Philadelphia Public Health Program Empowered Local Youth
The six-week initiative provided West Philadelphia high school students with research training.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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During the summer of 2026, the Penn Center for Public Health concluded its annual six-week program for West Philadelphia high schoolers. The initiative allows participants to design and conduct original research projects while learning about public health career paths.
Why it matters
The program serves as a critical entry point for students from University-Assisted Community Schools to explore public health as a future profession. It provides hands-on experience and financial support to ensure equitable access to academic enrichment.
The six-week summer program is supported by five to seven graduate and undergraduate student facilitators. Participants receive stipends for their work which are funded directly by the City of Philadelphia.
The players
Tolulope Oyetunde
She was the founder who created the public health program as a capstone project.
Penn Center for Public Health
This institution operates the summer research program for local high school students.
City of Philadelphia
This municipal government provides the funding for student stipends.
The details
Students spend their first two weeks mastering public health foundations before committing four weeks to field research. They then present their original findings as part of the curriculum, which was created by Tolulope Oyetunde as a capstone project.
Timeline
The program originally launched in 2017.
Founder Tolulope Oyetunde died in 2024.
The most recent summer program was completed in 2026.
The program is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2027.
Culture Shift
This program reflects the broader trend of the University-Assisted Community School model, which seeks to integrate academic institutions into the fabric of neighborhood education. It represents a shift toward hands-on, community-based enrichment that prioritizes career exposure for local youth.
West Philadelphia high school students benefit from this program by gaining early professional experience and a stipend to support their participation. The model provides residents with a practical, low-barrier path to developing advanced research skills outside of the standard classroom.
The takeaway
This long-running initiative highlights the value of linking high school curricula to higher education resources through capstone-inspired projects. Students and educators can implement similar frameworks by identifying local public health challenges that allow for structured, project-based field research.
What happens next
The Penn Center for Public Health will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its program in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local academic initiatives in our Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Former Penn President Liz Magill earned $4.46 million the year following her resignation - The Daily Pennsylvanian.
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