Medical Student Summer Fellowship Program Provides Research Experience

	The program for medical students allows participants to work on research projects in their areas of interest, interact with Memorial Sloan-Kettering scientists, attend lectures, and present their research.

An important part of training the next generation of physicians is ensuring they are exposed to the integral role research plays in improving treatment. Memorial Sloan-Kettering helps promote this link through its Medical Student Summer Fellowship Program. For more than three decades, the program has given medical students the chance to conduct basic laboratory or clinical research under the mentorship of Memorial Sloan-Kettering faculty.

The eight-week program is offered to medical students who are considering careers as physician-scientists in oncology or related biomedical sciences. A wide variety of research projects are offered. Students apply to work on projects in their areas of interest and are selected by the faculty mentors overseeing the projects. During the program, students also have the opportunity to interact with other Memorial Sloan-Kettering scientists, attend lectures, and present their research in the final week. This year, the program has received 676 applications. Approximately 50 to 60 students will be accepted.

"The insight I gained from observing and interacting with experts in their fields was amazing," said New York University School of Medicine student Ariel Marciscano, who participated in the program in 2008, conducting clinical research under the guidance of medical oncologist Ariela Noy. "Not only did I receive excellent research experience, it also provided a window into life as an oncologist."