Partnership: Careers in Cancer Science & Medicine

Our program partners with high schools (Houston Independent School District and Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School), as well as The Posse Foundation and universities (University of Houston – Downtown, Howard University). These entities nominate program candidates who have a strong interest in biomedical disciplines and a record of academic achievements. A final selection is made by program leaders.

We do not accept applications directly from students.

Weekly seminars and workshops, which cover a broad range of topics, are held for all summer program trainees.  However, hands-on research training, while conducting a mentored research project in an MD Anderson laboratory, is the main focus of the summer program.  The students work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or as previously arranged with the laboratory mentor.

During the first week after Orientation, intensive training sessions (the HotStart Program) will be led by MD Anderson postdoctoral fellows to introduce The Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine Program participants to the basic concepts of laboratory methods, techniques and ethical conduct of research.

The students also receive guidance and advice on their career plans from MD Anderson underrepresented minority faculty, many of whom are professors and/or in leadership positions and role models of success, resilience and persistence.

At the end of the program, the trainees present the results of their research as scientific posters, along with trainees from other summer programs, at the MD Anderson Summer Experience Final Event and participate in an “Elevator Speech” contest.

The Program also includes opportunities to:
 

• shadow clinical faculty members in ambulatory clinics and operating rooms
• attend weekly lectures
• engage in career conversations
• take workshops to improve presentation skills

The students receive a stipend of $6000, before taxes are deducted, for the 10-week program.

Housing is provided on a case-by-case basis. For those who need it, a list of housing options is provided by contacting the coordinating program leader after being accepted to the program.

To participate, a candidate must be enrolled at a partner school and meet the following requirements:

• be at least 16 years old at the beginning of the program
• be enrolled as a junior-level student or enrolled as a senior-level student and accepted into a college or university for the fall semester or enrolled as a college or university student during the spring semester prior to the summer program
• be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or F1, J1 Visa holder
• must attend the entire 10-week program (for Summer 2023: June 6-August 11)
• Visit the Summer Experience Information page to learn more about the program’s details.
  

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Clydell Adams – McGovern Medical School
Oluwatoni Ajala– Posse Scholar, University of Virginia
Luis Alvarez– Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Luis Amaro– Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory
Katherine Avila – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Racheal Ayankunbi – Howard University
Polycarpe Bagereka – Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Shania Baldwin – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Holly Battist– Posse Scholar, University of Virginia
Nallely Esparza – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Richard Garcia – HSD, Milby High School
Puneetha Goli – HISD, The Village School
Cesiah Gomez – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Talia Hall – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Faith Hernandez – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Carlos Hernandez Salinas – HISD, Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men
Rebecca Kow – McGovern Medical School
Jennifer Lagunas – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory
Emely Larios – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
May Liew – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Angelinda Maldonado – University of Houston Downtown
Fatima Mar – HISD, High School for Law and Justice
Maxime Munyeshyaka – Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Janet Nwokolo-Aniekwu – McGovern Medical School
Antonia Oduguwa – Howard University
Chidi Okoro – University of Houston Downtown
Wendy Olivares – HISD, North Houston Early College High School
Takese McKenzie – University of Houston Downtown
Meliza Perez – Posse Scholar, Wellesley College
Julian Ruger – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions
Eliora Tesfaye – McGovern Medical School
Ha Thach – HISD, Young Women's College Prep Academy
Mairena Vera Romero – HISD, Sharpstown International School
Alfonso Villegas – HISD, Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men

Termeh Ahi – Posse Scholar, University of Virginia
Stephanie Dunnand – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at Texas State University
Joly Fahim – University of Houston Downtown
Daniela Franco – Posse Scholar, Bryn Mawr College
Melanie Garibay – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at Creighton College
Lawrence Garvin – The University of Texas at Austin
Patrick Krause – University of Houston Downtown
Mariana Lopez – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at The University of Texas at Austin
Pilar O’Neal – Howard University
Sifa Opot – HISD, South Early College High School; now at University of Houston
Juhong Peng – Posse Scholar, Texas A&M University
Ritu Sampige – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions

Jada Kinch – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at University of Houston
Ayishat Mag Adeniran – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at Loyola University Chicago
Oluwafunto Akindona – Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Ashley Ossimetha – Posse Scholar, Bryn Mawr College
Jaquelin Barron – HISD, Furr High School; now at Minneapolis College of Art & Design
Victoria Martinez – Furr High School; now at Houston Community College
Boranai Tychhon – University of Houston Downtown
Nia Griffith – University of Houston Downtown
Kaleb Duhon – University of Houston Downtown
Tassica Lim – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions; now at Stanford University
Devin Brown – HISD, Houston Academy for International Studies; now at The University of Texas at Dallas