Know any students who would be interested in the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) at UNMC?
SMDEP allows college students to take science classes, shadow health care providers and participate in community projects. And in turn, potential students from underserved or rural communities – or who want to serve underserved or rural communities – are exposed to UNMC.
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Hayley Faber |
The program is a key component of UNMC’s mission to build a strong, diversified applicant pool for the Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry. Dozens of SMDEP alumni are now medical or dental students at UNMC.
Students must apply directly to the national SMDEP program website. The application deadline is Thursday.
Student endorsement
First-year medical student Hayley Faber of Omaha is an alumna of SMDEP. She endorsed the program as a great opportunity.
“It was one of the best things I’ve done leading up to med school,” she said.
Expanded perspective
Faber said no one in her family is a doctor. But SMDEP not only validated her interest in medicine — it showed her why it was especially important in some communities.
“I didn’t know about health disparities or what that even meant,” she said. “But since then, that’s really been a driving factor for me.
“We got to see where the needs are, especially where minorities are needed in the health care workforce.”
A grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supports the program.