Article 5: How to Create a Health Science Club at Your High School
Want to stand out on college applications? Learn how to start a health science club or launch an official HSAFP chapter at your high school to build a community of future doctors.
Do you see yourself becoming a doctor or working in healthcare? Are you inspired by the healers in our society? Then why wait until college to get started? Creating a health science club at your high school can spark your medical journey right now. And anyone can do it, with some planning and passion.
By creating a club, you’ll build a community of future healthcare professionals at your school, provide opportunities for you and your peers to gain valuable exposure to the field and promote community service.
In this guide, we’ll walk through each step to get your club up and running, including tips on meetings, recruiting members, and even how to Start a High School Alliance of Future Physicians (HSAFP) chapter at your school. Let’s get started!
Create a Club that Inspires Others
Think of a health science club as a healthcare careers club for high school. It’s a place for you and your classmates to explore medicine, support each other’s interests, and have fun building a resume of the skills and experiences needed for your future. Here are a few great reasons to start one:
Explore: Learn about different healthcare fields, from surgery to nursing to biomedical research. Hear from guest speakers or watch demos to discover what various medical jobs are really like.
Build: Launching a medical club shows initiative. You’ll develop leadership skills by organizing meetings, managing projects, and guiding your peers. Working together on club activities also teaches teamwork and communication. These are skills that are important for any future physician.
Connect: Share your passion for healthcare with your peers and others already in the field. You’ll make new friends, study health topics together, and motivate each other. It’s inspiring to be part of a community where everyone is excited about medicine.
Inspire: Your club can have a real impact on your school and community. You might host a wellness workshop, start a campus health awareness campaign, or volunteer at local clinics. It’s an opportunity to help others while doing something you love.
Develop: College admissions professionals love to see meaningful extracurriculars on your applications. Leading a health science club (especially one affiliated with a national organization like HSAFP) can be a stand out activity on your resume. It shows your commitment to medicine and that you can take initiative to improve your community.
Grow: According to Dr. Kachiu Lee, a leading expert on BSMD programs and premed college admissions, “the best extracurricular activities are ones that show passion and a continual longitudinal commitment, in which you are able to reflect on all that you have learned and gained from the experience. Activities that span a longer time commitment can give you a richer experience and more in-depth reflections.”
Starting these activities in high school will provide you many years of experience to build a full resume for college applications and eventually medical school applications.
Step 1: Get School Approval and a Faculty Advisor
Every new club needs a solid foundation. First, find out your school’s requirements for starting a club. Most high schools have a process, usually filling out a club application and getting approval from an administrator or student activities office. Check your student handbook or ask a teacher how new clubs are approved.
Find a faculty advisor: Nearly all schools require a teacher or staff member to serve as the club advisor. Think about a science teacher, health teacher, or guidance counselor who may be supportive and willing to help to guide the club.
Approach them politely with your idea. Explain why you want to start a health science club and what types of activities the club can do. Many teachers will be excited that you want to launch a medical club at school and will happily mentor your group. HSAFP will provide a packet of information about the organization you can bring to your potential advisor to provide more guidance.
Fill a need: If there’s no healthcare-focused club currently at your school, that’s all the more reason to start one, since you’ll be filling an important niche. If a pre-med club already exists at your school, consider joining forces. HSAFP offers unique opportunities such as a Research Journal Club and premed admissions related webinars that might enhance the experience of all the health science students at your school.
Step 2: Find Interested Students and Recruit Members
Now that you have the green light, it’s time to gather your peers. Start by talking to friends and classmates who have shown interest in science, biology, or helping others.
Say something like, “I’m starting a health science club to explore medical careers. Would you be interested in joining?” You might be surprised how many people are eager to sign up.
Here are some tips to get others involved and grow your membership:
Spread the word: Ask your science and health teachers if you can announce the new club at the end of class. A quick shout-out like “We’re starting a new healthcare careers club for anyone interested in medicine? See me after class for details!” can reach a lot of potential members.
School media: If your school has morning announcements, a newsletter, or a clubs bulletin board, make sure your club gets mentioned. Post a simple flyer with a one-line description (“Interested in medical or health careers? Join our new Health Science Club!”), and your contact info or meeting date.
Club fairs: Many schools have a club fair at the start of the year or semester. If possible, host a table there to showcase your new club. Prepare a sign-up sheet to collect names and emails of interested students. Even if you’re starting mid-year, you can set up a table at lunch one day with a poster to attract attention.
Everyone is welcome: Let people know that all are welcome. You don’t need straight As in science to join. Your club is about exploring and learning together. Create a short interest survey for those who sign up, asking what medical topics they’d love to learn about. This makes new members feel heard and excited from the start.
Recruit a core team: Each club will need a leadership team. It helps to have a few dedicated friends who can help you lead. If you find a couple of enthusiastic students, invite them to be officers or co-founders.
Step 3: Plan Engaging Meetings and Activities
With members joining, you’ll want to keep them energized with great activities. Start by planning your first club meeting. Work with your faculty advisor to pick a convenient time and reserve a classroom or space.
Think about what you’ll do in this introductory meeting. You’ll probably welcome everyone, discuss the club’s goals, and maybe do a fun icebreaker or trivia game related to health. Figure out how often you will meet and make some initial plans for meetings.
HSAFP provides a monthly curriculum directly aligned with the Association of American Medical College’s (AAMC) Premed Competencies. HSAFP Chapters can use any or all of the curriculum and supplement with meeting ideas of their own.
Here are some student medical club ideas for meetings and projects:
Guest Speakers: Invite a local doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or medical student to talk about their career and answer questions. Hearing real-world experiences is super inspiring.
Hands-On Workshops: Organize a first-aid or CPR training session for your club. For example, you could host a Stop the Bleed first aid workshop (a national program that teaches emergency bleeding control) or partner with the Red Cross for a CPR class. Learning actual medical skills is exciting and useful.
Health Science Demos: Watch and discuss medical procedure videos or simulations. You might view a surgery video, a dissection, or a virtual medical simulation, then chat about it as a group. Your advisor and/or HSAFP has resources for this.
School Health Projects: Plan an event to promote health in your school. Ideas include setting up a healthy habits info table at lunch, organizing a blood drive, or running a mental health awareness week with posters and activities.
Field Trips or Tours: If possible, arrange visits to medical facilities. Maybe a tour of a local hospital, pharmacy, or university lab. Even a virtual tour or online Q&A with a hospital department can give students a taste of the healthcare environment.
Career and College Prep: Dedicate some meetings to discussing college pre-med programs, how to find internships or summer programs, and tips for aspiring healthcare professionals. Share resources and learn together about the path to medical school or other health careers.
Step 4: Spread the Word and Build Your Club
As you plan your activities, continue building excitement around the club to help it grow in members. Promotion is key to growing your club from a handful of friends to a successful group at school. Here’s how to increase your club’s visibility:
Creative flyers and posters: Design eye-catching posters and place them in hallways, the cafeteria, and science classrooms. Use school-friendly humor or slogans like “Future doctors meet here!” Include the meeting time/place and a contact name.
Social media and group chats: You can use your HSAFP Chapter’s Instagram (and, if you’d like, make a TikTok account as well!) to share updates and interesting health facts. Just be sure to follow school guidelines for social media use.
Morning announcements: Write a short blurb for the daily announcements inviting students to your next meeting or special event. Repeating the invitation a few times will catch those who missed it initially.
Collaborate with other clubs: Team up with related clubs (like Science Club or Red Cross Club) for joint events. Collaboration can introduce your club to their members and vice versa. For instance, you could co-host a community service project or a panel discussion on careers.
When launch day arrives for your first meeting or event, be prepared and positive. Even if only a few people show up initially, treat it as a success. You’re starting something new and meaningful. At the first meeting, introduce yourself and the club officers.
Clearly explain the club’s purpose and some of the cool activities you have planned. You can even share a short personal story about why you’re passionate about healthcare. Your enthusiasm will be contagious.
Make the meeting interactive: do introductions or a fun activity so everyone feels included. Ask the group what topics or activities they’re most excited about. Getting input makes members feel invested. Before everyone leaves, collect their emails or phone numbers and let them know when the next meeting will be.
Step 5: Keep the Momentum
After your kickoff, follow up with an email or message thanking attendees for coming and remind them of upcoming plans. Every club starts small and grows over time with persistence.
Starting a Chapter of HSAFP at Your School
One way to take your club to the next level is by becoming an official chapter of the High School Alliance of Future Physicians. HSAFP is a national organization that educates, empowers and connects high school students interested in medicine. By starting an HSAFP chapter, your school club becomes part of a larger network of future physicians, which unlocks resources, events, and experiences you wouldn’t have on your own.
What are the benefits of HSAFP?
As an HSAFP chapter, you gain access to a physician-designed curriculum and monthly content to use in meetings. This means you don’t have to create all your club activities from scratch. HSAFP provides interactive lessons such as learning vitals, exploring case studies, and new monthly research journal lessons, straight from physicians. Being part of a national organization also makes it easier to attract guest speakers and offer other opportunities.
How can I start my own HSAFP Chapter? First, check if your school already has an HSAFP chapter by searching the HSAFP chapter directory. If not, you can apply to start one. Visit the HSAFP.org website and fill out the “Start a Chapter” application. You’ll be asked to provide some basic info about your school and why you want to start the chapter. Don’t worry if you’re new to leadership. HSAFP welcomes motivated students and will guide you step by step.
Once approved, HSAFP will connect with you to set up everything. They require that each chapter have a faculty advisor and a student leadership team. HSAFP helps you get organized through our HSAFP onboarding, which walks you through tasks like recruiting members and planning meetings, and then gives you a range of activities to complete at your high school every month.
Running an HSAFP chapter is very similar to running any health science club, except you have a wealth of support and new activities every month. You’ll still hold regular school meetings and activities, and you’ll never run out of ideas with HSAFP’s curriculum on hand. Plus, you and your fellow officers will get leadership experience with guidance from the HSAFP Executive Team whenever you need advice. It’s the best of both worlds: you lead locally, but you’re connected nationally.
Tips for Leading a New Club with Confidence
Starting a new club is exciting, but it can also feel a little intimidating, and that’s completely normal. Remember that every great leader was once a beginner. Here are some tips to help you feel more confident as a club founder:
Lean on your team and advisor: You don’t have to do everything alone. Share responsibilities with your club officers or a trusted friend. For example, one person can handle communications (sending reminder texts to members) while another plans the next activity. Your faculty advisor is also there to support you. Don’t hesitate to ask them for ideas or help handling school logistics.
Take it one step at a time: In the beginning, focus on small wins. Maybe your first goal is just to hold a successful first meeting. Next, plan one interesting event. You don’t need to organize a huge project right away. As your club grows, your confidence will grow too, and you can gradually take on bigger plans.
Keep learning and adapting: It’s okay if you don’t know everything about healthcare. After all, you’re still a student. Embrace the fact that you’re learning alongside your members. If someone asks a question you can’t answer, say, “Great question, let’s research that and discuss it at the next meeting.” Being a club leader is a learning experience for you as well. Over time, you’ll become more knowledgeable and comfortable leading discussions.
Stay organized: Use simple tools to keep track of club stuff. Maintain an email list or group chat for updates. Keep a calendar of meetings and deadlines for things like school paperwork or event dates. Good organization will help you feel in control and prevent last-minute stress.
Celebrate and reflect: Take pride in what you’re accomplishing. Every time your club has a good turnout or a member shares that they learned something new, that’s a victory. Acknowledge those moments! Also, if something didn’t go as planned (perhaps a low event turnout), treat it as a lesson rather than a failure. Talk with your team about what to adjust, and use it to improve next time.
Remember your “why”: Whenever nerves creep in, remind yourself why you wanted to start a health science club. Maybe you dream of being a doctor to help others, or you love science and want to share that excitement. That core motivation will carry you through challenges. You’re creating a space that didn’t exist before. That’s something to be proud of!
Starting a health science club such as HSAFP at your school is a fantastic adventure. You’ll not only learn a ton about healthcare, but also grow as a leader and make a difference in your community.
Don’t be afraid to take the initiative! Your high school healthcare club (maybe soon an official HSAFP chapter) can open doors for you and your peers. So gather your courage, follow these steps, and go for it. The experience will be rewarding, and you’ll be inspiring others with your leadership.
Good luck! Your journey toward a career in medicine starts now in your own school halls!