The Dr. June Jackson Christmas First Year Medical Student Summer Clinical Fellowship

Supported by The Leon Levy Foundation.

Program Dates for Summer 2024

Monday, July 8th - Friday, August 9th

Overview

The Dr. June Jackson Christmas Medical Student Summer Clinical Fellowship offers a chance for medical students who belong to historically underrepresented groups to explore a career in psychiatry. The initiative is a five-week experience for medical students in the summer after completing their first year of medical school. Students will be exposed to the breadth of psychiatry with rotations through an inpatient psychiatry unit, a community outpatient clinic, the mobile crisis team, the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), and the consultation-liaison service. In addition, students will attend didactics in psychiatry and visit community mental health sites. The fellowship opportunity provides a $3,500 stipend for the 5 weeks of clinic experience.

Time Commitment

The expectation is that students will complete 5 consecutive weeks of the fellowship during the summer following acceptance into the fellowship.

Stipend Distribution

Fellowship stipends will be distributed in two $1,750 installments. The first disbursement will be at the onset of the summer fellowship. Upon meeting all program requirements, the last installment will be issued.

Eligibility

Fellowship 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 graduate school 
  • 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 medical school, their disability status, their LGBTQ status, or other challenging life experiences, overcome obstacles on their journey to medical school
  • Have lived or worked in a diverse environment
  • Have, through their education or work experience, demonstrated a commitment to serving historically underprivileged populations. 

To be eligible medical students must:

  • Have begun medical school in 2023 and expect to finish their first year by June 2024
  • Be in good academic standing at their current medical school
  • Agree that their participation in JJC fellowship will last 5 consecutive weeks
  • Agree to participate in all surveys as part of the program’s evaluation
  • Participate in a virtual interview if requested

Application Process and Deadline

Application Materials

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

  • Curriculum Vitae: Please include an updated version of your CV as part of this application.
  • Statement of Interest: Please write a single-spaced essay of no fewer than 400 words and no more than 800 words on why you are applying to this program. You should include any special careers interests that you would like to pursue in the future and how this program would assist with you meeting those goals, as well as, additional skills and experiences that you may want to highlight that could add to your experience or those of others in the program. Please indicate anything else you consider relevant such as language proficiency, psychiatry and/or psychology courses taken among other things.
  • Letters of Reference: 2 letters of references from individuals who are closely acquainted with your educational, volunteer, and/or work experience over the last 4 years.
  • Medical School Letter: A letter of good standing from the Dean of Students at your current medical school. Letter should also confirm that you can participate in the entire 5-week program. 

Application Deadline: Midnight EST on February 29, 2024.

Applications received after the deadline will be considered on availability.

Contact

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact:

Patrice K. Malone, MD PhD
Email: pkw2105@cumc.columbia.edu