Propelling Adolescents Towards Careers in Healthcare
Frequently Asked Questions about the PATCH Program.
How much does it cost to participate in the PATCH program?
What if I have a conflict with one of the scheduled Saturday sessions?
Will this help me get a job or into school?
What is a typical Saturday like in the PATCH program?
Do I need to pack a lunch for the day?
Where do we meet for the Saturday Sessions?
Do I need to provide my own transportation to the hospital?
What do I need to wear to the hospital?
How much does it cost to participate?
The PATCH program is free to participants thanks to the support of our community partners.
What if I have a conflict with one of the scheduled Saturday sessions?
Please email your conflicts to the PATCH program coordinators at patch.unc@gmail.com or include it with your application. We will not automatically exclude applicants for consideration just because they need to miss a session (depending on the circumstances), although to get the most out of the program, we encourage applicants to do their best to make themselves available for the 9 Saturdays scheduled.
Will this help me get a job or into school?
While we cannot guarantee that participation in the PATCH program will result in a job or admission into school, we can promise that it will provide you with invaluable experience which participants can speak about during interviews or write about in admission essays. It will also allow participants to build connections with community partners that could also open up opportunities.
What is a typical Saturday like in the PATCH program?
A typical Saturday will start at 8am and end around 2:30pm. (The below schedule is a rough approximation and subject to change)
8:00-10:00am: Participants will spend 2 hours shadowing a healthcare professional (each Saturday you will be on a
new service to gain exposure to various fields in healthcare).
10:00-12:00pm: Participants will engage in professionalism, personal developement, and clinical skill-building activities
12:00-1:00pm: LUNCH; Professionals from various fields within healthcare will speak to the particpants during lunch
1:00-2:00 pm: Participants will work in their assigned groups to complete a Community Health Research Project by
researching a public health topic of their choice that they see affecting their community. These group projects
will be presented during the closing ceremonies on the last Saturday of PATCH.
Do I need to pack a lunch for the day?
Lunch will be provided by the PATCH program, so participants do not need to bring any food for the day, unless you want a snack earlier in the morning.
Where do we meet for the Saturday sessions?
We will be meeting in room 6A of the Medical Education Building of the Carolinas Medical Center Hospital near East Morehead Street for all Saturday sessions. Specific directions to this location will be provided for all accepted participants (and a map can be found here)
Do I need to provide my own transportation to the hospital?
Participants are required to arrange their own transportation to and from the hospital. However, CATS bus passes will be available to all participants in order to be able to utilize the bus system and assist in this transportation.
What do I need to wear to the hospital?
All PATCH program participants are expected to wear professional dress (business casual) to the hospital for Saturday sessions, as they will be interacting with patients and physicians. No jeans, tight leggings, shorts, or flip-flops/sandals are allowed. Closed-toe and closed-heeled shoes are required.