Free summer program at UCLA to promote careers in health, medicine

Students interested in health careers can now apply to attend a free six-week summer program.

Students can apply to the UCLA Summer Health Professions Education Program until March 1. The program, which will be hosted by the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and the UCLA School of Dentistry, aims to encourage underprivileged students to explore various health careers.

[Related: UCLA establishes new program for international pre-health students]

The program will provide students with lectures and give students experience in clinical work and research projects. Students will learn about various health care problems and attend career and financial workshops, according to UCLA SHPEP’s website. UCLA will accept 80 current first-year, second-year or community college students on a rolling basis.

Kyle Espiritu, a first-year psychobiology student, said he thinks the grant will benefit underprivileged students interested in health professions.

“I think the program would encourage people to look into these careers,” Espiritu said. He added that it will put a weight off of people who could not afford to otherwise attend similar programs.

Jovanna Brinck, a first-year English student, said she thinks the money could be better spent on more diverse options, but that the grant will still help students.

“I personally feel like the medical industry is hyped up enough and the money might be better used for less popular majors,” Brinck said.

Mudra Choudhury, a bioinformatics doctoral student, said she doesn’t need to apply to the grant but thinks it is a good use of money for students who have not gotten opportunities elsewhere.