PATCH is a pathway program for high school students from Title I Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and surrounding under resourced communities providing exposure to health care professions. The program is a collaboration between Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) and Atrium Health Workforce Development. Launched in 2015, PATCH has served over 500 students helping them learn about and prepare for careers in health care.
Our mission: PATCH empowers students from low-resource communities to discover and pursue fulfilling careers in health care, thereby cultivating a workforce dedicated to optimizing health outcomes for all.
PATCH serves two geographic areas through two distinct programs: PATCH Program CLT, serving Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and PATCH Regional, serving the schools in counties surrounding Mecklenburg County (Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Stanly and Union County)
Applications are available for PATCH Regional and open Monday, Oct. 6 for PATCH Program CLT. Please check back for more information regarding PATCH Program CLT applications.
On this page:
1. There are two distinct PATCH programs:
a. PATCH Program CLT (begins January 2026), invites 10th and 11th grade students from Title I Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. b. PATCH Regional (begins Fall 2025) invites 10th and 11th grade students from low resource communities in the counties surrounding Mecklenburg County. These counties include Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Stanly and Union County Schools.
2. For CMS Teachers
3. PATCH Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
4. PATCH Program Founders and Directors
5. Donate to Patch or Volunteer with PATCH
Applications for 2026 will be available on Monday, Oct. 6. The PATCH Program CLT is a pathway program for high school students from CMS Title I schools, organized by medical students and faculty from WFUSM. The program is supported through collaboration between WFUSM and Atrium Health Workforce Development.
The PATCH Program CLT is a 16-week curriculum where PATCH Scholars participate in personal and professional development sessions led by health professionals. Participants also carry out and present original scientific research with guidance from medical students, faculty from WFUSM, and Atrium Health resident physicians. These projects focus on health topics relevant to the communities of the Scholars. Academic and career mentorship for higher education and professional school is included. Learning sessions take place every other Saturday from January through April at Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center (CMC).
Scholars will participate in interactive workshops, network with health professionals, learn about and prepare for higher education and engage in guided research.
Apply for PATCH Regional Program. The application deadline is Friday, Oct. 10. The PATCH Regional program provides 10th and 11th grade students in rural, underserved communities with exposure to careers in health care. This program extends the opportunity to learn from health care providers to the surrounding areas outside Charlotte.
PATCH Regional Program is a four-week curriculum for regional high school students. Sessions will be held virtually with one in-person session.
"We don't accomplish anything in this world alone... whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something." - Sandra Day O'Connor
“Since I can remember, I’ve always known that I wanted to be involved in medicine and health care, specifically by becoming a pediatrician. Participating in the PATCH Program gave me the opportunity to get an inside look at the clinical setting in various specialties such as Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, ICU Nursing, and Rehab Therapy. From working on a public health research project to interactive workshops, this program has helped me see a more comprehensive side to medicine that I haven’t seen before. I feel surer in my career choice of becoming a doctor and advocating for public and global health for everyone.”
If you know a student who has a passion to pursue a career in health care and would like an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, please share information about the PATCH program.
Ways to do this:
Q1. How much does it cost to participate?
The PATCH program is free to participants thanks to the support of community partners.
Q2. How do I know if I attend a CMS Title I High school?
Current CMS Title I high schools are:
Q3. What if I have a conflict with one of the scheduled Saturday sessions?
Please email your conflicts to the PATCH program coordinators or include them in your application. We will not automatically exclude applicants from 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 attend at least 85% of the PATCH sessions.
Q4. Will this help me get a job or get 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 a valuable experience which participants can speak about during interviews or write about in admission essays. It will also allow participants to build meaningful professional connections with health care professionals and Atrium Health Workforce Development that could open opportunities.
Q5. What is a typical Saturday like in the PATCH Program CLT?
A typical Saturday will start at 9 a.m. and end by 3 p.m. (The schedule is a rough approximation and subject to change)
Applicants will be notified by Dec. 12 if they are offered an invitation to participate in PATCH CLT. The agenda for each Saturday is roughly as follows:
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Iris S. Cheng, MD, FACP and PATCH Program Director Dr. Cheng is the founding faculty advisor and program director for PATCH. She is a physician in general internal medicine and a medical educator who has taught medical students and residents for over 30 years. Dr. Cheng is honored to be working with high school students who will be the future of our healthcare workforce. As Clinical Professor of Medicine of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, she has served in multiple leadership roles for our medical school campus at Atrium Health and has cared for underserved patients throughout her career. She is committed to advancing health equity for all. |
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Melissa Rolfsen, MD, MPH Dr. Rolfsen graduated from UNC School of Medicine in 2018 and completed an Medicine-Pediatric Residency at UNC in 2022. She now works as a hospital internist in Raleigh, NC. Prior to beginning medical school, she taught two years (2010-2012) of Earth and Environmental Science at Garinger High School through Teach For America. This built a passion for school health and led her to obtain her Masters of Public Health in Health Behavior (2014) from UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health before pursuing medical school. She helped launch the PATCH Program during the 2nd year of her MPH. Melissa hopes to work in a school-based health center one day in order to merge her two main passions for working with adolescents and education. |
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Kyle Roedersheimer, MD Dr. Roedersheimer taught three years of Chemistry at Garinger High School (2009-2012), as part of the Teach for America program prior to beginning Medical School in 2012. While teaching, he was exposed to the need for PATCH and drew inspiration from his former students. Kyle helped launch the PATCH Program while completing third year clinical rotations at Carolinas Medical Center as a UNC School of Medicine - Charlotte Campus student in 2014. After graduation in May of 2016, he began a residency in Emergency Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center finished in 2019. He is excited to continue at CMC and is looking forward to continuing the growth of the program and fighting to reduce health disparities in the Charlotte area. |
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Jonathan Beni, Director of Administration and Recruiting – Atrium Health Workforce Development As an HR Consultant under Workforce Strategy, Jon oversees the logistical administration of the PATCH Programs as well as student recruitment. He has a passion for pipeline programs that promote upward mobility at Atrium Health. |
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Rachel Houston, DHSc, CMA(AAMA) - PATCH Regional Program Director Dr. Houston is the Dean of Health Professions at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. She earned her Doctor of Health Sciences from Campbell University with a concentration in Rural Health. As faculty at Cabarrus College, Rachel has taught across multiple programs including Medical Assisting, Community Health, and Community Paramedicine. She loves working with students of all ages, especially those aspiring to be the next generation of health care professionals. |
The PATCH Program is grateful for the support of the dedicated community volunteers, medical students and health care professionals at Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center who help make our program possible!
If you are interested in helping us with our mission by volunteering your time or offering financial support, please follow the steps below and we will be in touch!
Make a Donation to the PATCH Program
Gifts made to support the PATCH Program through the HOPE Fund are administered by Atrium Health Foundation (tax ID/EIN 56-6060481).
All donations are tax deductible.
Interested in Volunteering?
Email us at jon.beni@atriumhealth.org, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you in advance for your generosity, which will help ensure the sustainability of the PATCH Program.
