Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative

The Program:

• Is for college sophomores, juniors, seniors or recent graduates. Priority consideration will be given to pathway participants.
• Is an eight-week program designed to provide a laboratory research enrichment experience.
• Is for students who are interested in a career in medicine, dental medicine or biomedical research and for applicants who have completed some college coursework in biology and chemistry (preferably through organic chemistry).
• Is devoted to approximately 40 hours per week of work on a research project.
• Provides housing, meals, and a stipend.

The selected student will identify a faculty sponsor. Faculty develops and makes available suitable project descriptions. The student contacts his/her faculty sponsor in April or May and develops a research protocol. Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) students are encouraged to apply.

Handbook

Important Dates

• February 16, 2025: Submission date for all applications. All applications must be submitted by midnight February 16 to be considered for admission.
• February 16, 2025: Submission date for all supporting documents. All supporting documents must be received by February 16 to be considered for admission.
• May 27, 2025: First day of program.
• July 18, 2025: Last day of program.

Application Criteria

All Applicants Should:

• Be from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the health professions (African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Native Alaskan, Native Hawaiian) or others from disadvantaged backgrounds who meet all eligibility criteria and have a high probability of fulfilling the social and educational goals of this program.
• Be college sophomores, juniors, seniors or recent graduates of pre-professional programs with a ‘B+’ average or better (Science GPA of 3.2 or better and Overall GPA of 3.3 or better) who are interested in a career in medicine, dental medicine, or biomedical research.
• Have completed some college coursework in biology and chemistry (preferably through organic chemistry).
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

How to Apply

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions before submitting your application. Please also review this application template to preview the questions and items needed for your online application.

• Submit a completed online application electronically.
• Submit supplemental material electronically with online application submission.

• • Score reports for all exams taken: SAT, PEAU, ACT, GRE and MCAT/DAT.
  • An official transcript from each college or university attended.*
  • Two letters of recommendation (at least one from a science instructor) submitted directly by recommenders via specified link.
  • Provide a copy of your Federal Income Tax Form 1040 or equivalent for the current tax year – only page reflecting number of dependents and adjusted gross income (submit 1040 when completed and filed).

Note: Only completed applications with supplemental materials submitted through the online application system will be reviewed.

* Only official transcripts as e-scripts will be submitted to hcop@uchc.edu. Official transcripts that cannot be submitted as an e-script can be sent by postal mail (please see FAQs for instructions on how to mail transcripts).

Contact

Kerry-Ann Stewart, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-3920
Email: hcop@uchc.edu

Jan Figueroa
Administrative Program Assistant
Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-3920
Email: jfigueroa@uchc.edu