In 1868, at the official dedication of Cornell University, Ezra Cornell stated, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." The Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, together Weill Cornell Medicine, The Rockefeller University, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, works to promote an educational community where everyone feels welcome, included, and valued.
Over 30 years ago, Tri-I recognized the need to diversify the physician-scientist workforce and, in response, founded the Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program. In addition to exposing undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds to the physician-scientist pathway, Gateways brings the Tri-I community together each summer, with over half of our student population participating as laboratory mentors, Big Sibs, Journal Club coordinators, workshop facilitators, clinical instructors, mock interviewers, and more. Gateways is woven into Tri-I’s culture and represents its commitment to expanding representation amongst physician-scientists.
Tri-I has three affinity groups to build community and foster safe spaces for our students and their allies: the Tri-Institutional Association for Women in Science and Medicine (Tri-I AWSM), the Association for Diverse Physician-Scientists in Training (ADePT), and the Queer Initiative for Physician-Scientists (QUIPS). In addition, Weill Cornell hosts numerous Diversity Communities, including the Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA), the Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS), Black and Latino Men in Medicine (BLMIM), the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), the Q! Queer Health Alliance, White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL), and Women in Medicine (WIM).
For more information on the work that each of our institutions is undertaking to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit:
Weill Cornell’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Weill Cornell’s Office of Institutional Equity
The Rockefeller University’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Recruitment
Tri-I prioritizes recruiting and retaining students from underrepresented backgrounds. This includes individuals from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine and science, individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Tri-I leadership and students regularly attend conferences and graduate and professional school fairs. Please visit our booth for more information about our program. We also give talks (virtually and in-person) at colleges and universities. If you would like us to speak at your institution, please reach out to us at mdphd@med.cornell.edu.
Check out our upcoming events to see where we will be recruiting and presenting.