Become Involved

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Urban Health Project. If you are interested in becoming involved as a summer intern, co-director, donor or board member, please refer to the information below.

• » Summer Intern Information
• » Co-Director Information
• » New Donor Information
• » Advisory Board Member Information
• » FAQs

Each Urban Health Project intern is a medical student who has completed their first year of coursework and is looking for an opportunity to give back to the community while gaining greater appreciation and understanding of all members of the community. The intern will complete an eight-week internship at a site within the Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky area during the summer between their first and second years of medical school.

Responsibilities of the intern vary widely from site to site. Some internships require students to lead group sessions with the clients, participate in the day to day administrative duties that come with running an agency, and interact with the residents at meals, on outings and during chores. Others sites request that students accompany doctors, nurses, counselors, or social workers as they see patients and then allow the students to develop a project that benefits the clients, while using their experiences as a medical student. However, despite the varying tasks, the theme tying these internships together is the same: allowing medical students to develop a commitment to the community and gain a better understanding of many cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental health factors, while contributing to the care of those who have the greatest need for support and assistance.

Responsibilities:
-Work 8 of the 9 weeks during the summer (40 full days)

• -Complete a project aiding or enriching the mission and work of the assigned site
• -Complete weekly reflections on summer insights and experiences
• -Attend seminars/enrichment activities throughout the summer
• -Create a poster and present aspects of summer experiences at the Committed to Community event
• -Maintain good academic standing with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Benefits:
-Interact with and assist underserved populations in Cincinnati

• -Gain a better understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental hardships faced within the community
• -Learn how non-profit public service organizations function
• -$3500 stipend provided

How to apply:

An interest meeting will be held on December or January for all first-year students interested in applying for a summer internship. Applications will be available in February. Interviews may be requested by some site supervisors throughout the month of March.

The Co-Directors are responsible for maintaining Urban Health Project and ensuring constant progress towards achieving its mission. Two medical students serve as Urban Health Project Co-Directors for one year, beginning in the summer immediately following their first year of medical school. Co-directors are responsible for organizing and overseeing the summer internships and activities, reporting the progress of Urban Health Project to the Advisory Board, researching and writing grants to seek annual funding, increasing public awareness of the organization, and hiring interns for the following summer. A majority of this work is completed throughout the summer, but a portion must be completed through their second year of medical school. During their third and fourth years, past Co-directors act as advisors to the current Co-directors and receive an additional small stipend for their involvement.

Responsibilities:
-Coordinate and oversee summer internships and interns

• -Conduct site visits and evaluations
• -Organize the Committed to Community event
• -Hold three meetings with the Board of Advisors
• -Research and apply for new grants
• -Maintain contact with sites, funders, and alumni
• -Increase public awareness of the organization
• -Serve as an advisor during third and fourth year
• -Maintain good academic standing with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Benefits:
-Gain a better understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental hardships faced within the community

• -Make contacts at organizations within the community catering to underserved populations
• -Have an opportunity to run a non-profit organization and obtain management and leadership experiences
• -Learn to find and write grants for non-profit organizations.
• -Flexibility in summer work schedule
• -Receive a $3500 summer stipend, $1500 stipend during second year, and $500 stipend during third year.

How to apply:
Co-director applicants will use the same link above as for the internship applicants and submit an additional essay on the form.

The philosophy of Urban Health Project states that adequate medical care requires more than just basic medical knowledge; skills in communication, perception and empathy are also needed. By supporting Urban Health Project, you are providing medical students with the opportunity to gain experience with the social service aspects of healthcare. Additionally, when you donate, you will be investing in the community by benefiting the non-profit organizations which work hard to improve the social conditions surrounding healthcare within the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. Urban Health Project depends on funding from private grants and generous individual donors.

Please take a moment to learn more about our program and consider donating to this worthwhile cause. If you have any questions or wish to speak with one of the Co-Directors regarding your donation, please feel free to contact us. Donations may be made online through the UC Foundation Click here to donate now! or by sending a check to:
Urban Health Project
619 Oak St, 7th Floor
Cincinnati, OH 45206

Urban Health Project is constantly searching for local professionals who are willing to contribute their knowledge and experience to help further the mission of Urban Health Project. The Advisory Board meets three times a year to discuss the progress of Urban Health Project and develop ideas for the improvement of the organization. Official yearly terms run from June 1-May 31, but new members are invited to apply at any time to join mid-term. Board members may serve multiple one-year terms so long as they maintain an active status.

Responsibilities:
-Advise the Co-Directors and oversee the activity of Urban Health Project

• -Read and review material distributed by the Co-Directors
• -Attend or a send a proxy to at least one of the three meetings each year
• -Optionally serve on a committee as a chair or member

Benefits:
-Become involved in an organization that both enriches the education of medical students as well as the lives of those in your community

• -Use your knowledge and skills to contribute to positive cause
• -Learn about organizations within the community catering to underserved populations
• -Obtain a better understanding for the running of non-profit organizations

How to apply:
Send the Co-Directors your resume along with a brief statement indicating your interest in joining Urban Health Project's board. This may be sent by email to or mailed to Urban Health Project, 619 Oak St, 7th Floor, Cincinnati OH, 45206. Upon receiving your information, the Co-Directors will confirm receipt with you and bring your request for membership to a vote at the next meeting of the board. You will be notified shortly after this meeting regarding the outcome.

Q: How are interns matched with sites?
A: On the application, candidates indicate the characteristics they prefer their summer internship to possess. Such characteristics include level of clinical experience, schedule, structure, and population the intern would like to work with. Interns are also invited to indicate if there is a site or sites they would not be willing to work. The Co-Directors will send applications to appropriate sites for review. After reading the applications, sites rank the interns whom they feel are the best fit for their organization. Some sites, though not all, conduct interviews during this process. Once all the rankings have been received, the Co-Directors place interns based on site and applicant preference as well as availability.

Q: What if an intern wishes to apply to other summer experiences in addition to Urban Health Project?
A: UHP welcomes anyone who may be interested in applying to Urban Health Project to do so while concurrently applying to other opportunities. However, once an applicant is placed in an internship and accepts the position, they are contractually obligated to withdraw themselves from consideration elsewhere, and complete the internship they have accepted.

Q: How many vacation days are allowed for interns?
A: The summer after the first year of medical school is 9 weeks long; of those 9 weeks, interns are expected to work the equivalent for 40 8-hour days (8 weeks). Depending on what is arranged with the site, interns may take days off throughout the summer or the entire 1 week off at once.

Q: Do interns have to work on weekends/evenings?
A: Many partner organizations are open 24/7 and as such may request that an intern's schedule vary from the typical 9-5 workday. However, any of this time will count towards the work time and will be decided on before the beginning of the internship. If you prefer to work 9-5, please indicate so on your application so that we can place you appropriately.

Q: If I don't have a car, can I still be involved in an Urban Health Project internship?
A: Yes, many of our sites are accessible by public transportation and many are near the school itself. If you will not have access to a vehicle during the summer, please indicate so on your application.

Q: Will applying for a Co-Director position in addition to an internship make me more likely to receive an internship?
A: : No. The responsibilities, commitments and roles of a Co-Director are very different from that of an intern. Urban Health Project understands that people's interests and talents lie in different areas and therefore applicants will not be given an advantage, nor will they be penalized, based on whether or not they chose to apply for the position of co-director.