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Summer Medical Student Program (SMSP)

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is committed to fostering diversity in the psychiatric workforce, and is working to engage people from different cultures, backgrounds and perspectives as future leaders in psychiatry. The APA's Summer Medical Student Program (SMSP) is designed to champion diversity, build an inclusive psychiatric workforce, broaden medical student’s understanding of psychiatry and their career options, and prepare future leaders to successfully enter the field of psychiatry.

In SMSP, medical students will be exposed to various psychiatric subfields and receive mentorship from psychiatric residents who can assist them through experiential advice on academic and professional goal setting. Participants will also receive learning and development opportunities and networking opportunities.

APA encourages interested students to apply, particularly individuals from groups that have been shown by the National Science Foundation to be underrepresented in health-related sciences on a national basis including Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. Funding is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Application submissions are now open. The deadline for applying is Saturday, March 1, 2025.

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Program Benefits

  • $500 textbook allowance through APA Publishing
  • APA Learning Center pathway on cultural competency
  • Financial Support to attend the APA Annual Meeting
  • Month-long speaker educational series featuring eight lectures from world renowned psychiatrists
  • Educational & Networking Opportunities with APA Leadership & APA Fellows

Number of Awards

50

Program Term

May 1, 2025 - July 31, 2025

Requirements

  • Complete online application
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement of Interest (not to exceed one-page) explaining how the medical student program will impact the applicants's career 
  • Letter from the medical school's Dean's Office or Registrar's Office indicating the applicant is a medical student in good academic standing

Criteria / Eligibility

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. medical school. You must maintain your active enrollment status for the duration of the program
  • Ability to commit to the duration of the program

Nomination / Application Details

Apply Today

Deadline

March 1, 2025

Notification

April 23, 2025

Contact

American Psychiatric Association
SAMHSA Minority Fellowships Team
General Email: [email protected]
Program Coordinator Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer

**Participants in the APA Summer Medical Student Program will have their awards managed internally as opposed to receiving funds via direct deposit.**

Program participants will have their registration, airfare, and lodging to the APA Annual Meeting organized and paid for by APA via its online travel system. Following the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, and upon the timely submission of receipts, students will be reimbursed for allowable expenses associated with attending the conference (i.e. meals and local transportation that were not prepaid by APA).

Concerning the APA Publishing certificates, students will identify which books they would like. Concerning the APA Learning Center pathway, students will have required courses and several electives to choose from.

 

2024 SMSP Participants

  • Aditya Shah – Central Michigan University School of Medicine
  • Adrienne, Carter – Meharry Medical College
  • Ahmed Nahian – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill
  • Alvin Gordin Arroyo – University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
  • Anabel Lin – Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
  • Angela Lu – Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Ankit Jain – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Antonette Davids – Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
  • Areeb Choudhry – Texas University Health Science Center at El Paso, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
  • Aryana Rasti – Midwestern University - Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Ashlyn Chea – University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
  • Brianna Ali – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Cecilia Delmer – Morehouse School of Medicine
  • Chinwendu Maduegbunam – Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Christian Nolan – Howard University College of Medicine
  • Clarence Alexis – Morehouse School of Medicine
  • Daniela Hernandez Cruz – Ponce Health Sciences University
  • Donovan Dennis – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
  • Ericka Westbrook – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicne - South Georgia
  • Fabiola Umpierre – Universidad Central del Caribe
  • Hanaiah Morris – LSU Health Science Center – Shreveport
  • Henna Ali – Creighton University School of Medicine
  • Holliday Maxwell – Howard University College of Medicine
  • Inkyu Kang – Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
  • Jenny Lee – Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School
  • Jessica Brinson – Howard University College of Medicine
  • Jessica Arizmendi De La Torre – University of California, Irvine
  • Joshua Lewis – University of Texas Medical Branch
  • Joshua Fouladian – University of Miami – Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
  • Jourdon Robinson – Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Jowan Watson – Harvard Medical School
  • Juan Jimenez – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
  • Katrina Hayes – University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
  • Kevin Hanson – Howard University College of Medicine
  • Lauren Terry – Sidney Kimmel Medical College
  • Leah Thomas – Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
  • Lucas Marques – Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • Matthew Gold – University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix
  • Mary Whiteside – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Michael Liu – Weill Cornell Medicine
  • Michelle Dong – Keck School of Medicine of USC
  • Nesreen Abu Khalaf – Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Noah Baltrushes – University of California Riverside School of Medicine
  • Ogenna Chike – Howard University College of Medicine
  • Oluwateniola Faleti – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Parisa Thepmankorn – New Jersey Medical School
  • Peter Park – Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University
  • Pooja Amin – Des Moines University
  • Rachael Oyebade – Howard University College of Medicine
  • Raven Simmons – Drexel University College of Medicine
  • Samuel Chen – University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
  • Shana Ofori – Creighton University School of Medicine
  • Sira Nakwaasah – University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
  • Skyy Wheat – Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Louisiana
  • Sonali Doshi – University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
  • Sravya Dhanwada – University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Stellamaris Ohakamnu – University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Sumaiya Ahmed – Howard University College of Medicine
  • Tahia Karim – Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Vivian Wang – Harvard Medical School

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