Stanford-REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program

In Summer 2024, the REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program invited 55 mentees from Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine to campus to conduct research with mentors across 18 different departments and institutes. We're honored to have had mentees from all four of our nations Historically Black Medical Colleges with us for our 8-week program and look forward to another successful summer in 2025!

Check out photos from our events below:

Resources

  • FAQs
  • Applications for Summer 2025 open on December 1, 2024. Prospective candidates are encouraged to reach out to their respective HBMC faculty with questions.
  • Contact Us: hbmc-reach@stanford.edu

The engagement of trainees from Historically Black Medical Colleges (HBMC’s) is building upon the pilot launched by Presence (a Center at Stanford Medicine) and the Department of Medicine, under the leadership of Dr. Abraham Verghese and Sonoo Thadaney Israni in 2017. Today, the program is under The Racial Equity to Advance a Community of Health (REACH) Initiative. The REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program expectations:

  • 8-week, full-time, on-campus research program
  • Rising second-year medical students from Charles Drew University College of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine are matched with Stanford Medicine faculty mentors for a bi-directional research experience
  • Meharry Medical College students receive academic credit from their institution
  • Program events allow REACH-HBMC mentees to network with residency program directors and residents as well as partake in CV/resume workshops
  • Mentees receive a stipend

 

History of the Program

In the summer of 2021, Presence was joined by the Departments of Radiology and Pathology, and virtually hosted 23 summer trainees in 23 labs. Each trainee received a stipend, was paired with a faculty lab, and earned academic credit at Meharry based on a published paper, report, poster, et al. See the 2018 reflections and 2021 stories.

In 2022, REACH and funding from Stanford Medicine departments and institutes expanded the program, and we welcomed 48 candidates from Meharry Medical College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Howard University College of Medicine. They were mentored by labs and mentors across the School of Medicine. See 2022 reflection.

In 2023, the REACH-HBMC Program welcomed 57 mentees from Meharry, Morehouse, and Howard and their mentors spanned 17 Stanford Medicine departments and institutes. See 2023 reflections.

REACH-HBMC Core TEAM

Abraham Verghese, MD, MACP
Founder and Faculty Director, REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program
Sonoo Thadaney Israni
Director, REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program
Aria Small
Program Manager, REACH-HBMC Research Program
Payam Massaband
Faculty Advisor, REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program
Magali Fassiotto
Advisor, REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program
Pedram Fatehi
Faculty Advisor, REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program
Clinton Louie
Communications Officer, REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program

HBMC Leadership

John Stubbs III, PhD
Howard University College of Medicine
Erica Sutton, MD
Morehouse School of Medicine
Cinnamon Bradley, MD
Morehouse School of Medicine
Arthur Gomez, MD
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
Minu Chaudhuri, PhD
Meharry Medical College
Byeongwoon Song, PhD
Meharry Medical College
Helen Ovsepyan, JD, MPH, PhD
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

We are grateful for the funding, mentorship, and support of Stanford Medicine Department and Institute Chairs!