The Dr. June Jackson Christmas College Enrichment Program

Supported by the APA SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program

Overview

The Dr. June Jackson Christmas College Enrichment Program offers an opportunity for college students who identify as historically underrepresented in medicine to gain exposure to psychiatric patient care by participating in a clinical program at Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry. With an emphasis on community psychiatry, students will be exposed to multiple aspects of mental health treatment through rotations in a community outpatient clinic and the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP). Along with engagement in clinical experiences, students will visit community mental health sites and attend didactics.

Students will shadow and learn from a multidisciplinary team of medical students, residents, attendings, social workers, psychologists, and case managers. Students will learn about mental health disorders, treatment options and considerations as well as clinical skills such as conducting patient interviews and performing assessments.

Program Dates:January 21st to May 9th, 2025

Application Opening Date:Friday, October 11th, 2024

Application Deadline:Thursday, December 5th, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST

Eligibility

Program Requirements

Applicants will be considered on an individual basis with special consideration given to those applicants who:

  • Were the first in their family to attend college
  • Grew up in a single parent household
  • Have, either as a result of their socio-economic background, their status as a member of an historically underrepresented group in college, their disability status, their LGBTQ status, or other challenging life experiences, overcome obstacles on their journey to college
  • Have lived or volunteered in a diverse environment
  • Have an interest in mental health and serving historically under-resourced communities

To be eligible college students must:

  • Be enrolled in a college/university in New York City, NY
  • Be a current sophomore, junior, or senior with pre-medical interests
  • Be in good academic standing at their current university with a GPA of at least a 3.2
  • Agree to participate in all surveys as part of the program’s evaluation
  • Participate in a virtual or in person interview if requested
  • Be available to participate in the program at least 8-10 hours a week
  • Agree that their participation in the JJC program will last through their Spring 2025 academic semester

Application Process and Deadline

Application Materials

All materials must be uploaded into the application portal:
https://rfmhhelp.nyspi.org/EducationPortal

  • Official College Transcript
  • Curriculum Vitae: Please include an updated version of your CV as part of this application.
  • Statement of Interest: Please write an essay describing your interest in mental health and in this program. Your essay should include your interests within the field of mental health, any relevant skills, courses, experiences, research, or volunteer work, as well as your career interests and how this program might assist you in your professional goals.
  • A letter of good standing from an academic dean from your current university.  
  • If available, a copy of your Spring 2025 class schedule
  • Optional letters of reference: Reference letters are not required, but if you would like to include letters of reference as part of your application, up to two letters may be included in your application.

Contact

If you have any questions, please reach out to:

Oluwatofunmi Oshodi, MD
Email: oluwatofunmi.oshodi@nyspi.columbia.edu