About the Gateways Program

Program Highlights

Every year, 15 students embark on a 10-week intensive journey of learning about the challenging and rewarding road of becoming a physician-scientist.

Over the summer, students will:

• Spend 10 weeks living and studying in New York City
• Work independently on a research project at Weill Cornell Medicine, The Rockefeller University, or Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Have on-going mentorship with a current MD-PhD student (a "Big Sib"), as well as with the Program's leadership
• Partake in Lab Techniques and Clinical Skills Workshops
• Present and participate in weekly journal clubs
• Participate in Career Development Workshops
• Scrub in on surgeries at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospitals
• Learn how to prepare oral, written, and poster presentations of their research
• Present Research at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium, Annual Gateways Symposium, and potentially other national and local meetings

Who Is Eligible To Apply?

• Current college freshmen and sophomores
• US citizens and permanent residents (proof of status is required)
• Members of groups historically underrepresented in medicine and science*:
• Individuals from racial and ethnic minorities
• Individuals from socioeconimically disadvantaged backgrounds
• Individuals with disabilities

*It is important that you explain how you identify with one or more of these groups in your application

For admissions information, see our Gateways Admissions page.

Financial Support and Housing

Students receive a $6,000 stipend, housing in Weill Cornell Medicine student housing (at no cost to them), and reimbursement for their travel expenses. 

Additionally, financial support is provided for family to travel to and stay in NYC in order to attend the final Symposium.

Important Dates

Applications for the 2022 Gateways Program must be submitted before February 1, 2022 via The Leadership Alliance.

The 2022 program will run June 6 through August 12, 2022.