SHPEP empowers future health professionals

A cohort of 20 pre-dentistry, 20 pre-nursing, and 40 pre-med students converged on UTHealth Houston this summer for the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), a free six-week experience designed specifically for college freshmen and sophomores interested in dentistry, medicine, and nursing.

The program provides academic enrichment, career development, and mentorship. It also helps students build the confidence, skills, and support networks they need to succeed in their future health care careers.

Established by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the program recently concluded with a graduation celebration on July 11.

“SHPEP has been an outstanding recruitment initiative, significantly contributing to our pipeline of future health care professionals,” said Asia Bright, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “Through this program, several of our students have gained valuable early exposure to the health professions and are now proudly joining the ranks of our current dentistry, nursing, and medical students. Their success is a testament to the program’s impact. We look forward to seeing how these future leaders will shape the future of health care.”

Originally launched as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program, the Summer Health Professions Education Program has a 30-year legacy of shaping the academic and professional paths of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Today, the program has broadened its scope to include not only medicine and dentistry but also nursing, pharmacy, public health, and physician assistant careers, further providing a wide-ranging look into various health professions.

The Summer Health Professions Education Program is a collaborative effort between UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, McGovern Medical School, and Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston.

To learn more, visit the Summer Health Professions Education Program website.