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SEP’s high school programs are only open to students from SFUSD, SF charter schools, or College Track San Francisco
The Teen Wellness Connection empowers teen leaders to understand and communicate about teen health issues. This 9-month program connects high school students with UCSF scientists and experts around health issues that directly affect teens. Under the guidance of UCSF staff, program participants plan and host a Teen Wellness Summit to inform and engage with their high school student peers. Learn more below:
UCSF SEP’s newest program, the Teen Wellness Connection (TWC), fosters youth leadership and public health interest as students learn about health issues facing teens. Participants collaborate with UCSF scientists and health researchers to learn about the year’s chosen topic, then create a one-day health summit for 150 high school students. TWC is a 9-month program for a team of high school students, composed of 5 Senior Leaders (rising seniors, program alumni) and 20 Junior Leaders (rising juniors). This team works together to brainstorm effective means to relay health information to their peers under the guidance of SEP staff. In order to participate, a student must be a rising junior and attend an SFUSD high school, SF charter school, or participate in College Track San Francisco.
The TWC begins with a 3-week summer intensive where participants learn about the year’s health focus from UCSF experts and researchers, build community with their peers, and begin planning the summit. During the school year, participants meet regularly to continue learning, planning, and organizing for the conference. The TWC culminates in the spring with a Teen Wellness Summit, showcasing the leadership skills, collaboration, and hard work of TWC participants. This spring conference highlights scientists and health professionals as guest speakers and panelists, hosts forum discussions, and presents interactive and hands-on activities for San Francisco public high school students.
The health focus may change each year and is based on input from student participants. Students learn about an overarching health/wellness topic, then work in subcategory project teams to deepen their understanding.
Applications are now closed for our 2024-25 program.
We are not looking for students who have the best grades or have accomplished the most. In fact, we don’t ask you for your grades or GPA as part of your application. Instead, our objective is that your experience in this program opens doors, provides opportunities, and supports your sense of belonging in science. See our FAQ tab for more details on eligibility.
2024 Application Process
Summer Intensive: July 15th – August 2nd, 2024
School Year: September 2024 – April 2025
Contact: Sabine (Sabine.Jeske@ucsf.edu) or Rachel (Rachel.Harris@ucsf.edu)
Students who are current sophomores, attending an SFUSD school or SF charter and from a background considered historically marginalized in the sciences (individuals from racial/ethnic groups typically historically marginalized in the sciences, individuals with disabilities, first-generation college students, individuals who reside with families who are low income or otherwise considered disadvantaged, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+). Further explanation and definitions of historically marginalized are offered at the end of this document.
Sunday, February 25th by 11:59 pm
Submit your application, except the letter of recommendation, online. Letters of recommendation should be submitted by the recommender. Please give your recommender(s) this document, which includes instructions for what to submit and how to submit it.
We typically interview 40 students for 20 available positions.
The TWC Summer Intensive is scheduled for July 17th to August 4th from 9am to 3pm, Monday through Friday. As long as your other summer program does not interfere with your attendance at the Summer Intensive, you can do both. If there is some overlap with the Summer Intensive and another summer program, it is not advisable to do both and may affect whether you are selected to join the program. If an applicant needs to participate in summer school, has extensive family obligations, or needs to work another job, these circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis to determine acceptance into the program.
Check out this list we’ve put together!
All of SEP’s programs are offered free-of-charge. To do this work, SEP must annually raise nearly $2 million. Every donation brings us closer to that goal and helps to make this important work possible.
As part of UCSF, SEP is a 501(c)3 non-profit. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please let us know if your company participates in a matching gift program so that we can extend the benefit of your generosity.
