Pathways of Opportunity
The process of eliminating health care disparities begins on many fronts, not the least of which is creating a robust pathway of opportunities for students to become tomorrow's health care leaders.
The Michigan Health Sciences Pre-College Exposure Academy is a free, hybrid program. SPEA is intended for highly motivated high school students in the 10th or 11th grade. Students gain exposure to University of Michigan healthcare professionals. The SPEA curriculum is aligned with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Core Competencies, which are fundamental to preparing students to be healthcare professionals. If you have questions regarding SPEA, please contact [email protected].
- Program Dates: Monday, July 7, 2025 to Friday, August 1, 2025
- Mondays-Thursdays: Virtual SAT prep course (10 am - 12 pm) and interactive professional development workshops (2 pm - 4 pm)
- Fridays, July 11, July 18, July 25, and August 1st: On-campus from 9 am - 5 pm
- Application Deadline: Friday, February 7, 2025 at 11:59 pm
- Application Link: https://umhs.smapply.io/
NOTE: Please register by creating your own username and password.
- US citizens or permanent residents
- In the 10th or 11th grade at the time of application submission
- Interest in medicine, biomedical research, or health equity
- A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Applicants from historically marginalized populations and/or underserved communities are encouraged to apply
- Exposure to the University of Michigan
- A study course with extensive SAT preparation
- Workshops in biomedical science, health equity, college preparedness, and academic wellbeing
- Mentoring from undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff
- Exposure to leadership and professional development training
The goal of SPEA is to develop future leaders in health science, diversifying and transforming the medical field. The first step in planning for the future is making sure you are ready for the challenges that lie ahead.
SPEA is an entry-level, academic enrichment program designed primarily for youth who have an interest in addressing health equity issues and come from populations underrepresented in medicine and medically under-served areas.
The Office for Health Equity and Inclusion has hosted the Michigan Health Sciences Summer Institute, also known as MHSSI, for over 10 years. Check out a preview of our programs!
The Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI) partners with approximately 30 Michigan Medicine departments annually to host the Youth Summit at the 'Big House' in May. This regional outreach event is aimed at engaging and exposing middle school students from schools across southeast Michigan to Michigan Medicine health care teams, units and departments. The Youth Summit provides opportunities for participants to engage with practitioners through hands-on simulations, personal connections, and curated resources in preparation for medical career paths.
In an effort to provide more long-term support to middle school students, the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI) has developed the Middle School Math & Health Sciences Program. In partnership with Ypsilanti Community Middle School (YCMS) and the U-M community, we provide mathematics-focused support for middle school students through one-on-one or small group mentoring and academic coaching throughout the school year.
U-M undergraduate and graduate students serve as Student Success Coaches, coaching and mentoring sixth- and seventh-graders and working alongside middle school math teachers to regularly assess students’ math progress. We recognize the importance of curricula that create safe, affirming, engaging and humanizing spaces for all students. To ensure our curriculum connects students’ identities, backgrounds and experiences, we partnered with the School of Education to ground our work in culturally relevant pedagogy.
Beyond receiving weekly math support, numerous times throughout the semester, youth are introduced to health science topics and professions, participating in hands-on learning experiences and engaging discussions with University of Michigan faculty, staff and students. Health science sessions expose students to a wide array of professions and increase their understanding of the pathways to obtaining those careers
