Programs for Medical Students

We offer the following programs for medical students:

Program Advancing Research for Equity (PARE) (provides a paid for 8-week research opportunity in either biomedical or clinical research. This program is for rising second-year medical students.

On the UIC campus, there are faculty in several colleges that conduct research on health disparities issues that impact Latino and other minority communities. Participants are assigned either a research laboratory or clinic to work in during the 8-week period.

In addition to their research, students have the opportunity to take part in weekly seminars presented by distinguished faculty and obtain critical feedback of their research by established investigators. After the program is completed, some participants receive additional support to present their research at local and national conferences. Program will run from June 30 – August 15, 2025. The application will open November 2024. The application deadline is March 7, 2025. 

Ongoing Research Topics

  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Pathology
  • Transplant Surgery
  • Global Health
  • Ophthalmology

The Hispanic Center of Excellence’s (HCOE) Medicina Fellows Program prepares students interested in working with an urban setting by providing them with seminars which focus the numerous cultural, social, and economic factors which influence or obstruct Latino health. The program also engages students to learn about which specialties can impact the Latino community. The Fellows will meet throught the academic year.

Goals

  • Learn about the various health risk factors affecting the Latino community.
  • Explore specialties that can improve Latino health
  • Interact with other medical students, residents, and faculty interested in health disparities
  • Provide USMLE support for medical students

Objectives

  • ​Develop Latino medical leaders
  • Help with the transition into residency programs

Requirements

  • Medical student at UIC-COM
  • Academic good standing
  • Strong Interest in Latino health
  • Previous experience working with the under-served
  • Conversational Spanish speakers preferred