Summer & Winter Break Experiences
Updated 1/10/2022
Summer Pre-Health Programs
There are many summer opportunities! Below are some we have highlighted but we encourage you to also explore your local hospitals and clinics to see if opportunities are offered in the summer.
Jefferson Abington Pre-Med Program
Abington Jefferson Health offers a Pre-Med Program that spans 8 weeks from June to July for students considering a career in medicine to gain first-hand experience in the health care field. Students are offered lectures and panels hosted by hospital staff, bonus “pop-up” lectures, and invitations to several hospital conferences and rounds. Altogether, students will work with physicians, physician assistants, residents, and various other advanced practice professionals and staff members of our hospital.
Some requirements include applicants must be freshmen, U.S. citizens, come from an economically disadvantaged background, and identifies with a group that's underrepresented in medicine
VCU's Summer Academic Enrichment Program is a 6-week program for rising juniors, seniors, and post-bacc students interested in Dentistry, Medical, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy schools. This program incorporates academic courses, case studies, presentations, socials, and community service, and preparation for your respective application season. Participants will receive a stipend of $1500. Applications are due March 15, 2021.
Virtual Summer 2021 Dates: May 25 - July 2, 2021
VCU's Allied Health Career Exploration (AHCE) is open to ALL college students and 12th grade high school students. This 2-week exploration program provides interactive experiences with Gerontology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Nurse Anesthesia, Patient Counseling, Rehab and Mental Health Counseling, Health Administration and Radiation Sciences! These 9 Careers that are part of a successful interdisciplinary team in any patient care setting. Participants will receive a stipend of $300. Applications are due April 1, 2021.
Virtual Summer 2021 Dates: June 14 - 25, 2021
Do you want to experience global healthcare abroad? Atlantis is a summer clinical shadowing program in Europe. Shadow doctors 20+ hours a week for up to 4 weeks, explore a new country, and build community with other pre-med students. Application.
While global shadowing experience is "nice to have" on your application, it should not substitute domestic shadowing experience when applying to American health professions schools. If you are an underclassmen without any prior healthcare experience, you should consider finding local experiences first. Please also consider the cost factor of these trips because they may range from $2000-$6000 and you can find shadowing opportunities locally without having to pay for the experience. If you are unable to afford this, you will need to fundraise. We encourage you to discuss global experiences with your pre-health advisor to determine whether these type of opportunities are a good fit for you and your career aspirations.
Summer Research Programs
This list is not comprehensive of all the summer research programs out there and we encourage you to search for other opportunities that may align with your interests.
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE): Rowan Graduate School of BioMedical Sciences
The American Physician Scientists Association (APSA)'s Virtual Summer Research Program (VSRP). The goal of VSRP is to address the gap of underrepresented groups in the physician-scientist profession by providing mentorship, community, resources, and research opportunities. We virtually pair principal investigators and graduate students to undergraduate trainees with the ultimate aim of encouraging and preparing students to pursue a physician-scientist career through a mentored research experience.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine has several clinical and research undergraduate summer programs:
UAB Preparation for Graduate and Medical Education (PARAdiGM): An NIH/NHLBI R25 funded 8-week program to introduce outstanding undergraduates from diverse and underrepresented minority backgrounds to the exciting career options of being both a scientific investigator and a practicing physician.
UAB Summer in Biomedical Sciences (SIBS) Undergraduate Research Program: An 8-week program where undergraduate students are instructed in the techniques of modern biology while becoming integrated members of a vibrant clinical and scientific community.
UAB Summer Program in Neurobiology (SPIN): An 8-week program providing students with excellent scientific aptitude the opportunity to experience independent research in the neurosciences under the guidance of a UAB faculty member.
UAB Kidney Undergraduate Research Program (KURE): An NIH/NIDDK R25, the KURE program gives you the opportunity to learn about advances in kidney research and be mentored as you work on your own research project in a lab within UAB's kidney community of investigators. This 8-week program allows you the unique opportunity to gain experience in the field of biomedical research.
UAB Surgery Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE): Offered by the Department of Surgery at UAB, this program provides promising undergraduate students who are interested in a medical career with research experience and knowledge that 1) increases their competitiveness for admission to medical school and 2) encourages them to consider careers in academic medicine, particularly the field of surgery. The program builds on a solid foundation of undergraduate research that already exists at UAB.
AGA-Aman Armaan Ahmed Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
These fellowships support undergraduate students from groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research to perform 10 weeks of research related to digestive diseases under the mentorship of top investigators in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology. The award provides a stipend, funding to offset travel and meal expenses, and opportunities to learn about future training and career options.
The Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute has opened applications for their 2021 Injury Science Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. This is a 10-week paid summer research internship opportunity for undergraduate students. CIRP is a leading multidisciplinary center engaged in collaborative cross-discipline research implementing real-world applications.
Due to the changing situation related to COVID-19, most of the program will be held remotely and applicants can indicate their preference for working fully remote or in-person (with free single unit housing).
Please apply here: cirp.smapply.io
Nemours Summer Undergraduate Research Program (NSURP) through the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware provides funding for 10 clinical, laboratory and translational research projects. DE. Occasionally, projects are based at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
This program is for undergraduates interested in research motivated by problems in pediatric health and have at least a 3.2 GPA. NSURP scholars will receive a $4300 scholarship. Areas of study encompass a wide variety of medical specialties, including but not limited to: Neurology, Genetics, Muscoloskeletal Diseases, Orhthopedics, Pulmonology, Speech, Rheumatology, Hearing, Oncology, Balance, Cardiology, Medical Imaging, Immunology, Reproductive Biology, Metabolic Disease, Tissue Engineering
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN offers two summer programs that offer a stipend and housing:
Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program (UCRIP) gives pre-med students the opportunity to participate in both research and clinical patient care at an academic medical center. Participants will complete a research project under the directorship of a research mentor and also directly observe clinical patient care while spending time with residents and attending physicians.
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Summer Research Program offers undergraduate students with interests in pursuing MD/PhD dual degree training an opportunity to conduct summer research in the lab of a physician-scientist at Vanderbilt. In addition, participants will gain clinical experience by shadowing their physician-scientist mentor in the clinic. All participants in the MSTP Summer Research Program will be assigned MSTP student mentors, attend the weekly MSTP Data Club, attend program specific enrichment sessions, and be invited to participate in all of the VSSA enrichment seminars and social activities. At the completion of the MSTP Summer Research Program, the participants will present their research project at the annual VSSA Research Symposium.
UAB Short Term Research Experience for Under-Represented Persons (STEP-UP)
STEP-UP program is a biomedical research experience for undergraduate students. This program is coordinated at UAB and two other coordinating centers. Students are linked with experienced research mentors at the institution they choose for the summer experience, which may be their home institution or one near their hometown. It is open to students across the country who are interested in exploring research careers.
Bruins-In-Genomics (B.I.G.) Summer Research Program at UCLA is an 8-week full-time immersion program for undergraduates interested in learning how to read and analyze genes and genomes. Through this program students will have the opportunity to experience graduate-level coursework, and learn the latest cutting-edge research, tools and methods used by leading scientists to solve real-world problems. Must be a junior or senior with a 3.0+ GPA. Click for more info
The Undergraduate Student Scholars Program (USSP) in the NIH Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania, offers lectures and presentations combined with basic research experience in the laboratory of an expert investigator. This program is designed specifically for undergraduate students with an interest in biomedical research, with the eventual goal of MD, PhD, or MD-PhD degrees. Applications from women and members of underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged. Students receive a competitive stipend for their participation in the 10-week program, and on-campus housing is available.
Summer Undergraduate Program for Educating Radiation Scientists (SUPERS) @ Penn is a 10-week summer research program hosted by the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania. Students must have a GPA of 3.2 or higher following their sophomore or junior year, but exemplary freshman candidates will also be considered. Letters of recommendation from two faculty members who can attest to the student’s work ethic and genuine interest in pursuing post graduate studies leading to a career in research are required.
The Undergraduate Clinical Scholars Program (UCSP) is a 9-week rigorous summer research enrichment program that is open to undergraduate students with an interest in clinical/epidemiologic research, with an eventual goal of MD, PhD, or MD-PhD degrees. Preference will be given to non-graduating college students (not accepting graduate or post-baccalaureate students).
Summer Internships
Click here to review the Summer 2022 Internship Opportunity at Cedar Run Wildlife Refugee
Summer Volunteer Opportunities
Camp Kydnie is a summer camp serving children with chronic kidney disease, including dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients, ages 6-18, who might otherwise be unable to attend camp. The goal of Camp Kydnie is to provide a normal summer camp experience, allowing for health and physical limitations, emphasizing positive self-image and independence.
Visit www.campkydnie.org to apply.
Summer Physician Observer Program: designed to assist exemplary students who are at least rising juniors to observe Physicians within the Bethlehem Campus in various specialties as well as the entire multidisciplinary healthcare team. The students are also encouraged to visit a number of diagnostic and treatment areas to understand the role they play in the patient’s care. This program runs mid-May through June 30
Summer Physician Assistant Observer Program (applications due March 1st) This program is designed to assist exemplary students who are at least juniors to observe Physician Assistants at various locations within the Network, both inpatient and outpatient, in various specialties as well as the entire multidisciplinary healthcare team. The students are also encouraged to visit a number of diagnostic and treatment areas to understand the role they play in the patient’s care. In addition to observing, participants will be required to volunteer in a clinical setting, allowing the student to have opportunity to gain an understanding of the patients’ perspective. The purpose of this program is not to accumulate observation hours, but to guide students in making a career choice. Those students strictly in need of direct patient contact hours can do so through a volunteer assignment.
Medical Campus Outreach connects Christian allied healthcare students and professionals in the Greater Philadelphia region. Summer Medical Institute (SMI) is a unique three-week, urban immersion program where Christian students learn to address health needs of the largely low-income, urban community in Hispanic North Philadelphia while integrating their faith with medical practice. While providing the practical service of providing health screens and health education to the community, students are also discipled, develop their relationship with God and examine their role as Christians in healthcare. The program partners with Esperanza Health Center, a Christian, federally qualified low-income health center with three locations in North Philadelphia.