Become the future of Allergy & Immunology

Explore a career in medicine and the field of allergy & immunology at OHSU through a 5-week summer program!
The Allergy & Immunology Summer Pathways Program provides students with clinical exposure, research education, and optional community volunteering opportunities to support them in a future medical career.
The program belongs to a national goal of increasing diversity in the physician workforce, specifically allergists. We are seeking local students from the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area who identify as persons from racial or ethnic groups that are under-represented in medicine and biomedical research, or persons who have experienced significant disadvantage or adversity (i.e., recipient of social service resources while in elementary or secondary school, enhanced education or other programs for diverse populations, or by experience of economic, educational, cultural, or family adversity).
Applicants must be between 18 years of age and prior to starting their Junior year of undergrad by the program start date (end of June/early July 2027).  No vacations or breaks may be taken during the duration of the program.

Program Curriculum

During your time in the program, you will be involved in the following areas:

Clinical

You will gain extensive exposure to the medical field, closely shadowing a selection of physicians in their clinic. This will be an opportunity to explore or solidify an interest in a medical career and gain one-on-one mentorship and relationships with physicians in the community.
Hosted in the Burghardt Food Allergy Center, you will primarily work with allergists but will also get the chance to explore closely related medical fields such as pulmonary, dermatology, otolaryngology, or hematology. If you want to find out more about conditions we treat and services we offer in our clinics- please visit our website: Allergy Clinics and Specialties | OHSU  

Research

The program will have opportunities to explore various areas of research, including laboratories in the department. Additionally, students will be assigned a research project with deliverables. At the conclusion of your program, you will have the opportunity to present your work, findings, and takeaways at a student symposium in mid-August. 

Education

Through a series of lectures, you will be exposed to the scientific foundations of allergy and immunology. These lessons will provide an understanding of the cellular and biomedical processes that underlie many of the pathologies you will see in clinic.

Volunteering

During the program, there may be volunteer opportunities. The goal of this component is to emphasize the importance of volunteering and community work within the medical field.

How to Apply

Please check back regularly, we expect applications for Summer 2027 to open around November or December 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Do I need research or medical experience to apply for this program?

No, this program does not require any prior experience. We hope to lower as many barriers to entry as possible, and the program will leave you equipped with clinical and research experience to take into future endeavors. We only ask that you hold a genuine curiosity for medicine and an interest in exploring the field of allergy & immunology.

• Who should write my letter of recommendation?

Your letter of recommendation should be from an adult who is familiar with you in an academic or professional capacity. This can be a teacher, a coach, a mentor, adviser, etc. We encourage you to see an individual who you know personally and who can speak to why you would be a good fit for this program and its mission.

• What if I don’t live in Portland, Oregon?

The Allergy & Immunology Summer Pathways Program does not provide summer housing for students, and for this reason, we encourage students to apply from within the Portland area where they will be able to commute to OHSU or other locations on a daily basis. If you have family within Portland who can house you or live within commuting distance, you are welcome to apply.

• How many students will be selected each year?

Two students will participate in the Pathways Program each year.