PATHWAY PROGRAMS
There are several opportunities housed within the University of Utah School of Medicine available to undergraduate students, medical students, and communities around the State of Utah that align with the goals of the School of Medicine's Exceptional Learning Experience (ELE) that promote professionalism, community, and meaningful relationships.
View the links below to learn more about each of the programs:
ACCESS Scholars Program
ACCESS Scholars represent women and individuals from all dimensions of diversity who embody the program values of excellence, leadership, and gender equity.
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 equity for Black and underserved Utahns.
BRIDGE UP–HBCU - (Biomedical Research Inclusion & Diversity to Grow Excellence in Science – Undergraduate Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
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 Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. 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.
Future Doctors
Future Doctors offers high school students a bird’s eye view of the medical profession. This program offers guest speakers from a variety of medical specialties, and includes hands-on activities tied directly to the speakers’ specialty. This program currently draws its audience from schools as far south as Provo and as far north as Ogden. All activities are organized and led by professional health sciences students at the University of Utah who volunteer their time to help shape the next generation of scientists and health professionals.
Genomics Summer Research for Minorities Internship (GSRM)
The Genomics Summer Research for Minorities (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.
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 diverse and 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 diverse biomedical research workforce reflecting the talent pool of our diverse population. IM-PREP focuses on students from diverse underrepresented 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 from underrepresented backgrounds prepare for the MCAT and strengthen their medical school application.
The eight-week in person program is sponsored by the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OHEDI) at the University of Utah School of Medicine. 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 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.
Pacific Islander Research Internship Program (PIRIP)
The Pacific Islander Research Internship Program (PIRIP) is designed to encourage and enable research and career development opportunities for Pacific Islanders in order to train future members of Utah’s scientific & medical community. Selected applicants will be paired with scientific mentors for a 10-week summer research internship. PIRIP fellows will attend weekly seminars in order to: 1) increase exposure to the breadth of Utah’s research community; 2) enhance career development and networking opportunities and; 3) enhance the trainees skills in scientific communication.
PathMaker Scholars
The PathMaker Scholars Summer Research Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute seeks to increase the participation of underrepresented 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 underrepresented 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 Utah Rural Outreach Program (UROP) is a student-run organization that delivers health science learning experiences to K-12 students around Utah. 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.
Medical students visit high schools, middle schools, or elementary schools in rural or underserved locations in Idaho with the intent to spark the students’ interest in medicine and the health sciences.
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
Through community partnerships, student volunteerism, and institutional support the Saturday Academies develop and enhance diversity, build and promote an inclusive campus environment, and populate a strong applicant pool for admission into multiple health science fields with historically marginalized and underrepresented populations by providing a mentored pathway to higher education and specifically focused on education in the health sciences. Participants from across Utah converge on the Eccles Health Science and Education Building (EHSEB) on the University of Utah's Medical campus to participate in interactive science activities organized and led by Health Sciences students from all disciplines within University of Utah's health and sciences catalog.
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 who identify as female. 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 an all-inclusive community dedicated to supporting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and fostering the success of scientists from under-represented 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.
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.
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.