DC Metro Urban Health Program (UHP)
Program Overview
Are you looking to make meaningful change through community engagement while at GW? The DC Metro Urban Health Program (UHP) offers a unique opportunity for students to make an impact in our community.
UHP is a public health-focused, service-learning initiative open to residential GW Public Health students that fulfills academic and/or graduation requirements for many students. This program provides students with an opportunity to translate their public health knowledge learned in the classroom into community-based practice within the larger DC community while gaining essential team and leadership skills. This academic year-long opportunity offers students from various professional backgrounds and fields of public health study the ability to participate in meaningful, responsible community engagement with Community Partners and contribute to social change.
Urban Health Fellows join Learning Communities made up of fellow undergraduate and graduate students, a UHP student mentor, and Community Partner preceptors. Together, the Learning Communities implement projects identified by Community Partners, while Fellows apply their public health knowledge of best practices and skills to address these urgent priorities.
Fellows also engage in service-learning trainings to ensure they have the tools needed for meaningful, mutually beneficial engagement with Community Partners. Community Conversations take place once a month and offer Fellows the opportunity to engage in critical thinking and reflection activities to assess their service experiences as it relates to larger public health issues and their role and participation in our community.
Does this sound like a meaningful experience to you? Apply to become an Urban Health Fellow!
- How to Get Involved
Apply to become an Urban Health Fellow! Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort are accepted August 19th through September 6th . This opportunity is open to residential GWSPH undergraduate and graduate students enrolled throughout the entire 2024-2025 academic year.
The 2024-2025 Urban Health Fellow application can be found here.
- Service Learning
Service-learning is at the core of UHP as it is the model through which GW students are able to engage with DC communities in a mutually beneficial partnership to promote health and social change.
- Learning Communities
Our Learning Communities bring together diverse individuals with varying skills and experiences to address community-identified public health issues. Students participate in groups of 5-7 members with UHP Project Assistants, Community Partners, and coaches to form a Learning Community.
- Benefits
UHP Fellows can expect to gain:
- Real-world application of public health projects
- Practice in leadership, relationship building, communication, and critical
reflection - Opportunities to learn from and work with DC Community Partners in a mutually
beneficial collaboration - Networking connections for future practicums, culminating experiences, and job
opportunities - A deeper awareness and appreciation of service that centers social justice
- Minimum Requirements
UHP Fellow are asked to:
- Actively participate in trainings, team meetings, and engagements with
Community Partners. - Dedicate approximately 2-5 hours a week between the months of October and
April. - Complete the required background check, fingerprinting, and/or additional
screenings as directed by Community Partners.
- Actively participate in trainings, team meetings, and engagements with
- Contact
Have more questions or want to learn more? Please contact us [email protected]!
- Community Partners
UHP is partnered with two DCPS schools: Jackson-Reed High School and Eastern High School. Through these partnerships, Fellows have engaged in projects to help advance high school students’ knowledge on STEM and public health topics.
Latin American Youth Center (LAYC)
LAYC provides bilingual programs and opportunities in academics, job readiness, safe housing, and health and wellness to help youth make a successful transition to young adulthood. Fellows have facilitated educational trainings on topics related to youth substance prevention, NARCAN administration, and health promotion.
Housing Up is building thriving communities in Washington, DC by developing affordable housing and offering comprehensive support services to homeless and low-income families. Fellows have supported Housing Up projects in areas of adult health literacy and family and youth engagement.
Do you represent a Community-Based Organization in the DMV area interested in becoming a UHP Community Partner? Write to us at [email protected].