Meet Amal Sharif. Amal attends Lighthouse Community Charter School in Oakland and is a student in Alameda Health System’s (AHS) HealthPATH program. HealthPATH is a workforce development initiative of AHS that prepares youth and young adults for healthcare careers.
“My teacher encourages us to explore new career fields. You can’t just get in the hospital and walk around. Through HEAL (Health Excellence & Academic Leadership, I could see what’s inside, what’s really happening in the hospital. I see shows like Grey’s Anatomy and all this drama, but it’s more; it’s people.
I discovered varieties of radiology that could detect anything and I saw new machines that I never knew existed. Working here has opened my eyes. People are in need and want help. This is real life. I want to bring them peace.
My mom is a great example for me. She has the education to be a medical assistant and my auntie is working to become a doctor. My mom is strong, independent, and hard-working. She raised me by herself.
She is very proud of me balancing school and the program. I was taught that I am a powerful woman, and the program has given me more confidence.
I advocate for myself, ask questions, lots of questions, and people really like this about me.” ~Amal
Through internships and other work‐based learning experiences at AHS’s network of hospitals and wellness centers, HealthPATH exposes young people to career opportunities in the healthcare field while promoting academic excellence and teaching skills for life success. HealthPATH’s ultimate goal is to cultivate a pipeline of diverse and culturally competent healthcare workers who will become the future workforce of AHS.
To learn more about Amal and other HealthPATH students visit the Oakland Youth Story Bank Website.