The Abramson Cancer Center welcomes applications from rising high school juniors and seniors to the Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology program, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA).
SHE in Oncology is an introduction to cancer biology and the wide range of careers available in cancer research, clinical care, and patient support. This two week online program, supported by the American Cancer Society (ACS) since 2021, provides the opportunity to network with peers and faculty from our partner sites hosting their own SHE in Oncology programs: Universities of Texas at Austin, Kentucky, Chicago, and Michigan.
2025 Program Information
Activities
- Talks by national experts on contemporary challenges in cancer-related careers
- Interactive panels with clinicians, laboratory scientists, healthcare professionals and community ambassadors who discuss their cancer-related professions and the pathways taken to achieve them
- Live laboratory instruction with an at-home experiment kit for research on nutrition
- Small group sessions with peers from across Philadelphia schools and Penn graduate student mentors
- Large group sessions with peers and faculty from all 5 participating sites
- Small group collaboration and presentation of 2 projects
Schedule
Friday, July 11: Welcome Event | 10:00am-1:00pm
Students will meet each other and participating Penn faculty in person at the American Cancer Society in Philadelphia and receive their welcome package.
Monday-Friday, July 14-25: SHE in Oncology | 9:30am-1:00pm
Students will meet online on Zoom each day for the two-week program which will include lectures, small group projects, and a hands-on science experiment with fruit flies. Research scientists and clinical staff will speak about their experience working in a cancer-related career.
Closing Event | 10:00am-1:00pm
TBD
2025 - 2026 School Year
Students will have various opportunities to meet virtually and in person to engage in cancer-related career exploration and network with undergraduates and post-baccalaureate scholars pursuing cancer research at UPenn.
Application
Application Deadline: April 4, 2025—Apply Today!
Acceptance is limited to rising juniors and seniors, with priority given to students enrolled in the School District of Philadelphia.
Preference will be given to applicants who will:
- be available to participate in the 2-week program from start to finish, 4 hrs./day
- pledge to engage in online activities and group discussions with their cameras on
- demonstrate their interest in entering a profession in the biomedical sciences, especially cancer/oncology
- proudly represent Philadelphia and generously contribute to group work with peers in Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, and Texas.
A $500 stipend will be awarded to each participant upon successful completion of the full 2-week program.
FAQs
Can I still apply if…
- I do not live in Philadelphia? Yes. However, priority will be given to students who live in Philadelphia.
- I am in 9th grade? No. We accept students who will be juniors or seniors during the 2025-2026 school year.
- I will be graduating from high school this year? No. We accept students who will be juniors or seniors during the 2025-2026 school year.
- I will be on vacation or enrolled in another program during part of SHE? No. Each day of SHE, students will be collaborating in teams to create projects that will be presented to the entire group at the end of each week. An absence for even one day can have a negative impact on teamwork.
- I cannot make it to the in-person events? The Welcome Event and Closing Event are optional, but preference will be given to applicants who are able to attend.
- I cannot commit to the activities throughout the school year? 100% attendance is not mandatory, but preference will be given to students who are interested in being an active member of the learning cohort by attending most if not all the enrichment activities.
Will this program help me get into UPenn?
Admission to SHE does not guarantee admission to another Penn program. However, the SHE experience makes a great addition to any resume.
How are stipends awarded?
The Abramson Cancer Center will issue payment to students upon successful completion of the two week program via a prepaid virtual Mastercard.