The most recent report published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) predicts a national shortage of as many as 86,000 physicians by 2036. That shortfall could put access to medical care at risk in some communities, especially those in rural areas. These predictions only serve to underscore the importance of investing in programs like Gundersen Medical Foundation's A.C.V. Elston III, MD, Summer Research Fellowship.

The Fellowship's goal is to teach undergraduate students interested in pursuing an advanced degree or working in the medical field about scientific research. Fellows are assigned to work with a research team on a project that helps them develop skills in study design, statistical analysis and dissemination of findings.

Since its inception in 1985, the program has graduated 282 summer fellows mentored by numerous Gundersen physicians and staff members. Although the program is designed to support learners and clinicians, our entire community benefits from this investment in medical education and research.

TRAINING FUTURE PROFESSIONALS
The fellowships are partially funded by generous benefactors who have established endowments of $50,000 or more with the Foundation. The endowments, along with support from other sponsors, allow for the creation of these paid internships. That financial support, along with the high-quality design of the program that features mentorship and instruction from Gundersen clinicians and staff, make the program highly competitive.

MacKenzieCaya grew up in Stoddard, Wis., and attends Universityof Wisconsin-La Crosse. As a junior majoring in biology and on a pre-med track, she applied to be part of the 2024 cohort. MacKenziewas selected to be one of six summer fellows, and the experience was everything she'd hoped it would be and more.

"The opportunity to do clinical research was exciting," she says. "I learned so much from the process and from the other members of my research team. The entire experience changed how I look at research and affirmed my choice to pursue a career in medicine."

PRESERVING ACCESS TO CARE
Outside of research and mentoring, summer fellows have opportunities to participate in job shadowing and simulation labs at Gundersen's Integrated Center for Education. They also receive lessons on manuscript writing, statistics, the graduate or medical school application process, research presentation skills and more. For MacKenzieand other fellows like her, the opportunity to learn from Gundersen staff and physicians who genuinely enjoy teaching and learning makes a tremendous impact.

"I valued the opportunity to shadow several caring and passionate physicians who were open to questions and shared their knowledge," remembers MacKenzie. "Those experiences helped me understand the kind of physician I want to be and the kind of environment I hope to work in someday."

While the program regularly attracts local applicants like MacKenzie, top students from around the country also apply. In 2024, 46 applicants (with an average GPA of 3.76) from 26 different academic institutions in 18 different states submitted applications. These numbers speak to the program's quality and reputation, and they underscore the connection to recruitment.

"The program attracts some of the best and brightest medical students to Gundersen and introduces them to the communities we serve," says Gundersen Research Institute's manager of Research Navigation, Alec Fitzsimmons, MPH. "Their experience in the Summer Fellows Program may help them choose Gundersen for their residencies or as a place to practice medicine later in their career."

Given the overall success of the program, including the number of former fellows who now work for Gundersen, it's clear that the Summer Research Fellowship is an asset on many levels. With continued investment in programs that attract and train the next generation of caregivers, we can offset the projected shortages and help protect our community's access to high-quality care in the future.

Help invest in the next generation of caregivers today.

Show your support