REACH Summer Internship

Real-World Exposure & Advocacy in Community Health

Application for reach 2026 is now open

ABOUT

How to Apply

FAQs

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REACH is a nine-week paid summer internship program offered by AHS for students interested in a career in public health or health-related fields. The program’s goal is to encourage pre-health professionals to choose community focused careers.

Through direct clinical experience, community health advocacy activities, and self-directed projects, REACH will introduce interns to the dynamic environment of a community health center. REACH is a program of the Pipeline Committee, a group of AHS employees formed in 2006 to address the ongoing need for culturally competent health care professionals in our community.

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APPLICATION DEADLINE March 2, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
Interview Period March 16, 2026 – March 27, 2026
Acceptance Notifications April 10, 2026
Program Dates June 15, 2026 – August 14, 2026
LOCATION Oakland, California

How to apply

apply online

All application materials, excluding official transcript, must be submitted through the application portal. This is a change from previous years which allowed application submissions either via e-mail or by postal mail. 2026 Applications will be accepted via online submission ONLY.

documents Requested

  1. Online REACH Application
  2. Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae
  3. Official Transcript
  4. Personal Statement
  5. TWO Letters of Recommendation (academic and non-academic)

Submitting Transcripts

Official Transcripts must have original seal and may be sent via portal to James Pantig (jpantig@ahschc.org) or via physical mail addressed to:

Asian Health Services – REACH Internship 2026
ATTN: James Pantig
200 Webster Street
Oakland, CA 94607
United States

REACH Internship Components

Direct Clinical / Operational Experience

Interns will rotate through various aspects of a community health setting, as described below: 

  • Clinical Services: Interns will follow select patients through their clinic visits by shadowing a medical assistant, observing the physical-patient encounter, and by sitting in on behavioral therapy sessions.
  • Development/Policy: Interns will work closely with the management team to learn the operations as a community health center, including community building, policy-making, and fundraising.
  • Community Services and Research: Interns will assist with community-based programs that address the multifaceted issues facing the local community. This includes attending the meetings of our Patient Leadership Councils, helping with civic engagement campaigns, observing staff at the Youth Program, and other activities.
  • Membership: Interns will learn about health care access in the safety net system by doing outreach to patients to enroll them in health insurance, including Medi-Cal and Covered California.

Special Projects

Interns will have the opportunity to develop a special project that will benefit AHS and the community at large. By working directly with a mentor, interns will gain enhanced skills in research, as well as in program development, implementation, and improvement. 

Community Health Seminars

To complement the education experience, community leaders will guest lecture on the many facets of community health issues important in today’s political climate, and essential to the delivery of care to the communities we serve.

Hear from our 2025 interns

“It’s a real privilege to witness the long-term relationships providers here have with their patients and the many ways the organization is committed to folks in Oakland Chinatown through their community programs.”

Project:
I worked on a campaign with AHS’s Integrated Behavioral Health department on destigmatizing substance use and increasing community knowledge of our MAT (medication-assisted treatment) program. The project highlighted the relationship between PTSD and substance use. Throughout the summer, I developed informational one-pagers, a community survey, a presentation for the Patient Leadership Council (PLC), and a zine on substance use in AAPI communities.
Annabel2025 Reach Intern
“The breadth of experiences provided by the REACH program gave me a deeper understanding of the importance of addressing health not only in the clinic but in the community. Furthermore, working with the compassionate providers and staff at AHS has strengthened my aspiration in pursuing primary care.”

Project:
My project was created to enable the Community Liaison Unit (CLU) of AHS to look beyond the scope of Chinatown. In collaboration with CLU, I was able to meet with nearby grassroots organizations and community members to understand the social contexts of the various healthcare needs of nearby overlooked communities. Additionally, I was able to cultivate new partnerships between CLU and organizations that work with the Pacific-Islander, Burmese, and Karen communities, and create outreach guides for the CLU team when navigating these new relationships.
Sean2025 Reach Intern
“Spend a summer with Asian Health Services! Learn how we take care of our community members from the clinic and beyond!”

Project:
I conducted a survey with cisgender women living with HIV to better understand their unique needs, experiences, and challenges. Drawing on participant feedback and guidance from Community Health Workers, I developed ideas to strengthen peer support opportunities and create more meaningful spaces for connection and care.
Olivia2025 Reach Intern
“I would recommend this program to anyone passionate about exploring what it means to center the community first in healthcare. This program prepares you to serve beyond the clinic and empowers you to make a difference in your communities.”

Project:
My project addressed trust and health messaging, focusing on both the role of trusted messengers in public health campaigns and an assessment of Asian Health Services’ current public health outreach strategies. With the support of the CLU team, I developed new “trusted tabling” guidelines for Asian Health Services, alongside providing department-level strategy consulting on public health education within marginalized spaces.
Samuel2025 Reach Intern

FAQs

Can high school students apply for the REACH internship?

You must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 18 years old to apply.

No, we do not. However, we do try to provide assistance in locating affordable housing.

International students must have a valid working permit/visa to be considered for this paid internship.  International students with student visas will only be considered as a volunteer.  They may participate in the internship but will not be paid.

All application materials, excluding official transcript, must be submitted online through this link. This is a change from previous years which allowed application submissions either via e-mail or by postal mail. 2026 Applications will be accepted via Lever submission ONLY.

Yes. Letters of recommendation may be sent via email as long as they come directly from the recommender’s email account. Recommenders can email their letter to James Pantig at jpantig@ahschc.org.

  • If your recommender is sending the letter directly, please upload a blank document in the Letters of Recommendation section in Lever to complete your application submission.
  • If your recommender prefers to mail a physical letter, they may send it to:


    Asian Health Services – REACH Internship 2026
    Attention: James Pantig
    200 Webster Street
    Oakland, CA 94607
    United States

  • If you are uploading your letters yourself, make sure each letter includes the recommender’s full name and contact information for follow-up.

The hourly compensation is $17.34 per hour, in compliance with Oakland’s minimum wage.

9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. There may be rare events on weekends or evenings, but attendance is not required.

We expect all interns to be present during the entirety of the 9 weeks and during regular work hours.

Our prior REACH interns say it best:

“I love the REACH program! It provided invaluable hands-on learning experiences that really taught me the reality of what it looks like to work with communities of color in a culturally competent way. The preceptors and mentors are always willing to help and answer questions, and made me feel welcome.”

“Interning at AHS has been an invaluable experience in both public health and medicine. I was exposed to a variety of areas relating to how a community health center functions, including shadowing physicians and community programs. I had to opportunity to pursue my own interests, while also discovering new areas of interest!”

“This was really fun opportunity, and I got to learn a lot about community health while exploring Chinatown! This really solidified my decision to go into medicine, and I got a lot of different perspectives on health while working here.”

philosophy

Asian Health Services, founded in 1974, provides medical, dental, and behavioral health services to more than 50,000 patients. Our approach to well-being focuses on “whole patient health” for all. We go beyond our clinic walls and invest in our community’s overall health. We know that income, housing, and environmental struggles lie at the heart of poor health. That’s why we also address food insecurity, youth leadership, and culturally competent care while working towards supporting safer streets and vibrant communities.

health care for all. join us.

Apply to our REACH internship today and contribute to our mission in providing health care for all.

Apply