Join Our RYSE MED Program!

Applications are closed for the 2024-2025 RYSE MED Cohort. Please check back for details on next year's program in February 2025.

Will you be a rising junior or senior in high school this summer? We need bright, young minds like yours to help us improve our community’s health. We encourage you to apply to our RYSE MED (Readying Youth Scientists for Excellence in Medicine, Health Equity and Discovery) program, which aims to support students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine and who face structural barriers to pursuing careers in healthcare and research.

During this six-week intensive summer program and academic year activities, you'll learn about the many careers you can pursue in healthcare, from doctors to researchers and so much more. We are excited to support you on your journey to making a positive impact on the healthcare field — and on people’s lives.

Learn more about RYSE MED from Dr. Martina Caldwell, Medical Director of Diversity and Inclusion.

RYSE MED At A Glance

During the RYSE MED program you will:

Shadow physicians, nurses, researchers, and other clinicians and learn medical skills with simulations, virtual reality clinical scenarios, and workshops.
Hone your academic, professional and leadership skills.
Develop college success skills and receive career advice.
Embark upon long-term mentor relationships with researchers and clinicians, along with students in college and beyond studying medical and research careers.
Participate in community-building activities to foster connections with your mentors and gain inspiration from the community you live in.
Learn about a variety of health and research topics with an emphasis on health equity.
Create a 10- to 15-minute group presentation on a health equity topic that impacts you, your family or community.

In-person program activities will be held at Henry Ford Hospital (2799 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit MI 48202) and One Ford Place in Detroit.

RYSE MED is supported by undergraduate, graduate, and medical students pursuing healthcare clinical and research careers. If you are interested in being a RYSE MED mentor, learn more here.

Take a look at highlights from previous RYSE MED high school scholars and student mentors.

RYSE MED High School Scholar Requirements

To be considered as a RYSE MED high school scholar, you must:

Attend a high school in the metro Detroit area.
Be a 10th or 11th-grade student at the time of application (11th and 12th grade the next academic year). Mature 9th-grade students (who will be 10th-graders during the next academic year) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students must be in good academic standing, meaning a cumulative and most recent semester GPA at or above 2.0. Students with cumulative or most recent semester GPAs between 2.0 and 2.5 will require further evaluation to assess academic readiness for the program.
Have membership in a racial and ethnic group that is underrepresented in medicine and research or face significant structural barriers to healthcare career opportunities (e.g., family with limited financial resources, first-generation college educated, immigrant, etc.)
Be eligible to work in the United States and obtain a work permit if under the age of 18 years.
Be able to participate in the program for its entire duration. No absences will be allowed outside of unexpected and unavoidable events.
Not have participated in previous cohorts of RYSE MED or its predecessor programs.

2024 RYSE MED Program Dates

The summer immersion program will run in person June 30 – August 9, 2024 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9AM to 5PM, with a few important exceptions noted below. Students should also be available on Mondays and Fridays throughout the program for self-directed activities such as shadowing, project work, mentoring circles, etc.

Exception: The program will be in session on Monday, July 1, to offset the July 4th holiday on Thursday.

Other mandatory activities that scholars must attend include:

Onboarding & Expectations Virtual Orientation: Week of April 29
HFH Employee Virtual Orientation: Monday, June 24
In-person Program Welcome: Sunday, June 30 from 2-4 PM (time of event subject to change)
Closing Celebration: Friday, August 9 from 5-9 PM

A parent or guardian must attend all mandatory activities listed above except the Henry Ford Health employee orientation.

Please Note: After the summer program is concluded, you will continue to meet with other RYSE MED scholars and your mentors at least monthly during the academic year. Some scholars will be invited to participate in specialized tracks that focus on ongoing research or clinical skills development throughout the year.

Stipends may be available for high school students who participate.

Interested in being a RYSE MED Mentor? Check out our RYSE MED Student Mentor page for more information and to apply.

From the RYSE MED Class of 2023

“Coming into work was truly a fun experience for me. I learned so much in such a short time. I am truly honored to have met you all and to have had the opportunity to become a mentor. Your
wisdom has been incredibly valuable to me, and I am grateful for the insights you shared."

- Vivica Addrow
RYSE MED Student Mentor
From the RYSE MED Class of 2023

"The priceless lessons I have learned from my mentors (Undergraduate, Medical School, and Staff alike) will forever be priceless and cherished throughout my daily life."

- Waverly Taylor
RYSE MED High School Scholar
From the RYSE MED Class of 2023

“This program has opened so many doors and opportunities not only for the high school scholars but for the mentors as well. Being a part of RYSE MED allowed me to realize that I do not have to wait to help those on a similar path.”

- Janae Martin
RYSE MED Student Mentor
From the RYSE MED Class of 2023

“I don’t think that I can explain how big of an impact that this program has had on my life and will continue to have on my life for years to come. Not only did I gain education, I gained motivation, friends, life lessons , mentors , connections , and much more.”

- Kayla Caldwell
RYSE MED High School Scholar
From the RYSE MED Class of 2023

“Through RYSE MED Program, I have had the opportunity to see surgery, perform CPR, shadow multiple doctors, speak with trained physicians, and hear about their experiences. These experiences have broadened my horizons and equipped me with invaluable skills and insights that will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors.”

- Blake Perrin
RYSE MED High School Scholar
From the RYSE MED Class of 2022

“Henry Ford opened doors for me. It gave me a great opportunity to start my dream because I was always looking for these opportunities in healthcare. My favorite activity was CPR because I didn’t know anything about it. Now, when I see a case like that, I can participate and support others.”

- Dieynaba Sow
RYSE MED High School Scholar
From the RYSE MED Class of 2022

“Helping these brilliant students foster their own relationship with the medical community and building their confidence to know that they are worthy of a seat at the table is such a beautiful experience.”

- Ariel Walker
RYSE MED Student Mentor
From the RYSE MED Class of 2022

“I think biggest impact of the program for me was the small session mentoring. They lifted the titles and professions of the physicians and allowed the entire group to connect as humans.”

- Mohammad Muntakim
RYSE MED Student Mentor
From the RYSE MED Class of 2022

“I learned good communication skills, how to present to an audience, and I learned about people in our program and their experiences, and I think I will take that with me.”

- Lindsay Royston
RYSE MED High School Scholar
From the RYSE MED Class of 2022

“I am grateful for how much effort was put into the program and how many people took time out of their day to come talk to us.”

- Zavier Jackson
RYSE MED High School Scholar

Program Sponsors

RYSE MED Heroes

Ford Motor Company Fund
Teleflex
LabCorp
Frederiek and Cynthia Toney
Denise Brooks-Williams
Travis and Shannon Brown
Resolute Educational Solutions
Oxford Medical Simulations
American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM)

RYSE MED Champions

Dr. Jonathan Braman
The Detroit White House
Harry Cohen, Board Chair of Friends of the Children Detroit

Past Donors

Michigan College Access Network (2022)
Moderna (2023)

Donate

Contact Us

Please contact us at hfmgodi@hfhs.org if you have any questions. Thank you again for your interest!

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