Teen Community Advisory Board
Introducing KU Medical Center’s Teen Community Advisory Board, consisting of high school students from across the state of Kansas.
The Teen Community Advisory Board, established by the Institute for Community Engagement at KU Medical Center, aims to engage young people in many of our decisions and programs that will affect the next generation of health care and science professionals. While community advisory boards are common at universities and medical centers, these typically focus on obtaining input from adults. The Teen Community Advisory Board at KU Medical Center is one of the only such groups engaging young adults about the topics and activities that affect their generation.
Through collaborative leadership, the Teen Community Advisory Board provides valuable, first-hand perspectives to inform programming and help address issues that affect future health science learners and leaders.
In short, a youth or teen advisory board is a group of young people who provide insight, feedback and support to organizations on topics and initiatives relevant to youth. Teen Community Advisory Board members will specifically advise on KU Medical Center’s programs for youth and aspiring health care professionals.
Community Advisory Boards comprised of adult community members and/or patients are common at KU Medical Center and other universities. The Teen Community Advisory Board at KU Medical Center will be one of the very first such boards in the region!
- Juniors or seniors in high school during the 2025-2026 academic year
- Students who can commit to one 90-minute meeting per month during the academic year (September to May)
- Students interested in health care, health access, and/or research
- Students wanting to learn more about career paths in medicine, nursing, other health professions or research
- Students who enjoy collaboration, teamwork and working toward a common goal
Applications are open March 1 through April 11, 2025. Please check back for a live link at that time.
If you are invited to interview, you will receive an email during the week of April 28, 2025.
APPLY FOR THE TEEN ADVISORY COUNCIL
- Zoom interviews will take place May 19 – May 30.
- You will be notified via email of acceptance the week of June 16.
- If selected, you will actively participate in monthly virtual meetings, held via Zoom, with 11 other Kansas high school students during the 2025-26 school year.
- In this initial year, the focus will be on forming and informing. We will learn from each other with the ultimate goal of creating a Teen Community Advisory Board that is meaningful and relevant to both KU Medical Center and Kansas youth interested in the health sciences.
- During meetings, you will work with students, faculty and staff, including representatives from the University of Kansas schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions.
- After learning about KU Medical Center’s programs for youth and future health care professionals, you will advise and offer input and feedback.
- Connect with a diverse group of teens from across the state of Kansas who share an interest in health care, research or health science education
- Gain leadership experience
- Develop career and professional skills
- Earn service-learning hours
- Provide perspective while learning more about research, academics and the student experience at KU Medical Center
More questions?
Contact Mary Susan Kircher, program director of community relations and strategic partnerships, at mkircher2@kumc.edu.
For Faculty and Staff seeking additional information visit our intranet site (requires KUMC credentials).