At UK, nothing is out of reach. The College of Medicine is where you’ll find all of the things you need to do all the things you never thought you could. We’re committed to training future health care leaders to provide excellent care for the Commonwealth and beyond. We invite our next generation of learners to dream boldly and discover what’s “Wildly Possible” through our pipeline programs.
The College of Medicine offers free pipeline opportunities at varying levels of education, from high school through undergraduate studies. Each program includes unique activities that aid in preparing students for a career in medicine.
120 in 365
The “120 in 365” initiative to visit all Kentucky counties virtually in one year will expose high school students to the possibility of a medical career. Through this online meeting and presentation, we aim to make medical education more accessible by showing prospective students realistic paths to a medical degree.
This interactive online presentation (via Zoom) gives high school students from every county in Kentucky the opportunity to hear firsthand from current medical students about their personal journey to medicine and why they chose the UK College of Medicine.
When: September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2022. Dates vary by county (we will be presenting at all counties in Kentucky) Time: 5 p.m. ET Where: Zoom Session (link provided after registration) Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Register your school to attend your county's event today! Register
Summer Enrichment Program
Note: The 2021 camp will be taking place virtually this year.
Hosted by the University of Kentucky Area Health Education Center (AHEC), our three-week residential camp is an opportunity for high school
students to explore a variety of careers in health professions and learn about the requirements for health career majors. Academic course work
is also part of the camp experience.
Eligibility:
- Rising Kentucky high school junior
- Must be 15 years old by the start of the program
Dates:
The Summer Enrichment Program will run from June 6-June 25, 2021. All application materials must be submitted by March 1, 2021 at 4 PM EST.
Tips for Sucess in the Application Process:
- Please take your time and prepare thoughtful insight on why you would like to be invited to the AHEC Summer Enrichment Camp.
- When writing your personal statement be concise and intentional. You do not have many words so proofread, correct grammatical and spelling errors, and again, take your time.
- Extracurricular activities tell us what you do in your school, community and your pursuit of a health care profession.
- Letters of Recommendation: Choose people who know you and your passion to pursue a health profession. Please do not select someone from your family. Also, provide them with plenty of time to complete the letter, as you want the best letter your recommender could write on your behalf. The AHEC office will send a unique link to your recommenders to complete the letters; however, it is up to you to follow up with them to ensure completion.
Contact the AHEC office with questions or concerns prior to submitting your application. Carefully follow the links below to begin the process of applying to the camp for which you are eligible.
Apply Now
Apply Now
Health Researchers Youth Academy
Note: The 2021 camp will be taking place virtually this year.
This is a three-week residential camp, hosted by the University of Kentucky Area Health Education Center, is for students who are closer to pursuing
their college education, providing the opportunity for an immersive experience in health care research with world class UK researchers and clinicians.
During the camp, participants work in teams with guidance from research faculty and staff to develop a health-related research poster presentation.
Eligibility:
- Rising Kentucky high school senior
Dates:
The Health Researchers Youth Academy will run from June 6 - June 25, 2021. All application materials must be submitted by March 1, 2021 at 4 PM EST.
Tips for Success in the Application Process:
- Please take your time and prepare thoughtful insight on why you would like to be invited to the AHEC Health Researchers Youth Academy.
- When writing your personal statement be concise and intentional. You do not have many words so proofread, correct grammatical and spelling errors, and again, take your time.
- Extracurricular activities tell us what you do in your school, community and your pursuit of a health care profession.
- Letters of Recommendation: Choose people who know you and your passion to pursue a health profession. Please do not select someone from your family. Also, provide them with plenty of time to complete the letter, as you want the best letter your recommender could write on your behalf. The AHEC office will send a unique link to your recommenders to complete the letters; however, it is up to you to follow up with them to ensure completion.
Contact the AHEC office with questions or concerns prior to submitting your application. Carefully follow the links below to begin the process of
applying to the camp for which you are eligible.
Apply Now
Apply Now
Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP) Scholars
Note: The 2021 camp will be taking place virtually this year.
UK’s Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP) was established in 1982 and restructured in 2019 to include the PEPP Scholars program and the
PEPP MD/DMD program.
PEPP Scholars is a summer academic enrichment program that exposes high school graduates to health professions, in hope of solidifying their commitment
to a career in medicine or dentistry. The program affords young scholars the chance to observe, network, and volunteer within the health care setting.
Eligibility:
- Rising college freshman
- Clear interest in dental or medical school
- Be a U.S. citizen
Other factors for consideration include that a student:
- Identifies with a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented or rural Appalachian in the health professions;
- Comes from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background; and/or
- Has demonstrated an interest in issues affecting underserved populations
- Submits a compelling personal statement and a strong letter of recommendation
Dates:
The program dates for the 2021 PEPP Scholars program are June 14-23, 2021.
Selection:
The selection committee will carefully review the written personal statement, letter of recommendation, application, transcripts,
and standardized test scores when selecting participants. There will be 20 applicants selected. Applicants will be notified by email.
A limited number of alternates will also be selected.
Participants must abide by all rules of the program. There is a mandatory attendance policy for all activities for the duration of the
program. All students are required to live in the dormitory provided. Students cannot be employed during the program. They must also
reside on campus at all times unless escorted by the PEPP staff.
PEPP Scholars applications contain the following items:
- Personal statement (limited to 3000 characters)
- Letter of recommendation from a teacher (unique link sent via email)
- Unofficial high school transcript
- UK PEPP Scholars application
- A copy of your ACT/SAT score
- A photograph of yourself (standard passport size)
Completed applications must be received by April 1, 2021. For additional information, contact Carlos Marin at (859) 323-8016 or cma223@uky.edu.
Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP) MD/DMD
Note: The 2021 camp will be taking place virtually this year.
The Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP) MD/DMD is an academic enrichment program for rising college sophomores who are interested in
becoming physicians and dentists to serve the Commonwealth. The program is tailored to provide more intense and focused exposure to the professions.
In addition, this program affords young scholars the chance to observe, network, and volunteer within the health care setting while gaining further understanding of the
profession and requirements for future admission to medical and dental school.
Eligibility:
- Rising college sophomore
- Have a minimum overall college GPA of 3.0
- Be a U.S. citizen
Other factors for consideration include that a student:
- Identifies with a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented or rural Appalachian in the health professions;
- Comes from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background; and/or
- Has demonstrated an interest in issues affecting underserved populations
- Submits a compelling personal statement and a strong letter of recommendation
Dates:
The program dates for the 2021 PEPP-MD/DMD program are June 14-25, 2021.
Selection:
The selection committee will carefully review the written personal statement, letter of recommendation, application, transcripts,
and standardized test scores when selecting participants. There will be 15-20 applicants selected for each program. Applicants
will be notified by email. A limited number of alternates will also be selected.
Participants must abide by all rules of the program. There is a mandatory attendance policy for all activities for the duration of the
program. All students are required to live in the dormitory provided. Students cannot be employed during the program. They must also
reside on campus at all times unless escorted by the PEPP staff.
PEPP MD/DMD applications contain the following items:
- Personal statement (limited to 3000 characters)
- Letter of recommendation from a professor (unique link sent via email)
- Unofficial undergraduate transcript
- UK PEPP PEPP-MD/DMD application
- A photograph of yourself (standard passport size)
Completed applications must be received by April 1, 2021. For additional information, contact Carlos Marin at (859) 323-8016 or cma223@uky.edu.
UKMED
Note: The 2021 camp will be taking place virtually this year.
Now in its 12th year, the University of Kentucky Medical Education Development Program (UKMED) is an annual recruitment program hosted by the UK College
of Medicine. The goal of this annual recruitment program is to attract individuals who are underrepresented in medicine or rural Appalachian to the college. Participants have the unique opportunity to gain a glimpse of life in medical school through interactions with students and faculty. In addition, participants will attend workshops focused on interviewing skills, personal
statement writing, and discussions on medical conditions relevant to the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Eligibility:
- Rising college juniors
- Students who have applied or will be applying to medical school within the next two years
- Minimum science GPA of 3.0
Dates:
The program dates for the 2021 UKMED program are June 14-15, 2021.
Travel and Housing:
Participants are responsible for arranging their travel. Housing is available upon request.
Application Process:
Completed UKMED applications must be received by April 30, 2021.
For additional information, contact Carlos Marin at (859) 323-8016 or cma223@uky.edu.
Program History:
“The program is based on a similar program called FOCUS that I experienced as an undergraduate student at Georgia Institute of Technology,” said Dr. Ebong. “The idea arose out of my desire to do something positive and make a difference. Partnering with students on programs such as this is so inspirational for me.” Ima Ebong, MD | UKMED Creator and 2013 graduate
"Participating in the UKMED program as premed student was truly an invaluable experience. Having the opportunity to tour the facilities, participate in stimulation, and speak with current medical students and faculty, provided me with a glimpse into the different aspects of medical school. Now as a resident at UK, I’m happy to be able to pay it forward, helping other students pursue their passion for medicine." Tracy Harbut, MD (pictured) | UK Department of Anesthesiology
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