CUPID Summer Translational Oncology Program

Photo of 2020 CUPID program Participants

The mission of CUPID (Cancer in the Under-Privileged Indigent or Disadvantaged) to address the impending shortage of practicing oncologists within the US, and to cultivate an interest in cancer treatment and research among medical students who have not yet fully defined their career plans. The program receives more than 200 applications per year from medical schools that have no NCI-designated Cancer Center and regularly attracts students from HBCUs and University of Puerto Rico. The CUPID program, which has been extended to Indiana and Ohio State Universities, includes lab research experiences, didactic, and career development components. In the past eight years, 37% of students were URM, and 27% have entered oncology fields: radiation, surgical or medical specialties (Holmes et al. Int J Rad Oncol Biol Phys 2019).

Pathology Elective for Underrepresented in Medicine Students

A medical student elective clerkship specifically solicits from HBCUs to expand diversity in surgical and molecular pathology specialties. Six of 14 participating students have matched in pathology residency, all URM (Ware et al. Academic Pathology 2019).

Health Equity Elective for Underrepresented in Medicine Students

During the 2020 pandemic, a free virtual elective aimed at expanding diversity in Graduate Medical Education was launched with a curriculum dedicated to Health Equity. It hosted 41 visiting fourth year medical students in its first year and seven (17%) matched successfully to Johns Hopkins Hospital residency programs in 2021.

Applications are Open

Johns Hopkins Virtual Visiting Elective in Equitable Healthcare
2-week virtual elective held September 13-24, 2021 (Course will be held in EST)

Eligibility

US medical (MD or DO) students graduating in 2022
Underrepresented in medicine students are encouraged to apply
Applications may be found here: 
/som/offices/registrars/visiting-md/application
CV and short response questions are required
Course fee waiver will be available to accepted US medical students

‘Genes to Society’ Curriculum for Medical Students

The Johns Hopkins ‘Genes to Society’ curriculum is organized and taught by SKCCC Members; it covers a neoplasia thread that traces basic cancer biology to societal implications including disparities in cancer and palliative care. In addition, ~30 JH medical students (25% of each class) engage in research rotations with SKCCC Members, and half of the basic science projects are performed in SKCCC Member laboratories.