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Program opens doors to the world of medical science
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program is a five-week residential course for low-income and minority high school students. Every summer, SMYSP selects 24 motivated teens from throughout central and northern California to spend five weeks studying with Stanford professionals.
"We create an environment where it's OK to be smart and curious about science, which many of these students don't experience elsewhere," said professor of medicine Marilyn Winkleby, PhD, who founded the program in 1988 and now serves as faculty advisor. "All these kids are bright and strong, and many of them will be the first in their family to attend college."
The lab experience and classroom lessons, though important, are only part of the SMYSP program. Students also get a crash course in the college application process, lessons in networking and public speaking and one-on-one mentoring from a Stanford professional or a medical or graduate student.
SMYSP has been incredibly successful over the past 23 years. Out of the 524 students who have gone through the program, 100% have graduated from high school, 99% have attended college and 48% have entered the medical profession.
Adapted from Stanford Report: Program opens doors to the world of medical science
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