Whitley students eligible for Med Prep program

Whitley County high school seniors and college students interested in pursuing careers as physicians or dentists are eligible to participate in summer programs at the University of Kentucky offered through its Professional Education Preparation Program.

The PEPP Scholars Summer Program, designed for students from medically underserved areas, is open to current high school seniors. The PEPP II Medical and Dental School Preparation Program is open to students who have completed at least two years of college.

Selected participants will stay on the UK campus for four weeks, interacting with UK physicians and dentists, and participating in weekly hospital rotations, health seminars and other educational experiences.

PEPP Scholars will take enrichment classes and learn about surgery and labor and delivery. PEPP II students prepare for the admissions process to medical or dental school and learn about surgery, labor and delivery, emergency medicine, and pediatrics. Students interested in careers in dentistry have rotations in the UK dental clinics, including oral/maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, and the dental emergency clinic.

Seminar topics in both programs include medical admissions, dental admissions, cancer, organ transplants, rural medicine, autopsy/pathology, trauma surgery, medical mission trips, gross anatomy lecture and lab, ethics, and compassion. Visits to area hospitals, camps for special-needs children, a psychiatric hospital, and a children’s hospital are included in the weekly activities. Recreational activities include sports, music, and dining out at restaurants. Eligible students who are selected to participate receive dormitory housing and a stipend to assist with paying for meals.

Both the PEPP Scholars and PEPP II programs begin on June17 and conclude on July 14. The deadline to apply for the PEPP Scholars is March 3. The PEPP II deadline is March 11.

Students do not have to attend the University of Kentucky to be eligible to participate in either summer program. However, to be eligible, an applicant must be a resident of one of the following Kentucky counties: Adair, Allen, Anderson, Ballard, Barren, Bath, Bell, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Butler, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Crittenden, Cumberland, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Grayson, Green, Greenup, Hancock, Harlan, Hart, Henry, Hickman, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, LaRue, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Livingston, Lewis, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, McLean, McCreary, Meade, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nicholas, Ohio, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Todd, Trigg, Trimble, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Whitley and Wolfe.

For more information regarding the programs or to request an application, e-mail Carol Leslie at ctsnyd0@email.uky.edu or call the University of Kentucky PEPP Office at (859) 257-1968.