For many students, the path to medical school can feel overwhelming. Premed pathway programs help make that journey clearer and more accessible, opening doors to mentorship, hands-on experience, and new opportunities. One powerful example is the Center for Excellence in Youth Education (CEYE) Summer Internship Placement Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. We spoke with Aminah Williams, now a fourth-year medical student at Mount Sinai, who first participated in CEYE as a high school student. That experience helped inspire her passion for medicine and shaped the path she is on today.
About the CEYE Summer Internship Placement Program at Icahn School of Medicine:
The CEYE Summer Internship Placement Program gives high school students the chance to explore health careers through a hands-on internship with a mentor from departments across the Mount Sinai Health System. Ms. Williams participated in the Hospital Placement Track, where she spent her internship in a single department, gaining real-world experience and insight into the daily work of healthcare professionals. This highly competitive, in-person program is open to eligible high school juniors and seniors during the designated application period, offering students an early glimpse into the possibilities of a career in medicine.
- How did you learn about the program, and what ultimately made you choose this program (as opposed to others)?
- As a high school student who was deeply passionate about pursuing a career in medicine, I actively sought out opportunities that would support my academic and professional growth. A mentor who knew about my interests shared the application for the CEYE Hospital Placement Program. I ultimately chose this program because it offered the unique opportunity to be paired with and shadow a physician throughout the entire summer. Experiences like this are rare, particularly for high school students. Even for pre-medical college students, it can be challenging to secure meaningful, longitudinal shadowing opportunities. The structure and depth of this program made it stand out from others.
- As a high school student who was deeply passionate about pursuing a career in medicine, I actively sought out opportunities that would support my academic and professional growth. A mentor who knew about my interests shared the application for the CEYE Hospital Placement Program. I ultimately chose this program because it offered the unique opportunity to be paired with and shadow a physician throughout the entire summer. Experiences like this are rare, particularly for high school students. Even for pre-medical college students, it can be challenging to secure meaningful, longitudinal shadowing opportunities. The structure and depth of this program made it stand out from others.
- Please briefly describe your experience in the program.
- The CEYE program was multifaceted and included educational didactics on medicine, professional development sessions, research projects and presentations, and the hospital placement component of the internship. I was assigned to the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai Hospital, where I had the opportunity to shadow physicians and engage directly with patient care. In addition, I conducted a literature-based research project focused on hormone-driven breast cancer. The combination of clinical exposure and academic inquiry made the experience both intellectually stimulating and personally meaningful.
- The CEYE program was multifaceted and included educational didactics on medicine, professional development sessions, research projects and presentations, and the hospital placement component of the internship. I was assigned to the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai Hospital, where I had the opportunity to shadow physicians and engage directly with patient care. In addition, I conducted a literature-based research project focused on hormone-driven breast cancer. The combination of clinical exposure and academic inquiry made the experience both intellectually stimulating and personally meaningful.
- How did your experience in this program impact your decision to pursue medicine?
- This program solidified my decision to pursue a career in medicine. I valued the opportunity to meet patients alongside my attending physician and witness firsthand the responsibilities and impact of being a doctor. What stood out to me most was not only the medical management of disease, but also the emotional support physicians provide to patients during vulnerable moments. Observing patient care from the provider’s perspective gave me clarity and confidence in my desire to pursue medicine.
- This program solidified my decision to pursue a career in medicine. I valued the opportunity to meet patients alongside my attending physician and witness firsthand the responsibilities and impact of being a doctor. What stood out to me most was not only the medical management of disease, but also the emotional support physicians provide to patients during vulnerable moments. Observing patient care from the provider’s perspective gave me clarity and confidence in my desire to pursue medicine.
- Is there anything you learned in the program that you still use today?
- As a high school student who had never previously held a formal job or internship, this experience taught me foundational principles of professionalism. I learned the importance of timeliness, attentiveness, preparation, and respectful communication. These are skills I continue to apply today. The program also gave me the confidence to network and engage with individuals at different stages of training, including college students, medical students, and physicians. Learning how to seek mentorship and build professional relationships has continued to benefit me throughout my academic and professional journey.
- As a high school student who had never previously held a formal job or internship, this experience taught me foundational principles of professionalism. I learned the importance of timeliness, attentiveness, preparation, and respectful communication. These are skills I continue to apply today. The program also gave me the confidence to network and engage with individuals at different stages of training, including college students, medical students, and physicians. Learning how to seek mentorship and build professional relationships has continued to benefit me throughout my academic and professional journey.
- Did you receive any mentoring or guidance as part of the program?
- The program provided college application mentorship, including workshops where we worked on resumes and personal statements. In addition, I received guidance regarding the pre-medical pathway. Even after completing the internship, I maintained access to mentors at CEYE who provided advice and support as I navigated the process of applying to medical school.
- The program provided college application mentorship, including workshops where we worked on resumes and personal statements. In addition, I received guidance regarding the pre-medical pathway. Even after completing the internship, I maintained access to mentors at CEYE who provided advice and support as I navigated the process of applying to medical school.
- Other advice / tips or other information that may be relevant for others considering the program:
- Take full advantage of the relationships you build during this program. It is not only an opportunity to learn about medicine, but also to form lasting connections with peers, mentors, and program directors. These relationships can extend far beyond the summer and may provide guidance, mentorship, and support throughout your journey toward a career in medicine.
- Take full advantage of the relationships you build during this program. It is not only an opportunity to learn about medicine, but also to form lasting connections with peers, mentors, and program directors. These relationships can extend far beyond the summer and may provide guidance, mentorship, and support throughout your journey toward a career in medicine.
About Aminah Williams:
Aminah Williams is a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and is originally from Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Smith College with a major in Biology and a minor in Sociology, where she developed a strong interest in the intersection of medicine and social determinants of health. She has conducted research focused on racial and ethnic disparities in surgical care and is passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable patient populations. She hopes to continue integrating advocacy, research, and clinical medicine throughout her career.