Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Pre-Health Sciences
In recent years, it has become clear that in order to achieve equity in healthcare access and outcomes, the U.S. needs to intentionally increase the diversity of its healthcare providers. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) defines Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) as racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population at a regional level.
The Pre-Health Sciences Advising Team (PHSAT) at PLU provides this curated list of organizational resources, pipeline programs, and summer research opportunities that support efforts to diversify the cohort of undergraduate students pursuing health professions.
Our Pre-Health Cohort Diversity
Data-driven tracking demonstrates PLU’s active commitment to fostering equity and supporting historically underrepresented and first-generation health professions applicants:
Identify as Students of Color
From Underserved Areas
First-Generation College
Pell Grant Eligible
*Data Source: Student residency and demographic data provided by the PLU Office of Institutional Effectiveness and compiled by the Pre-Health Sciences Advising Team (Spring 2026 Report). Underserved classifications are derived using U.S. Census Bureau tract definitions.
Campus Diversity, Justice, & Advocacy Resources
Pre-health scholars are encouraged to engage with PLU’s dedicated campus centers for leadership development, community-building, and social justice advocacy:
Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability (DJS)
Houses the Rieke Scholars program, DJS Leaders, and student advocacy networks promoting diversity, social justice, and systemic change.
Undocumented Student Support & Advocacy
Provides comprehensive support, advocacy, community connections, and funding resources for undocumented and DACA-eligible pre-health students.
Opportunities in the Pacific Northwest (PNW)
Regional Organizations
- Northwest Health Career Path (formerly Pipeline Mapping Project): Connects students pursuing health professions from backgrounds facing systemic barriers with career pathway resources.
- Center for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CEDI): Promotes diversity and inclusiveness throughout the UW School of Medicine including the WWAMI region.
- Chicanos/Latinos for Community Medicine (CCM): A pre-health Registered Student Organization striving to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in healthcare.
- Health Sciences Center Minority Students Program (HSCMSP): Supports underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students interested in health science, biomedical, or behavioral graduate or professional opportunities at every stage of their university career.
- Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA) Healthcare Careers Pathway Program (HCCP): Aims to provide students with the space to build meaningful connections with other pre-health students and gain exposure to the medical field.
PNW Summer Pathway & Research Programs
- Neurological Surgery Summer Student Program (NSSSP): Recruits and educates students underrepresented in STEM to broaden their knowledge in biomedical, translational, and clinical neuroscience research.
- OHSU Summer Equity Internship Program: Introduces undergraduate students to biomedical and occupational health research at Oregon Health & Science University.
- SCRI Summer Scholars Program: Provides underrepresented undergraduates an opportunity to engage in basic, clinical, and translational research projects at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
- Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP): A free summer program for students to explore medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and public health.
- Reimagine Indians Into Medicine (RISE) Summer Academy: A 6-week pathway program hosted by WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) aspiring physicians.
- Tilikum Summer Health Experience: A 5-week hybrid program for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) college students offering academic training, mentorship, and hands-on health career exposure.
National Organizations & Summer Opportunities
National Pre-Health Organizations
- Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS): Dedicated to helping undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds realize their potential in healthcare fields under the SNMA.
- Allied Health Career Exploration (AHCE) – VCU: Prepares participants for the College of Health Professions application process.
- UCLA Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Enrichment Program (PREP): Prepares students through academic enrichment, personal development, MCAT review sessions, and longitudinal application support.
- Georgetown University ARCHES Academy: Aims to strengthen the research and clinical skills of promising undergraduate students interested in health equity.
- Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN): A 12-week paid Health Equity Internship Program created to diversify the public health workforce.
National Summer Research & Clinical Internships
- VCU Summer Academic Enrichment Program (SAEP): Interprofessional learning skills, test-taking workshops, mock interviews, and community service.
- Des Moines University Health PASS: Key insights and hands-on experience in a variety of medicine and health professions.
- The Four Directions Summer Research Program (FDSRP): 8-week research experience under Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School staff for students committed to Native American communities.
- UCSF Amgen Scholars (SRTP): 10-week summer research training in biological, biomedical, and behavioral sciences.
- Mass General Brigham Rising Stars in Science & Medicine: Mentored 8-week summer research program in HMS labs.
- Brigham & Women’s Diversity in Pharmacoepidemiology: Experiential learning and capstone research in prescription safety and public health.
- Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine MD-PhD Fellowship (MPUS): 8-week medical research fellowship alongside MD-PhD candidates.
- Harvard School of Public Health Biostatistics & Computational Biology: 6-week quantitative public health research program.
- The Leadership Alliance (SREIP): Fully paid summer research internship preparing undergraduates for competitive PhD or MD-PhD programs.
- Massachusetts General Hospital SRTP: 8-week pipeline pairing URiM undergraduates with principal investigators in biomedical research.
- Mount Sinai SURP4US (Icahn School of Medicine): Intensive summer biomedical research training for underrepresented scholars.
- San Francisco Dept of Public Health (SHARP): 12-week mentored HIV/AIDS, mental health, and public health research program.
- Stanford University Undergraduate Educational Opportunities: Educational and research pathways for pre-health students.
- SHPEP National Program Overview: Academic enrichment, clinical experiences, and financial planning workshops across 12 university sites.
- UAB PARAdiGM Undergraduate Research Program: 8-week MD/PhD research and clinical shadowing program for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
- UC San Diego MSTP SURF: 8-week physician-scientist fellowship with laboratory research and clinical shadowing.
- University of Chicago Pritzker PSOMER: 8-week faculty-mentored research experience with medical student mentoring and admissions coaching.
- University of Cincinnati UPRISE REU: 12-week STEM research experience with symposium presentations and professionalization workshops.
- University of Rochester SURF Program: 10-week medical center research program with ER rotations, gross anatomy labs, and mock interviews.
- Weill Cornell Medical College Undergraduate Summer Program: 9-week mentored research project and surgical shadowing at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
- Weill Cornell Summer Research Fellowship: Premedical research training focusing on healthcare issues facing underserved groups.
- University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center (NSIP): 10-week translational cancer research internship.
- University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Student Scholars (CMSD): NIH-sponsored basic research experience in digestive and liver diseases.
Explore Pathway Programs with Pre-Health Advising
Schedule a 1-on-1 appointment with PLU Pre-Health Advising to review summer application deadlines, build research resumes, and request recommendation letters.