Summer Opportunities

Dear Pre-Health Student:

The various menu options to the left list summer opportunities for pre-health students. This list includes opportunities nationwide in several different areas. The list is broken down into three catagories: medical, dental, and veterinary. Each section is organized alphabetically by state.

This list has been compiled from many different resources, and therefore its complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Please contact preprofessional@columbia.edu if you discover any misinformation, as we would like to keep the list as current and accurate as possible. In addition, please be aware that this list is not comprehensive but just a place for you to begin your search for health-related summer opportunities. You may be aware of other opportunities in your hometown that do not appear on the summer opportunities list. I encourage you to continue to investigate other prospects in your area of interest. If you are aware of other good opportunities, please let us know so that we may share this information with other students.

Please be aware of the specific program application deadlines. You will need to begin your summer planning now, for many deadlines are in January and February. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 854-8722 or mr2168@columbia.edu.

Good luck.

Megan M. Rigney
Director/Chief Premedical Advisor
Office of Preprofessional Advising, 101 Carmen Hall
Columbia College & Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

Columbia-Specific Applications

Steamboat Foundation Summer Scholar
Columbia University
Grant Sponser: Hospital For Special Surgery

Introduction and Background

The Steamboat Foundation is dedicated to mentoring tomorrow’s leaders today. Recognizing that early professional experiences and exposure can shape future career success, our mission is to provide outstanding university students with a fully funded opportunity to work side-by-side with influential leaders in a range of high-profile professional fields. Working with leading professionals and organizations on a daily basis, will provide Steamboat Scholars exposure, knowledge and inspiration that has the potential to propel their own career aspirations and achievements to even greater levels.

The Steamboat Foundation was founded in 2003 by Andrew Walter and Peer Pedersen Jr., Managing Partners of Blue Orchid Capital, LLC. Their visionis to offer truly unique work experience to exceptional students who might not otherwise have access to influential leaders in their chosen field of interest. Further, the exposure and timing of the experience occurs at a critical juncture in each Steamboat Scholar’s personal and professional development. The designation of Steamboat Scholar recognizes the extraordinary talent and accomplishment of the Foundation’s recipients.

Grant Sponsers

Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City

Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery has been the hospital of choice for countless individuals suffering from musculoskeletal conditions. These include, among others, arthritis and osteoporosis, spine and sports injuries, cerebral palsy and spinal bifida. HSS physicians are highly respected specialists who train at top medical schools and hospitals and are board-certified in their fields. The training, experience and focused specialties of HSS doctors rank them among the most qualified anywhere in the world. HSS has been recognized for its excellent medical care in The Best Hospitals in America, The Best in Medicine, and U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of America's Best Hospitals.

Steamboat Scholar Opportunity

For the first month, the Scholar shadows clinical consultations and observe surgical procedures from the operating room with Dr. David Altchek. Dr. David Altchek is Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Altchek serves as the North American Medical Director for the Association of Tennis Professionals, which sponsors the men's professional tennis tour. He was the Team Physician for the U.S. Davis Cup tennis team from 1999 to 2003, and the former Team Physician for the New York Mets. Dr. Altchek is an Associate Professor of Surgery (Orthopedics) at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and the author of over 100 articles and book chapters on problems of the shoulder, elbow and knee.

For the remainder of the internship, the Scholar shifts focus to participate in a clinical research project.

Scholar Experiences

2005 Steamboat Scholar Cynthia Gao participated in two clinical studies, the first a continuation of 2004 Scholar Dean Arnaoutakis’s research studying adhesive capsulitis treatment and the second evaluating total hip replacements as treatment of chronically dislocated hip in patients with cerebral palsy.

2004 Steamboat Scholar Dean Arnaoutakis researched adhesive capsulitis treatment and sternoclavicular dislocations.

Grant Specifics  

• The Steamboat Foundation awards a $12,000 grant to the selected Steamboat Scholar recipient for the period June 1 through August 18, 2005. Payments are made in 4 equal installments throughout the summer.
• The Scholar a) attends a two day orientation at the beginning of June with other Steamboat Scholars and b) attends Steamboat Scholar events such as, the opening reception at the Forbes Galleries, two to three Foundation Dinners with distinguished guests, five Leadership Evenings with facilitator Dr. Tom Inck and other social events in and around New York City.
• The Grant specifies that Scholars are housed together at the New School in Manhattan’s West Village during the internship period.
• Scholars submit a Final Essay and Evaluation at the close of the summer.

Eligibility

A candidate must be a third year undergraduate and have the support and highest recommendation of his/her University/College.

Applicants must have demonstrated financial need (Columbia financial aid recipient). If you are not receiving financial aid from Columbia but believe that you have other circumstances that would qualify you as financially needy, please submit a self-declaration of financial need. This statement will be required if the applicant is not receiving financial aid directly from Columbia. Only students from Columbia University will be considered for the Steamboat Scholar Placement at Hospital for Special Surgery.

General Information

During the time that Steamboat Scholars work at their host Grant Sponsor (approximately 10 weeks), they are subject to the applicable sponsor’s company employee rules.

Application Procedures/Deadlines

Candidates must complete an application form and submit it with a cover letter to the contact information listed below. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Applications are due by 5 pm Friday, January 25, 2008.

Do not submit applications directly to Steamboat Foundation.

All applications must be submitted to the Office of Preprofessional Advising, 101 Carmen Hall

Ms. Megan Rigney
Director, Office of Preprofessional Advising, 101 Carmen Hall
mr2168@columbia.edu
(212) 854-8722

BIOCEP BIOethical Cross-cultural Education Program

Description

BIOethical Cross-cultural Education Program (BIOCEP) is a two week intensive summer internship program designed to promote educational and cultural exchange in Bioethics and Public Health (medical tourism, emerging infections, stem cell research, reproductive medicine, HIV, abortion, etc) with students from Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. The program includes lectures, student discussions, professional visits to clinics and research labs, and cultural tours of Thailand. Students will be partnered with corresponding students from Mahidol University.

Eligibility

Current undergraduates at Columbia College, Barnard College, SEAS and GS, Graduate students at the Medical School, Mailman School of Public Health and Graduate School of Science.

Duration

2 weeks

Deadline

December 1

Web

http://www.columbia.edu/~jdl5/