Summer Student Pre-Med & Research Program

Overview | Program Components | Who Should Apply | Application Process | Selection Process | Contact Information

Overview

The Summer Student Pre-Med & Research Program at Hartford Hospital offers a unique clinical research opportunity for third year college students pursuing careers in medicine. The program offers the student with an introduction to research methodology, patient care, and medical ethics as well as exposure to a broad spectrum of healthcare providers within a large community teaching hospital.

Selected students will take part in a 10-week program starting on June 2, 2025 and ending on August 8, 2025. Students will be hired as a Hartford Hospital employee (colleague) and will receive a total stipend of $4000 for their participation. Additionally, out-of-state students are eligible for on-campus housing. Parking is also available for all students during the duration of the program. Students will be responsible for their own meals, travel, and other incidental expenses related to their participation in the program.

Please note that as a condition of employment, all Hartford HealthCare colleagues must submit proof of vaccination that includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

• COVID-19 vaccination(s)/booster(s)
• Influenza vaccination
• Requests for medical or religious exemptions may be submitted through Colleague Health Services.

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Program Components

Research

Research projects are conducted under the supervision of senior investigators with full-time roles as clinicians and/or researchers throughout Hartford Hospital. Students are paired with a senior investigator who will provide guidance throughout the duration of their investigations.

Assignments are based on student interests and availability of projects at the time the program starts. The program cannot be assured that students will be assigned to the laboratories of their first choice, but every attempt will be made to match their specific interests. Once selections are finalized, the student will meet with their senior investigator to develop a research protocol.

Projects

Students participated in the following research projects:

Poster Presentations

At the conclusion of the program, each student participated in poster presentations. The presentations are open to the public and students may invite family, friends, senior investigators, mentors, staff, and loved ones for a celebration of their achievements. Students receive a certificate of completion for their successful completion of all program requirements.

Seminars

Students participate in weekly seminars where they will have an opportunity to evaluate topics related to health disparities, medical/legal issues, medical ethics, social determinants of health, DEI&B in healthcare, the physician-patient relationship, community health, and other topics of interest. The program typically assigns two students per week to select a topic to discuss with their cohort and may invite experts in the field to contribute to the conversation. Seminars are a great opportunity for students to create dialogue around topics that are relevant and applicable to their future practice in medicine.

Below is a list of seminar topics from the 2024 Cohort:

• Insurance Jeopardy
• Food Insecurity & its Impact on Health
• CTE: The Struggle with Athlete’s Brains
• The Integration of Artificial Intelligence Into Healthcare
• Skeletal Muscle Health and Longevity

Observations

Each student is given the opportunity to observe ambulatory and inpatient settings. Students are exposed to diagnosis differentials, evidence-based medicine, procedures, and various care-team models. Students will also have direct interactions with medical students, residents, and fellows.

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Who Should Apply

• Pre-medical college student completing their junior year by May 2025.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher.
• Participates in leadership/service activities at school and/or in the community. Past research experience is not required.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

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Application Process

We will be accepting complete applications for the 2025 cohort from December 5, 2024 to January 31, 2025. Completed applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will not be marked complete unless all application requirements are met.

Interested students must submit an online application through RedCap and submit required documents per the instructions below:

To be completed via RedCap:

• Application Form
• Statement of Interest
  • Word Count: 250-500 Words
  • Prompt: Explain your motivation to apply for this program. How does this relate to your current and future career path? What experiences, courses, or work have inspired your interests in healthcare careers? Please upload your statement of interest via RedCap.
• 2x2 passport type digital photo (JPG or JPEG only)

Application Form, Statement of Interest, & 2X2 Photo Submission

To be submitted directly to the program:

• Official Undergraduate School Transcript
  • Must be sent directly from school/institution to Emily Shearier at Emily.Shearier@hhchealth.org
• Two Letters of Recommendation
  • It is recommended that you ask academic faculty, researchers, professors, or mentors to write letters on your behalf.
  • Please ask authors to email letters directly to Emily Shearier at Emily.Shearier@hhchealth.org

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Selection Process

Qualified candidates selected for an interview will be invited via email and will be asked to provide their availability. Once availability has been received, an interview will be scheduled in February 2025 and will be conducted via Zoom.

Decision letters will be sent via email March 1, 2025. If accepted into the program, you will be offered a review period before making a final decision.

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Contact Information

On behalf of the Medical Staff Office, Academic Affairs Department, Clinical Research Department, and Medical Education Department, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your interest in our program. Please feel free to reach out with any inquiries. Program contact information can be found below and on the top right of this webpage.

Lizabeth Roper, MHS
Senior Director of Research
Hartford HealthCare
80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102
P: 860.972.1964
E: Lizabeth.Roper@hhchealth.org

Emily Shearier, PhD, CCRP
Senior Scientist/Research Navigator
Hartford HealthCare
Research Administration
80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT  06102
P: 860.972.1255
E: Emily.Shearier@hhchealth.org

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We look forward to learning more about you!