Frequently Asked Questions for Medical/PA/DO Students

Students in the first year of an MD, DO or third year in a PA or Nursing BA program who are considering careers focused on combined oncology and cancer research.

Subsistence allowances are awarded to applicants based on merits of their application and meet criteria for funding source eligibility.

Subsistence allowances are $4,800 for the eight-week program in 2023. Subsistence allowances may be used to cover out-of-pocket expenses such as food, dormitory lodging (for out-of-town students) and other incidental costs.

No. We require students to provide only a letter of good standing from school official. This letter can be scanned and sent as a PDF to education@roswellpark.org from your school official.

All applicants must complete their online application and submit supplemental materials by January 31, 2023. See the online application portal for more instructions.

The 2023 program for graduate medical students starts on Monday, June 5 and ends on Friday, July 28.

Participating students will receive a formal orientation to Roswell Park and working in their respective research area at the beginning of the program. Throughout the program, students will learn real world application of the scientific method while working on their assigned research project in their mentor’s laboratory. The research experience will be supported by a curriculum of learning activities at which students will meet with their peers in the program. These include seminars on pertinent and cutting-edge cancer topics and professional development activities such as preparing a scientific research talk and poster.

You will be working in a Roswell Park research department alongside professional researchers, physician-scientists, graduate students and laboratory technicians or in a clinical setting, training with physicians and other health professionals.

Yes. There are plenty of opportunities to meet and socialize with other students. As part of the peer-mentored cross-training activities you will have the chance to interact with health professional student interns in the program. You will learn about their projects and take tours of the clinics and research departments. These opportunities begin on the first day during orientation and continue through graduation.

Sometimes academic year schedule start and end dates may fall within the scheduled summer progam dates. In these cases, students should inquiry about schedule flexibility with the Assistant Dean for Internships and Education Outreach. To do this, email your inquiry to education@roswellpark.org and type in the subject line: Summer Program Schedule Flexibility. Inquiries will be handled on case-by-case basis. While participatng, all students are required to attend every day of the program and to work for a full day.

Students are required to participate in the research experience Monday through Friday for eight weeks. Schedules are eight hours per day (Monday through Friday) for a total of 40 hours per week.

No. The program is a short-term experience and students will not be allowed to take time off for vacation. In an emergency, students who need to take at most one to two days off will be required to make up that time during the program. These arrangements are not guaranteed. Any requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Yes. Dress attire requirements are meant to ensure safety in the laboratories and professionalism in the clinical setting. For research internships, the dress code is long pants (no shorts, capris, or skirts), closed toe shoes (no sandals), and long hair secured in a ponytail. For clinical internships the dress code is business attire. In addition, there are a few days where all interns will be required to wear business attire for formal presentations. This information will be provided in detail to interns accepted into the program.

Students who live further than commuting distance from Roswell Park may either find their own living accommodations or live at the dormitories on the campus of Canisius College. The dormitory is recently renovated and features 24-hour security, free Wi-Fi access and air-conditioning. A Resident Assistant (RA) will be living in the dormitory with our students. Room and board expenses are paid by the student.

The 2022 cost for an apartment/housing was $1200/month. A list of apartment dwellings will be made available to students accepted into the summer program.

There is a cafeteria on the Roswell Park campus where food service is available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the work week and on weekends. Also, there are a variety of restaurants and diners throughout Buffalo featuring local and worldwide cuisine. Interns are responsible for paying for their own meals.

Metro bus and subway lines are available modes of transportation.

During non-COVID years, social activities included attendance at a Bison's game, our local minor league baseball team, a visit to Darien Lake Theme Park and BBQ and tour of Niagara Falls. These activities are being planned for the upcoming program year and are meant for students to bond with their peers and enjoy relaxation time away from their research experience. Participants will receive a program schedule that lists these activities at the start of the program.

While 2023 events have not been confirmed yet, a full schedule will be available to students at program orientation.