The Summer Undergraduate Mentorship Program (SUMP) of the Hispanic Center of Excellence (HCOE) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein) is a six-week program that offers students from underrepresented groups in medicine and/or economically disadvantaged background a unique opportunity to become exposed to the realities and options within the medical profession through a “shadowing” experience with a physician mentor. Besides shadowing a doctor, the program offers a broad and comprehensive curriculum, including medical lectures, hands-on workshop participation and literature review under the supervision of a research mentor and medical librarians at Einstein.
All students are expected to complete a written research project and give a PowerPoint presentation on their project to their peers, family, physician mentors and invited Einstein faculty at the program's all day colloquium and graduation. The topics for the projects may be based on a student's clinical experience and/or any related medical issue of interest. Projects are encouraged to be presented in context of core curriculum content that will highlight Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports findings on health disparities and Hispanic and minority health. The goals of the program are designed to motivate students to pursue careers in medicine, build confidence, advance leadership skills and foster working mentorship relationships.
Lectures and workshops will cover a variety of topics that include practical information such as the medical school application process, studying skills, mock interviews, current issues in medicine and special interest topics such as cultural competency and the patient-physician relationship. The lectures will be conducted by Einstein faculty and affiliated faculty from partner institutions. There will also be informal lunches with medical students, residents and faculty that will provide a forum for sharing experiences. We encourage students and their parents to attend a special evening workshop on financial aid and the medical school application process.
SUMP requires a full time commitment Monday-Friday over six summer weeks. The student will be expected to attend fourteen hours of lecture per week and spend at least six hours per week with their assigned mentor. Participants in the program will be awarded a stipend at the end of the program.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Students will be considered if they are US citizens, Permanent Residents or individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status by the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services from an underrepresented group in medicine and/or have an economically disadvantaged background.
- Must have completed at least 2 science courses prior to the beginning of the summer program.
- While a GPA of 3.0 is generally required, a GPA of less than 3.0 may still considered after a comprehensive application review.
- Students must complete the online application, provide an official college transcript and obtain a letter of recommendation from a faculty member before the deadline.
- If accepted, medical clearance will be required prior to starting the program.
- Live in the Bronx or nearby metropolitan area.
Application Deadline: April 1st, 2024
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
No Housing is Available
Since SUMP's
establishment in 2002, 90 of our students have been accepted to medical school
and many others have pursued science or health-related graduate degrees in
physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry, engineering, clinical
psychology, social work, nursing, dentistry, and public health. Some SUMP
Alumni have chosen to pursue careers in non-health related areas, including
education and finance, and many others have opted for gap year(s) prior to
enrolling in medical school or other graduate programs.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS:
"SUMP has given me crucial knowledge, priceless experiences, and invaluable new friendships that have made this summer my favorite one so far. I learned so much about getting involved in medicine as an underrepresented minority student, and I have learned more about my own capabilities. The work done by the SUMP coordinators to uplift minority students has inspired me to strive to do the same as I work towards my professional goals. I now feel more secure about my endeavors knowing that I have my SUMP support system behind me every step of the way."
–Kevin Quiah, SUMP '18, Fordham University
"With the help of SUMP, I can honestly say that medicine no longer feels like a dream, but rather a reality. I have also found a support system through my inspiring and talented colleagues, coordinators, and mentors. Above all, the knowledge I've gained about the medical field and health disparities had confirmed my passion for medicine."
–Stacey Franco, SUMP '17, SUNY Oneonta
"This program has been a tremendous blessing. Through my shadowing experiences I have gained concrete and valuable exposure to the many facets of a clinician's career. I have come to better appreciate the research process, and I've gained a clearer understanding of the many unique opportunities available in the medical field. The mentorship I received throughout the seven weeks has inspired me to do the same for someone else. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to further solidify my desire and decision to pursue a career in medicine.”
–Courtney-Lynn Harvey, SUMP '16, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
“The program gave me hope and confidence I needed to believe in my self in my pursuit to become a doctor. It confirmed that medicine was the best career for me. I gained much insight into various issues that affect our communities and had the opportunity to learn from mentors, faculty, and students. One of the most impactful experiences was learning about all the personal stories about pursing a career in medicine. It was inspiring to meet Doctors who are minorities.”
–Elvin Mendez, SUMP '12, Albany Medical College
