Pathway Programs
PATHWAY PROGRAMS
There are several opportunities offered by the University of Utah, SFESOM, and other community partners available to undergraduate students, medical students, and communities around the State of Utah that align with the goals of the SFESOM Mission-Driven MD Program's emphasis on community, relationships, and collaboration.
View the links below to learn more about each of the programs:
5 for the Fight Cancer Research Internship
Howard University and 5 For The Fight have created an opportunity for rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors to work in some of the world's leading cancer research laboratories. The 5 For The Fight Cancer Research Internship is a 10-week summer program where interns will participate in hands-on research, mentorship opportunities, professional development workshops and more.
Academic Associate Program
The Academic Associate Program is an undergraduate pediatric research minor where students receive credit while learning how to conduct clinical research designed by University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital researchers.
ACCESS Scholars Program
ACCESS Scholars is committed to supporting women and individuals from all dimensions in the STEM fields with the goal of preparing the next generation of exceptional thinkers and future leaders for success in their science education, and later careers.
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS)
The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) has been the go-to conference for historically excluded community college, undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Area Health Education Centers (Utah AHEC Scholars Program)
The AHEC Scholars Program is a 2‑year program for health professions students interested in addressing underserved urban and rural health needs in a transformed health system.
Black Physicians of Utah STEM Programs
Black Physicians of Utah strives to build a community of Black physicians, residents, interns, medical students, and aspiring physicians dedicated to achieving health access for Black and underserved Utahns.
BRIDGE UP – HBCU
The summer BRIDGE UP-HBCU program is a competitive mentored research program provided to undergraduate trainees enrolled at HBCUs. The 10-week summer internship experience includes holistic, culturally competent mentoring; engaging in hypothesis-driven research; and scientific and professional skill development workshops and activities that hone strong oral and written communication skills. Students have the opportunity to work with basic science, clinical science, or health care research investigators.
Crimson Transfer Honor Society (CTHS)
Crimson Transfer Honor Society (CTHS) strives to recognize the academic excellence attained by transfer students during their first semesters at the University of Utah.
Día de los Muertos Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) Pre-Med Conference
Held annually on the campus of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, The Day of the Dead Pre-medical conference offers undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in medicine the opportunity to attend lectures presented by School of Medicine departments such as Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Office of Academic Culture and Community. Other highlights include a question and answer session with a panel of current medical students, and break sessions with various University of Utah health science colleges.
Early Exploration Scholars Program (EES)
The Early Exploration Scholars Program fosters student connections with faculty mentors. Early Exploration Scholars learn about research opportunities at the University of Utah and receive a $500 scholarship to explore connecting with prospective faculty mentors surrounding research. The program provides opportunities to grow research interests early on in an academic journey.
ENIGMA-U
ENIGMA-U is a free online school focused on neuroscience, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, and basic science literacy. It is geared towards advanced high school and entry-level college and university students who are interested in neuroscience and want additional preparation and mentoring. It is open to anyone with internet access.
Genomics Summer Research for Magnificents Internship (GSRM)
The Genomics Summer Research for Magnificents (GSRM) internship provides a 10-week summer research program for undergraduate students interested in biosciences or bioinformatics with a focus on genomics research, including ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of genomics research.
Haumana 'O Pasifika Program / Pacific Islander Research Internship Program
The Haumana 'O Pasifika Program is designed to encourage and enable research and career development opportunities for Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPI) in order to train future members of Utah’s scientific & medical community.
Selected applicants will be paired with scientific mentors and cultural mentors who are leaders in the field or community, and participate in a paid research internship programs that will provide research opportunities, clinical shadowing experience, career development opportunities, and community outreach involvement.
HBCU IMPACT Program
The HBCU IMPACT Program is a partnership between the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, Howard University, and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The IMPACT (Internships, Mentorship, Professional Development, Academic Achievement, Community Service, Talent Enrichment) Program was built to immerse talented undergraduate and graduate students from all over the country in the unique and exciting environment of Salt Lake City, Utah. Students are given opportunities to intern at premier companies, gain and provide mentorship, enhance professional development skills, work toward academic achievement, engage with the community, and reach new heights.
Health Sciences LEAP Program
Heath Sciences LEAP (Learning, Engagement, Achievement, and Progress) is a program designed to assist and prepare undergraduate University of Utah students for their applications to health science programs to and future careers in health professions.
Intermountain PREP (IM-PREP) Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program
The mission of the Intermountain PREP (IM-PREP) is to build a biomedical research workforce reflecting the talent pool of our Intermountain population. IM-PREP focuses on students from varied backgrounds that demonstrate a strong drive for research and would benefit from additional research-intensive training experiences and professional development, enhancing their successful transition to top-tier doctoral programs, as well as their long-term retention in PhD-based career tracks.
Latinos In Action (LIA)
Latinos In Action (LIA) offers an asset-based approach to bridging the graduation and opportunity gap for Latino students, working from within the educational system to create positive change, and to empower Latino youth to lead & strengthen their communities through college and career readiness. The program operates as a year-long elective course taught by a highly-qualified teacher at the middle school, junior high, and high school level.
McNair Scholars
The McNair Scholars Program is a federal TRIO program funded at 151 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair participants are either first-generation college students with financial need, or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.
Medical Admission Preparatory Program (MAPP)
The Medical Admissions Preparatory Program is designed to assist premedical students in preparing for the MCAT and strengthen their medical school application.
The eight-week in person program is sponsored by the Office of Academic Culture and Community at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah. Students are afforded opportunities in research, patient exposure, volunteer opportunities, the Kaplan course and writing seminar. Students are competitively selected in the spring for summer admission and upon selection are expected to attend weekly meetings with the cohort and staff advisors.
Native American Community Health Internship (NACHI)
The University of Utah Native American Community Health Internship (NACHI) is a dynamic summer program for students interested in healthcare careers in Tribal and rural medicine. In partnership with the Native American Research Internship (NARI) program and the University of Utah we aim to provide NARI graduates an impactful and transformative clinical and community-based experience in Tribal health to foster connection, deep appreciation, and commitment to the efforts these healthcare facilities and communities bring to enhancing the well-being of all communities including tribal and rural communities.
The NACHI program is a 2 week fully funded experience for NARI alumni. Participants are placed at one of eight healthcare sites spanning Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Native American Summer Research Internship (NARI)
The Native American Research Internship is a dynamic summer research opportunity for Native American undergraduate junior and senior students who are interested in Health Science research. The internship is located at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is a 10-week, paid summer internship, funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Orthopaedics Summer Research Internship
The University of Utah Department of Orthopaedics Research Program accepts highly motivated students and trainees at all levels who are interested in gaining clinical and research experience within musculoskeletal biology, bioengineering and clinical research and are pursuing a basic science, medical degree or health related graduate degree.
PathMaker Scholars
The PathMaker Scholars Summer Research Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute seeks to increase the participation of students in biomedical cancer research and to encourage students to prepare for careers in research, medicine, and education.
The program sponsors students for a 10-week residential summer research experience, where they will live on campus, learn laboratory training techniques, and work on a project as indicated by a principal investigator in a university laboratory setting. Accepted students who successfully complete the program will automatically be accepted into the following year’s summer program without reapplying.
Pre-Admissions Workshop (PAW)
AAIP has longstanding partnerships with the Four Corners Alliance (University of Colorado, University of Utah, University of New Mexico, University of Arizona - Tucson, and University of Arizona - Phoenix) and University of Minnesota, Duluth to host annual Pre-Admission Workshops (PAW).
The PAW is an event held to bring together AAIP member physicians, AI/AN college students, public health professionals, university admissions professionals and other interested individuals with the goal of providing students with the information and skills necessary to succeed in the medical and health-profession school admission process.
Pre-Matriculation Readiness for Ongoing Medical Student Success at the University of Utah (PROMIS2U)
The mission of PROMIS2U is to prepare more physicians to enter primary care and serve in rural, tribal, and medically underserved areas in Utah. PROMIS2U aims to provide academic support to future physicians from rural, tribal, and medically underserved backgrounds, who research shows are more likely to practice in high-need underserved communities, care for patients who identify as marginalized, and practice primary care.
Research Experiences to Advance the Careers of HBCU Undergraduates at the University of Utah (REACH U2) in Health Disparities Research
The purpose of REACH U2 is to provide undergraduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in North Carolina with an intensive ten-week summer research experience under the mentorship of a University of Utah faculty member, with the goal of preparing participants for enrolling in competitive graduate programs. REACH U2 offers opportunities to gain hands-on research experience in disciplines at the intersection of health disparities and biomedical research, including cancer research, public health, and bioinformatics.
REFUGES Program
Refugees Exploring the Foundations of UnderGraduate Education in Science (REFUGES) is an after school/summer program which collaborates with community organizations, schools, and parents to support 7th-12th grade students with their education. Students who attend the program are provided valuable resources and support - such as one-on-one tutoring and mentoring, college and career readiness resources, financial aid workshops, hands-on STEAM curriculum, and field trips.
Rural & Underserved Utah Training Experience (RUUTE)
The Rural & Underserved Utah Training Experience (RUUTE) program is a unique opportunity for medical students, providers, and the Utah community. RUUTE's learning experiences range from community outreach, becoming a preceptor, to learning experiences for medical students and residents. RUUTE also supports medical students and residents with wellness, housing and mileage reimbursement, application support and more.
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RUUTE Undergraduate Ambassadors
The RUUTE Undergraduate Ambassadors program is designed to increase community engagement for those interested in pursuing graduate level school in the health sciences. Ambassadors will attend weekly professional development courses with the RUUTE staff and faculty as well as develop lesson plans to be taught to local middle schoolers in your community. Ambassadors will present these lesson plans to inspire young students to engage in the health sciences, while also gaining volunteer hours.
The RUUTE program has developed a K-12 outreach pipeline where the RUUTE team visits K-12 schools in rural and/or underserved areas of Utah to help young students gain interest in the health sciences and provide them with learning experiences they may otherwise not have. One of the biggest goals this program is to help kids interested in the health sciences nurture and cultivate their interests wherever it may take them, showing the many opportunities out there for them within the health sciences.
The Rural Outreach Program (ROP) is a student-run organization that delivers health science learning experiences to K-12 students around Utah and the Intermountain West. This opportunity allows medical students to practice teaching, provide hands-on instruction to students with dissections, and provide insight on the pathway to being in medical school. Trips occur during winter and spring breaks.
The Rural & Underserved Utah Training Experience (RUUTE) program has worked to develop a 10-week research experience for undergraduate students.
The emphasis of this program is to provide research opportunities for students from rural and underserved areas throughout Utah and provide opportunities for students to work on projects emphasizing rural and underserved health.
Saturday Academy
Serving grades 4-12, Saturday Academy is a collaboration between all six entities on the University of Utah Health Sciences campus, which includes The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, College of Health, and the Eccles Health Science Library to develop a strong applicant pool for admission into multiple health science fields.
Short-Term Research Experience Program to Unlock Potential (STEP-UP)
The NIH Short-Term Research Experience Program to Unlock Potential (STEP-UP) aims to provide summer research opportunities for high school juniors and seniors from all backgrounds. Coordinated by the University of Utah’s College of Health, this program is funded by an R25 Educational Pathway Grant from the National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK). The STEP-UP Program offers hands-on biomedical research experiences and includes an eight-week summer program followed by a nine-month mentorship. Participants receive stipends for their work and are guided by experienced researchers. Visit the NIH STEP-UP Program page for more information.
Summer Health Care Experience (SHE) in Oncology
The Summer Health Care Experience (SHE) in Oncology Program is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and seeks to increase the participation of women in biomedical fields, especially cancer research and medicine. The SHE program provides a two-week virtual experience for students going into their sophomore or junior year of high school. The program includes a series of virtual workshops, panels, and hands-on research activities using a laboratory science kit, which will be sent directly to the participant’s home.
Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
SACNAS is dedicated to supporting students in STEM fields and fostering the success of scientists from a variety of backgrounds, with a goal is to help members attain advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM. SACNAS aims to provide a holistic approach to STEM training by organizing opportunities for professional development, cultural programming, resilience training, and a pipeline of support and mentoring within a national network.
Science Research Initiative (SRI)
The Science Research Initiative (SRI) program offers College of Science students the opportunity to participate in discovery-based scientific research starting your first day on campus, with no prior research experience required. You will gain research skills that will help you in science classes, learn with College of Science peers, and connect with faculty across the University.
Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)
SPUR provides undergraduate students with an intensive 10-week research experience under the mentorship of a University of Utah faculty member. The program provides opportunities to gain research experience in a variety of disciplines.
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)
UROP provides a $1,200 stipend and educational programming for students who assist with a faculty member’s research or creative project or who carry out a project of their own under the supervision of a faculty member. Students may apply for UROP any semester and may be eligible for a one-semester renewal. UROP awardees are hired as temporary, part-time employees by the Office of Undergraduate Research and are paid $1,200 for 120 hours of research or creative work during the semester.
Utah Summer Training Academy for Rising Surgeons (USTARS)
The SFESOM Department of Surgery hosts the Utah Summer Training Academy for Rising Surgeons (USTARS) program in collaboration with the Departments of Anesthesia, Otolaryngology, Neurosurgery, and Orthopedics for a robust 6-week summer program around professional identity development, surgical skills development, exposure to clinical care, and understanding of research principles.