Opening doors to healthcare careers for young students in Arizona

High school and undergraduate students recently gathered for a week of exploration and hands-on learning through the Undergraduate Plummer Scholars Program Plus at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The program is a component of the 9-month virtual Undergraduate Plummer Scholars program where students interested in pursuing medical school learn about the ins and outs of the process, including preparing for the MCAT exams.

The Undergraduate Plummer Scholars Program Plus introduces high school and undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to careers in medicine through immersive experiences such as physician shadowing, professional and leadership development, mock interviews, simulation activities, leadership presentations, mock interviews, preparation for the MCAT exams, and more.

Students attend sessions for a week in person, followed by four weeks of virtual sessions, where they learn more about specialties they were introduced to during their in-person visits.

More than 180 students across the U.S. have participated in the Undergraduate Plummer Scholars program since it was launched by the Office for Education Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in 2018. The summer component has drawn more than 51 students.

The Undergraduate Plummer Scholars Program — named in honor of Henry Plummer, M.D. — is led by Alyx Porter, M.D., medical director for the program, and Yerronda Lewis, program director.

Graduates from the program are now medical students and graduate students at academic institutions such as Meharry Medical College, Baylor, Howard University College of Medicine, Charles Drew University/UCLA, Emory University School of Medicine, and the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago.

More information

Visit the Office for Education Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website to learn more. Direct questions to the Office for Education Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team.