The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) provides academic enrichment, professional development, clinical experiences, and financial planning workshops to freshmen and sophomore undergraduate students. There are SHPEP programs at Columbia, Howard, Rutgers, the University of Alabama-Birmingham, UCLA and Drew University (combined), University of Florida, University of Iowa, University of Louisville, University of Nebraska, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Washington, and Western University of the Health Sciences.

According to the SHPEP website, “it is a free summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in the health professions SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and those with demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved populations to prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools. Students from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences are encouraged to apply.”

Applications are now open for the Summer of 2026; the deadline to apply is Feb. 6, 2026.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Originally posted in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, and updated in 2025.