The New Jersey Medical School, in collaboration with the New Jersey Dental School, conducts a free, six-week intensive summer academic enrichment program to help minority and disadvantaged college students compete successfully for admission to medical and dental school. Both schools are part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).

The summer program is part of the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

The New Jersey Medical School is one of 12 sites participating in the program. The curriculum for each site includes:

• Instruction in the sciences, communications and study skills.
• Career development assistance.
• Experiences with clinical faculty in hospital and outpatient settings.

The New Jersey Medical School has participated in the RWJF program since summer 2001—initially under the name Minority Medical Education Program and later Summer Medical Education Program. Through 2005, the program was open only to pre-medical students; in the summer of 2006 it will also be open to pre-dental students.

Key Results: The New Jersey Medical School reported the following key results from the first two iterations of the program:

• 477 students participated in the summer enrichment sessions from 2001 to 2005.
• 26 percent of program participants through summer 2004—95 students out of 364—had entered medical school as of fall 2005.
• 16.5 percent of the program participants through summer 2004—60 students out of 364—have pursued careers in health professions other than medicine.