HealthX Fellowship:
Paid Career Pathway
Explore. Experience. Excel.
What if your future career in healthcare is one you haven’t even heard of yet?
Everyone knows about doctors and nurses — but the healthcare world is so much bigger. From radiologic technologists and phlebotomists, to sonographers, medical assistants, and nuclear medicine specialists — there are dozens of in-demand, high-paying careers in the medical field that make a real difference every day. Making Waves Education Foundation’s HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway is your chance to explore them.
Get paid to launch your future in healthcare
This six-month, out-of-school program is built for 11th and 12th graders in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County who are curious about what’s next beyond high school. Through site visits, career-connected learning activities, and real conversations with professionals, you’ll:
- Discover high-paying healthcare jobs and figure out which ones might be right for you
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Learn essential skills in healthcare
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Earn a Basic Life Support certification
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Build your resume
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Get paid!
Whether you want to help people, work with technology, or just find a career that feels meaningful and exciting, Making Waves’ HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway is your starting line.
Program highlights
Who: 11th and 12th graders in the Bay Area's Contra Costa County
Location: Richmond, California
When: December 2025 - April 2026 (weekly afterschool on Wednesdays + monthly Saturdays)
What you get: Career exposure, skills training, mentorship, site visits, Basic Life Support certification
Cost: Free – in fact, you’ll get paid up to $1,000 in a stipend to participate!
Spots: 50 students will be selected
Applications are closed
Footer Form
Application now open!
Program application deadline: October 15, 2025
Why should I join this pathway program?
Join a program that goes way beyond the classroom. If you’re already thinking about a career in healthcare, Making Waves’ HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway is your chance to explore, experience, and start building your future. Here are some of the program benefits for HealthX.
Explore a range of healthcare careers
Learn by doing - and get paid!
Connect with real employers
Build professional skills
Earn a healthcare certification
Get clear on your next career steps
Am I eligible to join?
Making Waves’ HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway program is designed for young adults who are:
- In 11th or 12th grade – must be 16 years old by January 7, 2026 and students under 18 years will need a parent/guardian consent form to participate
- Living in or attending school in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County, priority given to applicants who reside or attend school in Richmond, California
- Can commit to attending weekly sessions and monthly Saturday events from December 2025 through April 2026
- Curious about healthcare career options and excited to learn, meet new people, and try new things
No GPA or healthcare experience required – just curiosity, consistency, and commitment!
Can I commit to the program requirements?
IMPORTANT: Please make sure that you have checked session dates and times carefully. To get paid the stipend, you’ll need to be present, prepared, and fully engaged at each session; and maintain at least an 80% attendance rate.
December
- After school Wednesdays: 12/3, 12/10, 12/17 @ 4-6 p.m. (snacks included)
- Saturday: 12/6 @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, snacks included)
January
- After school Wednesdays: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28 @ 4-6 p.m. (snacks included)
- Saturday: 1/10 @ 9 a.m-3 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, snacks included)
February
- After school Wednesdays: 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25 @ 4-6 p.m. (snacks included)
- Saturday: 2/7 @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, snacks included)
March
- After school Wednesdays: 3/4, 3/11 @ 4-6 p.m. (snacks included)
- Saturday: 3/7 @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, snacks included)
April
- After school Wednesdays: 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29 @ 4-6 p.m. (snacks included)
- Saturday: 4/11 @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, snacks included)
- Saturday Showcase: 4/25 @ 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (showcase for families, partners, community members; grab and go lunch included)
After school sessions will be hosted at Making Waves Academy (4123 Lakeside Dr, Richmond, CA) and Saturday sessions will be hosted at various sites in Contra Costa County.
Application information
How to apply for HealthX
To apply for Making Waves' HealthX Fellowship, complete the online application by October 15. As part of the application, you’ll need to:
Submit your resume
Answer a few questions about your background and career interests
Submit two short-answer responses (300-500 words each)
Why HealthX? Tell us why you are interested in this program. What excites you about it? How do you think HealthX can help you reach your career goals?
Problem-Solving Story: Describe a time when you solved a problem. How did you identify the problem? What steps did you take to fix it? Did it work? What did you learn in the process? (This can be something from school, work, or your personal life – it doesn’t have to be healthcare related.)
Key dates to save for HealthX programming
Applications are closed
Footer Form
Application now open!
Program application deadline: October 15, 2025
What can I expect during the paid fellowship program?
HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway is a six-month out-of-school experience similar to a paid internship, specifically designed to introduce you to the world of healthcare — through hands-on and work-based learning, skill-building, real professional connections, and opportunities to build your future.
Here’s what you can expect
December 2025
Build community with peers interested in healthcare
Explore your talents and interests
Learn about different health careers through employer interactions and site visits
January 2026
Earn your Basic Life Support certification
February – April 2026
Deep dive into high-demand, high-wage healthcare careers
Engage in monthly hands-on skills simulations and real-world case studies
Practice durable skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking
April 2026
Expand your professional network through meaningful connections
Build your professional resume and LinkedIn profile
Reflect on your experience – and create a plan for what’s next
Create and present at a culminating career showcase
Featured video
Hear from students and get a feel for Making Waves’ HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway through this video feature from a recent Hands-On Health: Paid Career Fellowship program opportunity.
FAQs
Is this HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway program really free?
Yes! In fact, you’ll earn a $1,000 stipend for successfully completing the program. We’ll also cover meals, materials, and certification costs.
What cities are included in Contra Costa County?
What kind of healthcare jobs will I learn about during the HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway program?
You’ll get to explore a variety of healthcare pathways – from entry-level roles like phlebotomy and medical assistant to technical roles like radiologic technologist and sonographer, to degree-based fields like nursing.
Do I need to know I want to be a doctor or nurse or specific medical job?
Not at all! This program is about deep healthcare career exploration. While doctors and nurses are important, there are many other high-demand, high-wage careers in healthcare – like radiologic technologists, sonographers, nuclear medicine specialists, and more. If you’re curious about healthcare, open to learning, and ready to discover new paths you might not have considered before – HealthX is for you.
Will I receive a certificate for participating?
Yes. All HealthX fellows who complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion that can be added to your resume and college applications.
What is the BLS certification – and why does it matter?
BLS stands for Basic Life Support — a certification that shows you’ve been trained to respond in emergency situations using CPR, AEDs (automated external defibrillators), and other life-saving skills.
You’ll complete a BLS course as part of the HealthX program, and if you pass, you’ll earn an official industry-recognized certificate that many hospitals and healthcare employers require for jobs or internships.
Whether you’re planning to work in healthcare or just want to be prepared to help others in an emergency, the BLS certification is a valuable credential to have—and it looks great on your resume or college applications.
How will I receive payment for participating in the HealthX Fellowship?
Fellows will receive stipends via direct deposit, with payments distributed midway through the program and again at the end – once key work-based learning requirements are met.
You’ll receive more details about payment and expectations if you’re selected. Just remember: showing up, participating fully, and staying engaged is how you earn your stipend and have the most rewarding experience!
What if I have transportation challenges? Do you offer funding for transportation?
We offer prepaid transportation cards or reimbursement options to support participants who need assistance getting to the program site.
What if I have additional questions?
Reach out to our Vice President of Career Launch, Daisy Han, at dhan@making-waves.org with any questions.
Application now open!
Program application deadline: October 15, 2025
Thank you to our community partners and funders!
Making Waves is offering the HealthX Fellowship as a paid program for students thanks to the generous support of philanthropic funders and donors and community partners, including the Payette River Foundation and Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences.
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