In this issue:
- Summer Oncology Research Fellowship (SORF)
- HCOP Ambassadors Wanted
- Career Advising Tip of the Month
Summer Oncology Research Fellowship (SORF)
The Summer Oncology Research Fellowship (SORF) is an NIH-supported summer research program for US medical students. It is a full-time, 8–12-week program in summer(s) between school years in medical school (May to August). It focuses on students who are considering a biomedical career that involves cancer research. SORF takes place at two sites: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Keck School of Medicine of USC.
- Applications to SORF 2026 will openopened on November 1, 2025.
- Early Application Deadline: December 7, 2025.
- Regular Application Deadline: January 4, 2026.
HCOP Ambassadors Wanted
The Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) Ambassador role is designed to help health professional students develop leadership skills relevant to working with underrepresented healthcare populations.
- Gain experience in working with an underserved population
- Complete a short community-based project
- Mentor high school and undergraduate students interested in a health career
- Receive mentorship from a faculty member
- Eligible for a 1K stipend!
All students in a health professional school with about 2 years left are eligible to apply.
We’re still accepting applications for the fall 2025 HCOP Ambassador cohort.
Rolling admission until all spots are filled by November 30, 2025
Questions? Please email Dr. Hoa Appel at happel@uw.edu.
Career Advising Student Advisory Board: Road to Residency Tip of the Month
This advice is for all MS3 students and includes first generation and BIPOC student lenses:
As you know, third year is busy! Something you can do to thank your future self is to update your CV whenever you have some down time (for example, during a month off or a “chill” rotation). Having a solid CV is necessary for away rotation applications that you’ll be preparing in the Winter. You’ll also use this info almost word-for-word in your residency application next summer. Check out the CV page for videos and a CV template.
For mapping out fourth year, use the Clinical Phase Planning Worksheet. Then, be sure to meet with your career advisor in November and December (if you haven’t already) to go over specialty choice(s). If away rotations are expected/suggested, make sure to familiarize yourself with the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) website. You will gain access to VSLO by mid-January, but for now you can begin to familiarize yourself with the process. Residency programs may also provide scholarships for visiting students, so make sure to browse their websites for deadlines!
Read the Specialty Guides for your preferred specialties and use the Course Catalog to see which Sub-I’s, APCs, and electives you might want to take in the fourth year. All of these resources are available on the Guide to 4th Year Planning website.
- Reviewed by MS4 Cara Chapman. Originally written by alum Shanelle Briggs, MD.
Career Advising welcomes tips and ideas from all students. Please reach out to Career Advising at medadv@uw.edu.
This link takes you to past information for MS3s.