Summer Enrichment Programs

Networking is important, even early on in your undergraduate education. Participation in organizations is not a requirement for health professional programs, however, getting involved can help you get connected, build skills and find opportunities.

Doris Duke Conservation Scholars

The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP) at the University of Washington is a multi-summer, undergraduate experiential-learning program focused on the themes of biodiversity, food, climate, and water across urban and wild spaces. Applicants do not necessarily need to be natural science-orientated.

Learn more and apply at the DDCSP website.

INSIGHT Summer Research Program at Harborview Medical Center

The INSIGHT Research Program for graduate and undergraduate students is an intensive, eight-week summer internship for undergraduate students, graduate students and first-year medical students. Participants are matched to research projects and partnered with University of Washington Medical School faculty and work alongside peers and health professionals from across the country. Past research areas include elucidating the risk factors and causes of injuries, injury prevention strategies, acute and chronic care of injured patients, outcomes from trauma, and interventions to return the injured individual to their full potential.

Learn more and apply at the INSIGHT website.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer Undergraduate Research Program

SURP is an intensive, nine-week internship designed to provide research experience and mentorship for undergraduate students who are interested in biomedical research. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, interns will complete an independent research project and present their findings at a competitive poster session. In addition to completing a mentored research project, interns will participate in professional development workshops designed to facilitate the preparation of competitive applications for graduate/medical school.

Learn more and apply at the SURP website.

Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program at UW Medicine

The Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program's mission is to recruit and educate a wide spectrum of students from diverse backgrounds, focusing on those under-represented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and broaden their knowledge base in the field of biomedical research, including translational, clinical and basic research; and to inspire students to pursue a career in research, medicine or allied fields, especially in Neuroscience. The eight-week program consists of a lab placement, attendance at Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds, OR observations, talks by faculty, and a final presentation and graduation. 

Learn more and apply at the NSSSP website.

Rural Immmersion Institute of the North at the University of Alaska, Anchorage

The Rural Immersion Institute of the North at the University of Alaska, Anchorage is a three-week program that introduces healthcare students to the realities of providing care in rural Alaska. Students spend the beginning of the program in Anchorage, learning about Alaskan culture and meeting with healthcare professionals. The next 10 days are spent job-shadowing healthcare professionals in a rural community somewhere in the state. The program ends back in Anchorage, where students give a presentation outlining what they learned during the program.

Learn more and apply at the RIIIN website.

Summer Health Professional Education Program

SHPEP is a free six-week summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in the health professions. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions and prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools.

SHPEP is implemented at 12 program sites across the nation. Each site provides scholars with academic enrichment in the basic sciences and math, clinical experiences, career development activities, learning and study skills seminars, and financial planning.

Learn more and apply at the SHPEP website.

National Database of Summer Enrichment and Pipeline Programs

An amazing resource by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for searching out a variety of Summer Enrichment and Pipeline programs throughout the country.

Learn more at the AAMC website.