Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program

In 1993, the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program was the first MD-PhD Program in the country to establish a summer program for undergraduates with a focus on the clinician-scientist pathway. 

As of 2024, 384 students have “graduated” from Gateways. Over 90% of Gateways alumni have either earned are pursuing an MD, MD-PhD, or PhD degree, including 23 who have graduated from or are currently enrolled at Tri-I.

ABRCMS 2024 group pic

Program Highlights

Every year, 15 students spend nine weeks on our tri-institutional campus learning about the rewards and challenges of becoming a physician-scientist.

Over the summer, Gateways students will:

  • Spend 9 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
  • Receive guidance from a current MD-PhD student (a "Big Sib")
  • Participate in clinical skills and professional development workshops
  • Participate and present in weekly journal clubs
  • Shadow physicians at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Volunteer at a community outreach program
  • Give oral and poster presentations about their research at The Leadership Alliance National Symposium and the final Gateways Symposium

students community clinic

Financial Support and Housing

Gateways participants are housed on the Weill Cornell campus, steps away from their research labs. Participants receive a $5,500 stipend, as well as reimbursement for travel to and from NYC.

Important Dates

Applications for the 2025 Gateways Program must be submitted before February 3, 2025 via The Leadership Alliance.

*The 2025 program will run for 8 weeks from June 9 through July 31, 2025.

Watch the video below to hear the some students from the 2019 Gateways class sing the praises of their experiences at the Tri-I. 



The Olaf S. Andersen Physician-Scientist Award was created by the Incoming Class of 2017 to honor the legacy of Dr. Olaf Andersen, who was Director from 1996 until 2021. Each year, MD-PhD students in their 3rd year of medical school are nominated by their peers and mentors for the award, with the recipient chosen by the Executive Committee. The award, in addition to the honor and prestige it brings, comes with a $3,000 prize.
The Class of 2024 is the largest class in Tri-I history! The 21 students who entered the residency match matched at leading programs and institutions in the country, including Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, Weill Cornell, and Yale.We have:

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