This day-long event provides academic, professional, cultural and social support to Chicanos and Latinos pursuing careers in the areas of science, medicine and public health. The three Chicanos/Latinos in Health Education (C.H.E.) groups in the Bay Area (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and Stanford) rotate hosting the annual conference.
Summer Internship Programs
The Houston Methodist Academic Institute offers an unparalleled 10-week paid summer internship program designed to offer chosen interns with an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with renowned research experts. Both high school and undergraduate interns are partnered with Houston Methodist leading faculty in translational research. Interns will be responsible for working on their own scientific research project. At the conclusion of the internship, interns will present their findings and compete in a poster presentation competition. Throughout the internship, students will attend weekly seminars focused on career growth and professional advancement. Additionally, interns will have the opportunity to engage in didactic lectures delivered by leading scientists and physician researchers from Houston Methodist.
Interns receive assistance and mentorship from leaders in their designated labs. They also acquire valuable professional exposure through a range of networking opportunities, leaving each student with a unique internship experience. Additionally, interns engage in diverse social activities that contribute to a comprehensive and enriching summer encounter. Some interns, in collaboration with their mentors, even have the chance to publish their work, and many are discovering career pathways at Houston Methodist. We encourage all prospective applicants to thoroughly review the requirements before applying.
Summer Undergraduate Research Internship
The Summer Undergraduate Research Internship is designed to enhance interns’ comprehension and hands-on exposure in translational research. This program offers selected interns the opportunity to collaborate with some of Houston Methodist’s leading faculty.
Fields Rosenberg Surgical Fellowship
Developed under the guidance of Wade Rosenberg, MD, this program is tailored to undergraduate students seeking a comprehensive physician shadowing experience. Rosenberg Fellows participate alongside experts in fields such as neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery, and more.
Kadoorie Cardiovascular Internship
The Kadoorie Cardiovascular Internship program offers meaningful clinical exposure to second or third-year undergraduates who are ready to position themselves as strong candidates for medical school, proficient healthcare providers, and prospective leaders in the field of medicine.
Summer High School Research Internship
This internship program introduces translational research to high school juniors and seniors. Working alongside interns in the undergraduate research program, students will acquire valuable insights into the research process and develop an understanding of academic career paths after high school.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the internship?
All internship programs will begin on May 28, 2024, and end on August 2, 2024. A full-time commitment for all 10 weeks is required. Student workdays are 8 hours, approximately 8:30am-5:00pm, except for the July 4th holiday.
What are the application requirements?
Application Requirements:
- Applications must be completed in full by 5:00pm (CT), February 2, 2024.
- Undergraduate students may apply to only one of the following programs:
- Summer Undergraduate Research Internship
- Fields Rosenberg Surgical Fellowship
- Kadoorie Cardiovascular Internship
- Demographic information of student
- Short essay questions (see below)
- Upload of current resume
- Upload of current transcript (official or unofficial)
- Upload of two letters of recommendation
Note: Documents should be less than 4 MB each and in Adobe PDF format only. Remove hyphens, colons and other special characters ( “ – , : ; ) from all file names before uploading.
Application Essay Questions:
- Describe your career goals in medicine.
- How could you benefit from a hands-on surgical shadowing experience?
- Please describe any clinical or hospital volunteer experience you may have.
Is there a minimum age to participate in the high school internship?
All high school participants must be at least 16 by the start of the program (May 28, 2024). The Summer Undergraduate Research Internship reserves a limited number of slots for high school students. Applicants must be completing their junior or senior year to be eligible for the High School Research Internship Program.
Where does the internship take place?
The internship is held at the main Houston Methodist Hospital campus in the Texas Medical Center, located at 6565 Fannin St. Houston, TX 77030.
What field or specialty will I be observing and working in?
The application will ask you to list your top three specialty preferences. While our selection committee will work hard to match accepted students with their preferences, placement in the various research fields is based on availability and lab capacity limitations. The Fields Rosenberg Fellowship and Kadoorie Cardiovascular Internship will follow a clinical rotation schedule determined by the program coordinators.
Can I apply if I’m not a US citizen?
Currently, only US citizens, Legal Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals who already hold a legal visa status (F-1, J-1, EADs) are eligible to apply to any of the internship programs.
Is this a paid internship? Are there any costs to participate?
Stipends are awarded to all participants. The amounts will vary between $2,500-$6,000 depending on the program and will be specified in the acceptance email. There are no fees for participating in the program, however, Rosenberg and Kadoorie program participants are required to purchase a set of scrubs for clinical rotations.
Does the program offer housing or transportation assistance?
Participants will be responsible for securing their own housing arrangements. However, after admittance into the program, participants will be provided information on housing options available to them. For commuting, interns may choose to receive either a Smithlands parking pass or a paid QCard for using the Houston Metro service.
Can I still apply to the programs if I will not be able to start on May 28th?
No. Full participation is required for the internships starting on May 28th.Can I apply if I was a previous intern in one of the programs?
Yes, but only if you are now applying to a different program. Students cannot participate in the same program more than once.
If I’m graduating from college this year, am I still eligible to participate in the programs?
Yes. Currently enrolled college seniors may apply to the summer programs that immediately follow their graduation.
What if my items are not submitted by the Feb 2nd deadline?
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for the summer programs. No exceptions.
How do I submit my letters of recommendation and what should they say?
Applicants should submit the letters of recommendation themselves in the MERLIN application portal. The reviewer should be able to speak about your academic and/or extracurricular activities and how those characteristics make you a favorable candidate for this internship. Letters must be submitted in PDF format with the application by the February 2nd deadline, so we recommend requesting them as early as possible to allow your reviewers time to complete them.
How will I know when my application is complete or if I’m accepted?
You will receive a confirmation email once we have verified your MERLIN application is completed, and your resume, transcript, and two letters of recommendations have been uploaded. Acceptance decisions will be emailed by the end of March 2024.
Are candidates reviewed and accepted while applications are still open?
No. The program does not review or accept candidates until after the application deadline on February 2, 2024.
What can I do to make myself a competitive applicant?
The selection committee looks for academically accomplished applicants in STEM courses, involvement in science/health related extracurricular activities, volunteer service, and good communication skills. Letters of recommendation should be from someone that knows the candidate on a personal level and can speak to their academic strengths and interest in pursuing a research or medical career. All these criteria are carefully weighed by the reviewer to select a competitive, well-rounded candidate.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AT HOUSTON METHODIST
Houston Methodist welcomes volunteers who want to offer their time, talent, and dedication. Volunteers provide a valuable service to our hospital operations. There are a variety of volunteer roles to fit individual time commitments, schedules, abilities and interests. Volunteers may work directly with patients or choose to work behind-the-scenes, providing administrative or customer support. Click Here to learn more about volunteering opportunities at each Houston Methodist location.
The Caring Teen Volunteer Program is a volunteer opportunity for high school students, ages 15-18, to serve at Houston Methodist during the summer or fall. A full description of the Caring Teen Volunteer Program, as well as information on applying, can be found at their site. Please note that the Caring Teens Volunteer Program is for non-research volunteers only.
High School and Undergraduate Programs
Stanford Medicine has a number of opportunities for high school students and undergraduates at Stanford and other schools preparing for a future in medicine or science.
Undergraduate Programs
Canary Cancer Research Education Summer Training Program (CREST)
This 10-week program matches participants with a faculty mentor who helps them craft a research project in a state-of-the-art lab.
Dia de los Muertos Pre-Health Conference
This day-long event provides academic, professional, cultural and social support to Chicanos and Latinos pursuing careers in the areas of science, medicine and public health. The three Chicanos/Latinos in Health Education (C.H.E.) groups in the Bay Area (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and Stanford) rotate hosting the annual conference.
Stanford Summer Research Program
This fully-funded residential program helps undergraduates of diverse backgrounds prepare for PhD programs in the sciences.
Stanford Summer Premedical Programs
This six-week residential program targets community college students in the Northern California region, providing exposure to medicine and health through a variety of topics.
Undergraduate Pre-Renal Initiative
Stanford’s Pre-Renal Initiative seeks to develop a thriving research training program for undergraduate students in adult and pediatric nephrology and (benign) urology. During the 10-week summer program, students work full-time in the labs and clinics of Pre-Renal Faculty Mentors.
Stanford University Minority Medical Alliance Pre-Health Conference
Ideal for undergraduate students considering medicine as a career, this day-long conference offers an in-depth experience of what it takes to enter the medical field and succeed.
Cardinal Free Clinics
Cardinal Free Clinics educate and empower the next generation of health care leaders through internships to proactively address health disparities and improve access to care in their communities.
Ethnicity and Medicine
A spring lecture series that challenges undergraduate students to explore how culture and language impact the effectiveness of clinical encounters.
Leadership Education for Aspiring Physicians (LEAP)
LEAP is a project-based seminar series designed for Bay Area premedical students seeking structured leadership development while improving community health and wellness.
For Both High School Students and Undergraduates
Stanford Anesthesia Summer Institute
An engaging two-week program for undergraduates and high school students interested in exploring careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), medicine, and health technology. Stanford faculty mentor students as they work towards solving real healthcare design challenges.
Stanford Clinical Internship
A two-week program for premed undergraduates and motivated high school students interested in medicine. The curriculum includes lectures about medical specialties, laboratory learning opportunities, and sessions with current students and medical school admissions officers.
Civic Engagement Symposium
This symposium explores multidisciplinary approaches toward improving health, illness, and wellness. Presenters have have developed and implemented community health – related projects, events, activities, programs and initiatives with a community or educational partner.
Stanford STARS Internship Program
Interns with the Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) summer program spend seven weeks mastering basic lab techniques, participating in research projects, and presenting their work, all under the mentorship of experienced researchers.
High School Programs
Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgery Internship
The Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center’s Stanford Summer Internship is designed to educate high school students considering careers in science and medicine in cardiothoracic surgical anatomy and physiology as well as surgical techniques that will be utilized in pre-medical and medical training.
Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Program
This eight-week program gives high school students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue basic research with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral scholars and students on a medically oriented project.
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
This fully funded summer residential program helps low-income and ethnically underrepresented sophomore and junior high school students from Northern California to prepare for careers in medicine.
SMASH Medical Curriculum
A free-of-cost, STEM-intensive college preparation program for underrepresented and low-income high school students, this five-week program is comprised of five sessions designed to expose the students to a range of healthcare careers.
Stanford EXPLORE
This four-week lecture series provides an introduction to current research conducted by faculty in Stanford Medicine’s Institutes of Medicine, as well as research in the fields of bioengineering and genetics.
Clinical Neuroscience Immersion Experience at Stanford
This intensive one-week summer program includes interactive seminars with Stanford faculty and researchers, and the opportunity to work on a team to develop solutions to social issues related to psychiatry, psychology or neuroscience.
Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS) is a 6-week program in which high school students from diverse backgrounds are invited to learn about science, medicine, and research with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students and researchers on a medically-oriented project. The goals of the program include increasing interest in biological sciences and medicine in high school students, helping students to understand how scientific research is performed, and increasing diversity of students and researchers in the sciences.
