Summer Health Experience (SHE) in Oncology Program
The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center’s Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology Program provides Kentucky high school student leaders with experiences, activities, and discussions that introduce them to the incredible breadth of career and leadership opportunities in the field of oncology. A goal of the program is to increase cancer workforce diversity with an emphasis on individuals who identify as female and/or value giving space to those underrepresented in medicine.
SHE specifically targets those interested in science and medicine and who identify as underrepresented in the sciences (i.e., underserved populations, low-income, first-generation college-bound, and/or living with a disability). Applicants must be a current sophomore, junior or senior from a Kentucky high school.
SHE in Oncology Program participants will work with other students from 5 different collaborating institutions that are running their own SHE Programs. The other institutions include the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania.
SUMMER HEALTH EXPERIENCE
IN ONCOLOGY
The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center will provide:
- Two weeks of rewarding online programming featuring expert speakers and activity leaders from all facets of cancer, including cancer research, healthcare, personal development and more.
- Opportunities to work collaboratively and conduct research with students from other schools.
- Mentorship from prominent women in the field.
- Support for all students during the program – including ability to group text and email with questions, concerns, updates, technology issues, etc.
- A stipend of $500 to each participating student.
- Lab kits for any experiments and research related to the program.
Application for the 2024 SHE Program: Apply
Program dates: July 14, 2025 to July 25, 2025
Application deadline: April 4, 2025 by 5 p.m.
Please email Holly Burke with any questions at holly.burke@uky.edu.
- Accepted students to the SHE program will demonstrate a desire to work in a healthcare field, have an interest in oncology, and be dedicated to uplifting voices of those underrepresented in medicine within their application.
- Acceptance emails to the SHE program will be sent out the first week of May to 20 students. Acceptance emails must be responded to and accepted within 1 week, or the spot will defer to a student on the waitlist.
- SHE students will be expected to attend one introduction/training Zoom session prior to the beginning of the summer program. Students will have a choice of 2 Zoom session dates.
- During the summer program, students are expected to actively participate with cameras on and attend each meeting during the 2-week time frame (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. ET). Doctor appointments, vacations, and other activities should not be scheduled during the SHE program. Failure to attend meetings will result in a stipend deduction.
- Due to the short nature of the program, full participation is required in order to collaborate with other students and avoid following behind in the lab experiment/case study presentations.
- In order to receive the free experiment lab kit, students must have a physical address, not a P.O. box. Lab kits will have instructions on how to care for the materials prior to the summer program beginning.
- Students will be expected to communicate via email and GroupMe for updates and questions.
- Questions and concerns can be directed to Holly Burke, holly.burke@uky.edu.
