Diversity
PULSE Program
PULSE is a semester-long educational outreach program for high school students (grades 9-12) who are passionate about healthcare and biomedical sciences. It was established in 2008 and is run by a Penn State College of Medicine medical student interest group by the same name.
The PULSE program aims to cultivate interest in medicine, biomedical science and health care systems science by introducing passionate learners to medical students, biomedical researchers and practicing clinicians. Medical students and participants in the 2021 cohort helped reconceptualize the meaning of the name PULSE to reflect the importance of, and commitment to increasing diversity in medicine; PULSE is now an acronym that stands for Pre-health program for Underrepresented Leaders in STEM Education, reflecting the institutional goal of reaching students who come from historically marginalized backgrounds.
The PULSE program features a different topic in medicine each year. However, there are consistent components of the program, such as lecture, professional development and mentorship. The program is not eligible for high school or college credit at this time. High school students may have the opportunity to earn extra credit at the discretion of their school staff. Any student interested in science/medicine who will be in grades 9-12 at the start of the program can apply to PULSE. (Current 8th-grade students are able to apply because they will be in high school by the start of the program; current seniors in high school cannot apply because they will have graduated by the start of the program.)
Mission
To supplement student science education with a quality, 12-week longitudinal curriculum
To foster the interests of high school students from surrounding communities through interactive lectures, problem-based learning sessions and clinical shadowing opportunities.
To enrich high school students’ current approaches in acquiring knowledge in scientific endeavors.
To enhance critical thinking skills and foster independence.
To provide important information for educational options and career paths in health care.
To empower Penn State students to act as mentors and educational leaders.
To encourage active participation of underrepresented groups in medicine by providing mentors and instructors with whom they can identify.
College of Medicine students
PULSE remains active throughout the year and encourages involvement of medical, PA, nursing and graduate students. Students who would like to learn more about the organization or get involved, should contact any of the officers listed below.
General information
PULSE 2025: Cardio & Pulm: Heartbeats and Beyond
Join current medical students for an interactive learning experience exploring the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Learn key anatomy, understand common disorders and discover how these vital systems work.
This program will be offered virtually, over Zoom, with optional in-person opportunities.
Mondays, Sept. 8 through Dec. 8, 2025: 6-7 p.m.
We are also planning for an optional in-person session(s) at Penn State College of Medicine located in Hershey, Pa. Space for the in-person sessions will be limited and will require a separate RSVP once additional details are released to accepted students. These sessions may have limited transportation support from Harrisburg and surrounding areas for students who need it.
Program Details
Virtual experience with in-person opportunity (Limited transportation assistance will be available from designated pick-up points around Harrisburg.)
Mentoring from current medical students
Informative medical school-style lectures with a focus on small group problem-based discussions
Course structure
Meets on scheduled Mondays, 6-7 p.m.
Recorded lectures will be sent out ahead of the scheduled session – students are expected to watch the video prior to the Zoom session
Interactive discussion about the lecture material
Problem-based learning session
Longitudinal mentorship session
Typical activities include:
Small group learning opportunities
Health professions career panel
Discussions about college and career preparation:
College selection process, SAT/ACT and essay tips, science major information
To enable us to offer PULSE to as many students as possible, PULSE will continue to be offered virtually (over Zoom) with optional in-person sessions at Penn State College of Medicine. Space for the in-person sessions will be limited and offered first-come, first-serve basis via registration. More information on this will be provided when acceptance offers are extended. There may be limited transportation support from the greater Harrisburg areas for students who need it.
Attendance is important. In order to get the most from this program, students selected for PULSE will be expected to attend and participate in all weekly sessions. There will be no exceptions allowed for late arrivals or early dismissals for any reason other than illness or emergency.
Consideration for excused absences will be given in cases of illness, emergency, and other unique circumstances.
If you are an athlete and your game or practice schedule overlaps with PULSE, then you should discuss this with your coach.
Participants will not receive a certificate of attendance if they miss more than three (3) sessions (regardless whether the absences are excused or unexcused).
Location
Weekly sessions will take place on Zoom
Optional in-person activities will take place at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa.
Application Evaluation
PULSE is a competitive program. Applications will be evaluated on responses to the short essay questions. Details from the application are removed and short essays are scored by reviewers on a scale of 1 to 10. Points are tallied for each student and the slots are filled from highest scoring applications. In the event of a tie for the final remaining slots, students who have never participated in PULSE and/or are entering their final two years of high school will be prioritized over applicants who have previously participated in PULSE or are entering their first two years of high school. This will help ensure equity of access. Students who have comparable scores will be placed on a waitlist and may be offered a spot in the event that some accepted students are unable to participate in the program. To allow as many students as possible to participate, students who have participated in two prior PULSE cycles are not eligible for participation.
The application deadline is April 30, 2025. The application will close and no applications will be accepted after this date.
Essays
You will be asked to prepare short essay responses to a few key questions in a Word document, which you will then upload when you submit your online application. Your responses will offer program leaders the opportunity to learn more about you and your career goals.
2025 Essay Questions
Why are you interested in participating in PULSE, and what do you hope to gain from this experience? (max 300 words)
How will your unique background and experiences contribute to your involvement in PULSE, or to your community in general? (max 150 words)
What three (3) words best describe you?
In order to submit you application:
You MUST share your completed essay responses in a .doc, .docx, or .pdf format with a filename using your first and last name (FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME). To save a GOOGLE DOC as a .docx or .pdf file: File -> Download -> select .doc, .docx, or .pdf - then save this to your desired location awaiting upload. Make sure your document uses your first and last name in the filename (examples: FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME.doc or FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME.docx or FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME.pdf).
Will PULSE be held in-person or virtually?
This year, PULSE is offering the program in a hybrid format. There will be several optional in-person sessions at Penn State College of Medicine. Space for these sessions will be limited, depending on amount of interest in attending. More information on this will be provided when acceptance offers are extended. There may be limited transportation support for students in the Harrisburg area.
How will my application be evaluated?
PULSE is a competitive program. Applications will be evaluated on your responses to the short essay questions. Identifying information from the application is removed and short essays are scored by reviewers on a scale of 1 to 10. Points are tallied for each student. If students are tied in score near the acceptance maximum, students who have never participated in PULSE and are entering their final two years of high school will be prioritized over applicants who have previously participated in PULSE or are entering their first two years of high school. There is a waitlist in the event that some accepted students choose not to participate in the program. To allow as many students as possible to participate, students who have participated in two prior PULSE cycles are not eligible for participation.
When is the deadline to apply to PULSE, and when will I find out if I was accepted?
The application deadline is April 30, 2025, no exceptions. Decisions on acceptance are made after thorough review of all applications and based on how many students we can accommodate within the small group, mentorship-focused structure of the program. Application decisions will be sent via email in late May 2025.
PULSE will generally meet on Mondays from 6 to 7 p.m beginning the Monday after Labor Day and ending the second week in December, and 6-7:30 p.m. when there are quiz bowls. There is no class on Indigenous People’s Day (or noted as Columbus Day on many school calendars), or the Monday before Thanksgiving. Attendance and participation are important – participants should aim to be present for all sessions.
Presidents: Ayushi Patel and Lauren Nguyen (apatel25@pennstatehealth.psu.edu and snguyen17@pennstatehealth.psu.edu)
Program Director and Advisor: Sonnya Nieves, Office for Diversity, Equity & Belonging (snieves@pennstatehealth.psu.edu)