Summer Programs Prepare Students for Medical/Dental Careers

High school seniors and college students interested in pursuing careers as physicians or dentists are eligible to participate in summer programs at the University of Kentucky offered through its Professional Education Preparation Program. The UK PEPP Scholars Summer Program, designed for students from medically underserved areas, is open to high school seniors. The PEPP II Medical and Dental School Preparation Program is open to students who have completed at least two years of college. Selected participants will stay on the UK campus, interacting with UK physicians and dentists, and participating in weekly hospital rotations, health seminars and other educational experiences. PEPP Scholars will take enrichment classes and learn about surgery and labor and delivery. PEPP II students prepare for the admissions process to medical or dental school and learn about surgery, labor and delivery, emergency medicine, pediatrics and outpatient surgery. Students interested in careers in dentistry have rotations in the UK dental clinics, including oral/maxillofacial surgery and the dental emergency clinic. Seminar topics in both programs include medical admissions, dental admissions, cancer, organ transplants, rural medicine, autopsy/pathology, Alzheimer’s disease, medical mission trips, gross anatomy lecture and lab, ethics, and compassion. Visits to area hospitals, camps for special-needs children, a psychiatric hospital, and a children's hospital are included in the weekly activities. Recreational activities include sports, music, and dining out at restaurants. Eligible students who are selected to participate receive dormitory housing and a stipend for meals. The deadline to apply for the PEPP Scholars is Feb 14. Students do not have to attend the University of Kentucky to be eligible to participate in either program. However, to be eligible, an applicant must be a resident of one of the following Kentucky counties: Adair, Allen, Anderson, Ballard, Barren, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Crittenden, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Grayson, Green, Greenup, Hancock, Harlan, Hart, Henry, Hickman, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, LaRue, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Livingston, Lewis, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, McLean, McCreary, Meade, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nicholas, Ohio, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Todd, Trigg, Trimble, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Whitley or Wolfe. For more information or to request an application, call Mr. Ryan Kennedy at the University of Kentucky at (859) 257-1968.