Summer program builds health career pathways
Photo by UTHealth Houston
Seventy-eight aspiring healthcare professionals spent six weeks at UTHealth Houston this summer gaining hands-on experience and a closer look at careers in dentistry, medicine, and nursing through the Summer Health Professions Education Program.
This year’s cohort included 20 predentistry, 20 prenursing, and 38 pre-med college freshmen and sophomores, who received academic enrichment, career development, and mentorship designed to help them build the confidence, skills, and professional networks needed to succeed in future healthcare careers.
This nationwide initiative, which concluded with the graduation of the 2026 cohort on July 10, has been a collaborative effort at UTHealth Houston between UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, and Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston.
“While I am saddened to see SHPEP come to an end, I am excited about the opportunity to develop new programs that will inspire and prepare college students pursuing careers in healthcare,” said Asia Bright, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at McGovern Medical School and executive director of Student Affairs at UTHealth Houston. “Investing in future healthcare professionals early is essential to building a stronger and more innovative healthcare workforce. By creating meaningful opportunities for students to explore, learn, and grow, we are investing not only in their success, but also in the future health of our communities.”
Originally launched more than 30 years ago as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program, the program was established by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and had expanded to include nursing, pharmacy, public health, and physician assistant tracks, offering a broader view of health professions to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The 2026 cohort marked the final year of the nationwide program in its current form after more than three decades. National partners are exploring future pathways to continue the foundation’s mission.
