Show-Me State Times

A partnership between Saint Louis University's School of Medicine and the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience is providing high school students with early exposure to medical careers. The internship program, which has been in place for over a decade, allows senior students from Collegiate to gain hands-on experience in clinical and research settings at SLU.

Tim Murrell, Ed.D., program director for pathway development, student engagement and retention at SLU's School of Medicine, commented on the preparation of the students: “The students from Collegiate stand out for their impeccable preparation. They undergo rigorous mock interviews and professional skills training, ensuring they are well-equipped for the demands of the internship.”

From January through April, participating students intern at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital twice a week. They rotate through various departments including surgery, internal medicine, and basic sciences at SLU’s Doisy Research Center. These rotations are designed to help students learn about different areas within healthcare.

Clinicians involved in the program have noted the maturity and eagerness to learn among the interns. Many have remarked that they wish similar opportunities had existed when they were in high school.

The program has already influenced career paths for many alumni. Several former interns are now enrolled at SLU's School of Medicine or working as neurology residents, nurses, or researchers.

Collegiate serves a student body where all participants are classified as economically disadvantaged and 61% identify as minorities. The partnership aims to provide mentorship and opportunity while focusing on service-oriented education.

Samantha Moyerman, bioscience internship coordinator at Collegiate, described the broader purpose of the initiative: “This partnership is more than an internship — it’s a calling. We look for students who not only excel academically but who also demonstrate a deep commitment to service and compassion.”

Abdul-Haq Alli, a former Collegiate intern now studying medicine at SLU, shared his perspective: “Shadowing spine surgery and joining the ophthalmology team gave me hands-on insight and a real sense of belonging,” Alli said. “The interns’ camaraderie and the supportive environment made success feel possible. I’m deeply grateful — that experience shaped my path.”

Alli added: “The SLU and Collegiate partnership gave me early exposure, mentors, and real responsibility. It turned medicine from an abstract idea into something I could see myself doing. It did not just make me want to be a physician. It helped me believe I could be one.”

Saint Louis University was founded in 1818 as one of the oldest Catholic research institutions in the United States. The university enrolls more than 13,300 students each year across its programs.