For decades, the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) has supported college students as they prepare for successful careers in the health professions. The program has guided, inspired, and empowered thousands of future leaders in medicine, dentistry, and beyond. The program’s enduring legacy is defined not only by the careers it has helped launch, but by the people it has shaped—students who discovered their purpose, mentors who opened doors, and alumni who continue to build a health care system that reflects and serves all communities.
That legacy took center stage in late 2024, when program alumni gathered to reflect on SHPEP’s lasting impact and its role in shaping their journeys. The convening came as SHPEP’s founding partner and core funder, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, informed the National Program Office it will conclude funding for the program after the 2026 cohort.
Celebrating the Program’s Impact
The program’s legacy was celebrated in a special in-person gathering, the SHPEP Future Leaders in Health Summit, held Dec. 6–7, 2024, at the headquarters of the AAMC and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) in Washington, DC. The Summit brought together alumni from across SHPEP and its predecessor programs—MMEP, SMEP, and SMDEP—for reflection, connection, and recognition of the program’s transformative impact over the years.
The weekend began with welcome remarks from leaders at the AAMC, ADEA, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and the SHPEP National Alumni Advisory Board (NAAB). Alumni reconnected through networking opportunities, poster sessions highlighting scholarly and community-focused work, and conversations that celebrated the journeys of students and alumni alike.
A highlight of the Summit was the “Distance Traveled” alumni panel, which featured voices from different eras of the program sharing candid reflections on their journeys. Panelists spoke openly about obstacles, resilience, and growth, offering a powerful reminder that there is no single path into a career in the health professions and that mentorship and community can make all the difference.
Breakout sessions explored core themes central to SHPEP’s mission, including financial literacy, mental health and wellness, research and academic careers, mentorship, networking, and admissions strategies. The closing panels, including a discussion on Advancing Equity, reinforced the program’s enduring values: owning one’s narrative, cultivating academic resilience, and working collectively to build a more inclusive health workforce.
The Summit offered alumni a homecoming experience, a chance to connect across generations, and a celebration of the program’s far-reaching influence.
Alumni Voices: SHPEP’s Impact in Their Own Words
At the heart of SHPEP’s success are the voices and experiences of its alumni. In a short video, SHPEP alumni reflect on how the program helped them uncover their purpose, build confidence, and envision careers they once thought were out of reach. Their stories of growth, inspiration, and transformation remind us that SHPEP’s impact extends far beyond a single summer.
Discover how SHPEP alumni describe the moments, mentors, and experiences that shaped their academic and professional journeys:
Reflecting on Change and an Enduring Legacy
As we celebrate SHPEP’s legacy, we also acknowledge an important transition. Following much deliberation and research, SHPEP’s founding partner and core funder, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will conclude funding for the program after the 2026 cohort. RWJF is shifting its strategic priorities to focus more directly on dismantling structural racism in the health sector at the institutional level. This broader approach aims to address systemic inequities in health education and training.
This decision is not a reflection of SHPEP’s success. Over a 37-year partnership, RWJF’s sustained investment helped establish SHPEP as one of the nation’s pre-eminent pathway programs, attracting close to 10,000 application registrations annually. Since 1989, SHPEP and its predecessor programs have served more than 32,000 students, contributing to the development of over 9,000 physicians and 2,000 dentists, with many more alumni pursuing careers across the health professions. Today, 78% of SHPEP scholars have earned advanced degrees and have become respected leaders in their fields and advocates for their communities.
While the conclusion of funding marks the end of a chapter, SHPEP’s community of excellence will continue in new and meaningful ways, through its alumni, educators, advisors, partners, and ambassadors.
Looking Ahead
SHPEP will continue in its current format through the summer of 2026. The funding transition will not affect students applying to the 2026 cohort. Scholars can expect the same hallmark experience SHPEP is known for, including academic enrichment, career and professional development, mentorship, and community building. Applications for the 2026 cohort are open, with a deadline of Feb. 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
As we reflect on decades of impact, we extend our deepest gratitude to the staff, partners, educators, advisors, alumni leaders, and most importantly, the students who are the heart of SHPEP. Your passion, talent, and dedication have strengthened the health professions and improved the lives of countless patients across the nation.
SHPEP’s story is one of possibility, purpose, and collective progress. While the program’s journey is evolving, its legacy endures in the lives it has shaped and in the future leaders who will continue to build a health care system that serves everyone.