Pathway Programs
Open to 12th-grade students, college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in diverse health careers. AHCE is a two-week summer program where students explore patient counseling, clinical laboratory sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, rehabilitation counseling, radiation sciences, health administration and gerontology. Participants meet weekdays for full-day department/degree program admissions information, hands-on and interactive activities within each discipline, workshops on current healthcare topics, interviewing skills, resume development and more. AHCE participants receive the necessary information to pursue a College of Health Professions application process.
Learn more about the Allied Health Career Exploration Program.
The Applied Public Health Laboratory Summer School is an immersive, hands‑on experience designed to introduce students to how laboratory science protects population health. Participants will work in teaching laboratories to learn how scientists detect infectious diseases, monitor environmental hazards, and support physicians and epidemiologists during outbreaks. Through guided experiments, case‑based activities, and mentorship from medical laboratory science faculty and professionals, students will connect classroom biology and chemistry concepts to real‑world diagnostic testing. By the end of the week, students will understand how laboratory results guide medical decisions and public health actions, and they will gain insight into educational pathways leading to careers in medical laboratory science and related health professions. This program is open to undergraduate students (18+) interested in biology, chemistry, health sciences, infectious diseases, and hands-on laboratory careers. No prior laboratory experience is needed.
Application deadline: April 15, 2026
Contact Michael Lacy, PhD, MLS(ASCP) at lacym@vcu.edu for more information.
MLS Path is a five-day summer program where participants explore medical laboratory sciences with a focus on transfusion medicine. Explore the educational requirements and responsibilities of MLS professionals, take guided lab tours, and immerse yourself in the fascinating field of transfusion medicine!
The program is free. All meals and materials are provided. Participants are invited to live on campus at VCU and receive a $500 stipend once the program is complete.
All students must have completed 10th grade by the time the program begins to be eligible. At the start of the program, each student should be between a rising 11th grader and a rising college junior.
Application deadline: April 7, 2026
Contact Maiya Picott, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, Laboratory Instrutor at picottm@vcu.edu for more information.
Occupational Therapy Academy is a program to promote knowledge and understanding of the profession of Occupational Therapy (OT) while preparing for application to OT programs. Through engagement in presentations, discussions, and hands-on opportunities, participants will gain skills required to be a competitive applicant, and a successful and professional student in a rigorous graduate program.
OT Academy is open to sophomore, junior, senior college students, and post-baccalaureates with a strong interest in the field of Occupational Therapy.
SAEP is a six-week summer program for upper-level college and post-baccalaureate students that simulates the first-year of dentistry, medicine, pharmacy or physical therapy professional school instruction. Participants take academically intensive instruction in each of their chosen tracks in addition to non-credit core-coursework in anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology. SAEP participants attend learning skills and test-taking workshops, mock interviews, professionalism seminars, current health care topics, coaching and community service activities in an interprofessional framework. At the conclusion of the program, participants receive an assessment of their readiness to attend professional school.