Residency Training Program

Funded Visiting Electives for Students Underrepresented in Medicine

The University of Washington (UW)/Seattle Children’s Hospital is excited to solicit applications for our funded visiting rotation! As the first pediatric-specific visiting diversity student program created in 2005, we are excited to invite you to join us!

Program Description

Funded medical student rotations in Pediatrics will be available at Seattle Children's Hospital from June through December 2023 for qualified applicants who are planning to apply to pediatric residencies and are from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in medicine. This includes students who identify as African American/Black, Alaska Native, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino/a/e, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders, Southeast Asian, particularly sub-groups with histories of displacement and resulting diasporas, and students with minoritized gender identities. If you identify as belonging to an underrepresented minoritized group not listed here, please contact us to discuss on a case-by-case basis. Funding includes up to $2,500 for reimbursement of travel, housing, meals and application fees.

Students will spend four weeks either on one of the ward teams or Hematology/Oncology services at Seattle Children's Hospital as an acting intern or as a Nephrology elective student caring for patients in the clinic and on the wards. Other subspecialty electives may be considered based on availability. Students completing an acting internship will do three weeks of day shifts and one week of night shifts.

Visiting students will be paired with a resident and faculty mentor based on their stated interests and interact with residents and faculty who are part of our Residency Diversity Committee. In addition, applicants chosen for the program are guaranteed an interview for our residency in Pediatrics at the UW.

Application Requirements

Applicants for the funded positions must come from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in medicine. This includes students who identify as African American/Black, Alaska Native, American Indian, Hispanic/Latino/a/e, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders, Southeast Asian, particularly sub-groups with histories of displacement and resulting diasporas, and students with minoritized gender identities. Applicants must provide the following:

  • Brief statement of interest in pediatrics and the visiting rotation at Seattle Children's Hospital (250-word limit)
  • One letter of recommendation, preferably from a pediatric attending
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Official medical school transcript
  • Completed Diversity Funded Elective Application (DOCX)

We are now accepting applications. The application deadline is September 8, 2023. However, the program utilizes a rolling admission process in which students are accepted or waitlisted at the time of their submission of a complete application.

Applications will be reviewed by members of the Residency Diversity Committee. Applicants who are accepted for a funded rotation must also apply to and be accepted by the UW Visiting Student Program. Interested students should review that program's requirements.

Applicants not selected for the funded rotation may still apply for unfunded acting internships and electives.

We are happy to answer questions regarding our program and connect you with individuals with shared interest from our residency diversity committee. Please email us with questions (subject line: Diversity Visiting Elective).