Community-Focused Urban Scholars Program (CUSP)
To improve the health of the populations of our WWAMI region, it is imperative that our medical school trains physicians who are prepared for careers in urban underserved medicine and reflect the communities they will serve.
Community-focused Urban Scholars Program (CUSP) is a comprehensive approach to diversifying the UWSOM student population and addressing WWAMI’s urban underserved physician workforce shortage through community-based medical school training.
Our goal is to develop a workforce of diverse physician leaders in under-resourced urban communities in the WWAMI region through a full circle program that fosters and supports qualified students through mentorship and professional development, population health training, service learning, and urban clinical experiences.
The Community-focused Urban Scholars Program (CUSP) aims to recruit students from urban underserved communities, train them in population health and health equity, tailor their clinical experiences for maximum exposure to urban underserved care, and send them back to Washington communities as physicians. Core to our mission is nurturing the talents of students from underrepresented backgrounds by creating an ecosystem of support that offers mentorship, tailored programming, and professional development.
Program Goal
Develop a workforce of diverse physician leaders in under-resourced urban communities in the WWAMI region through a full circle pipeline program that fosters and supports qualified students through mentorship and professional development, population health training, and urban clinical experiences.
Program Objectives
- Develop a workforce ecosystem that encourages and supports a diversity of students toward careers in urban under-resourced clinical practices.
- Train students to apply the principles and practices of population health in the clinical and community environments.
- Provide quality clinical rotations and experiences in urban under-resourced areas to in order to sustain student interest in urban medicine in under-resourced communities.
- Create an inclusive and supportive learning community that values equity and diversity.
- Through personal and professional development opportunities, prepare students to be clinical and community leaders and advocates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I apply to join CUSP?
Students must apply to CUSP in their first year of medical school. The below outlines is a synopsis of how to apply.
If I enroll in CUSP, can I still complete one of the Pathways (Global Health, Hispanic Health, Indian Health, LGBTQ Health, Underserved Pathway)?
Yes. All CUSP students are recommended to complete the Underserved Pathway, and may also choose to pursue an additional Pathways.
How might I learn more about CUSP?
The CUSP Leadership Team is always willing to chat about CUSP. Our leadership team is made up of current MS4s and two staff members dedicated to supporting students in their learning process about the benefits of CUSP, and areas of urban-underserved work that may be of direct interest to our up and coming physicians.
Contact information
Please contact Holly Kennison, Program Director CUSP & Pathways if you have additional questions. Our Interim CUSP Faculty Lead is Dr. Bessie Young, Associate Dean of Office of Healthcare Equity and Vice Dean for UW School of Medicine.
