
Health Leads’ University Coordinators will notify applicants of acceptances by:

Thursday, March 28th by 10:00 PM EST
We hope that you accept our offer! All applicants offered a Summer Fellow position must reply
to the offer by email by:

Monday, April 1st by 10:00 PM EST
Training Dates
If you decide to volunteer with Health Leads, please note that you will be required to attend
training on both the following dates:


Saturday, June 15th 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Sunday, June 16th 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
V. Questions
If you have any questions, please contact the University Coordinators at Harvard University, at
harvard@healthleadsusa.org.
Thanks for your interest in Health Leads. We look forward to working with you!
Questions? Contact the University Coordinator at Harvard University, at
harvard@healthleadsusa.org.
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