Bremen High School Students Gain Healthcare Experience

Aaliyah Zuniga, a senior at Bremen High School in Midlothian, recently distributed produce and vegetable plants at TCA Health in Dolton. Alongside the plants, she provided information about food pantries and assistance programs. This activity was part of a practical program designed for students interested in healthcare careers. Aaliyah expressed her enthusiasm for the program, stating, “I liked that we all got to get an insight into the medical field.” Her aspiration is to become a nurse working with newborns.

Zuniga was one of 19 students from Bremen High School District 228 participating in the Cook County Department of Public Health’s Community Healthcare Worker High School Pipeline Program. The program is now in its second year. They received training with the Sinai Urban Health Institute during the spring of 2026. Eight students advanced into a summer internship lasting six weeks from June 22 to July 31.

At the clinic, we learned about HIV tests they offered. It was interesting to see how they did it.

Zuniga, living in Midlothian where her school is located, shared about her engagement in public health as it relates to her community. “It takes the whole community to improve everyone’s health,” she emphasized. “We would have to work together to have healthier lives.”

The interns worked with TCA Health, Arab American Family Services in Worth, and Family Christian Health Center in Harvey. Their lessons included CPR/AED, first aid, stop the bleed, and trauma-informed care. Financial support for the program came from Bremen School District 228, the Cook County Department of Public Health, and the Michael Reese Health Trust. This came after the previous year’s funding from the Centers for Disease Control wasn’t renewed.

Participants from Bremen, Tinley Park, and Hillcrest high schools also created a video about vaping dangers, overseen by Efrat Stein, the Cook County Department of Public Health’s communications director. This was part of a larger public health campaign on vaping. Students took roles in production, acting, and speaking.

“Efrat provided students with an opportunity to explore public health communication and understand how health messages are crafted for different audiences,” noted Xandria Hair, the associate program director at the county health department. Students gained insight into being creators and communicators, not just recipients of health messages.

Hair highlighted the program’s role in helping students comprehend public health and careers within it, offering some college credit. “What has impressed me most is their willingness to give public health a chance and to use their voices to positively influence their peers and communities,” she added. She credited the students with bringing fresh ideas that prompted professionals to rethink engaging with young people and communities.

Renee Mack, director of career readiness for District 228, remarked on student interest in healthcare. “The district saw so many students wanted to go into healthcare and this as an avenue to get into a health care pathway,” she said. Mack praised student dedication to the training and their future in healthcare.

Ryan Red, a junior at Bremen High School, was drawn to the program as an introduction to healthcare, learning both tasks and ethical lessons. Christopher Roman, a senior in Markham, appreciated learning safety measures and patient outreach skills.

For Analy Calderon, a Bremen senior, her interest in healthcare stems from a desire to help others. “I like to help people,” she noted.