Shaiyan Sanchez '26 - Summer Health Professions Education Program at Howard University

This summer I was able to attend Howard University Summer Health Professions Education
Program. During this program I was able to gain knowledge from a Pre-Pharmacy aspect, Pre
Medicine, Pre Dental and Pre Nursing track. Through this internship I participated in multiple
courses like biochemistry, genetics, cultural competence, health ethics and policy along with
other workshops. I also was able to do clinical rotations in different departments such as
surgery, psychology, herbal pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy and more. This program helped me explore more options that are not really given or shown to you in college. We also got hands on training with suturing, CPR, intubations and tourniquets. SHPEP helped with my future plans because it showed me what I liked and what I didn't, along with sharing more information on different fields and expanding my mind on more opportunities.

One lesson that was really important to me that everyone should really hold onto is networking! I never realized how important it is until you are in those fields. It is okay to speak up and talk to people and just ask questions. During the month I did this internship I was able to speak and get contact information from doctors, pharmacists, graduate students, deans from Howard medical school and pharmacy school. Many students and doctors are extremely nice and if you communicate interest they are willing to help. I was able to attain powerpoints from graduate students who went through medical school and they shared so much information to help me on my journey. Lastly my peers helped me on my internship journey as well and helped me with my team building skills. My whole internship experience was amazing based of the network, connections and clinical experience I was able to achieve.