The University of Southern California’s Summer Outreach Program for Attracting African-American College Students to Its Medical School

This summer 12 minority college students are participating in an eight-week program at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. The Bridging the Gaps; Bench to Bedside Summer Research Program aims to increase the number of minority, and particularly African-Americans students, who apply to the medical school or to graduate programs in the biological sciences. Students in the program will study and conduct research in fields such as physiology, oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and hematology. In addition, students will take courses on biostatistics and health disparities. Also, there are workshops on test-taking skills, financial aid, career planning, and time management. Students in the program are paired with current USC medical or graduate students who act as mentors and campus hosts.

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