High School

Applications for the 2023 Cohort opened on January 1st 2023
The deadline to apply is May 15 at 11:59 p.m.

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

M.I.N.D.S. (Medical Internship Navigating Diversity and Science) is a 6-week paid internship for underrepresented or financially disadvantaged high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in medicine.

Interns will:

Learn about a variety of medical professions
Learn about social determinants of health
Learn about and create a research project about health disparities in New Jersey

Please note: We have received reports that individuals posing as Seton Hall University or M.I.N.D.S. staff have contacted applicants and requested personal and private information, including, but not limited to, social security numbers and birth certificates. As it relates to M.I.N.D.S., such personal information will NOT be requested until after acceptance, and only for the purpose of processing your stipend and for IRS documentation. Please DO NOT provide this information to anyone without first contacting Tadé Ayeni, EdD by phone AND email (Tade.Ayeni@hmhn.org).

2023 M.I.N.D.S. Program

Accepted interns will receive:

$1, 200 stipend
CPR/BLS and Narcan Certification
SAT Prep for 1 year
Hands on medical experiencees
Field trips to community organizations, universities
And more!

Eligible Candidates:

Must begin their junior or senior year in September 2023
Must identify as African American, Latinos/Hispanic American, and Native American (American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian), first generation, OR financially disadvantaged
Must complete an application
Must submit an unofficial transcript with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Must provide 1 recommendation letter from a teacher, principal, guidance counselor, or community leader
Must submit a 500 word essay that answers the prompt, “Why are you interested in pursuing a career in medicine?”

Competitive applicants will be invited for an in-person interview.

Statistics from the 2019 Application Pool:

145 students applied
3.67 Average GPA
81% identified as female, 18% as male

Questions?

Tadé Ayeni, EdD
Director of the Office of Diversity and Equity
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
123 Metro Blvd., Building 123, Nutley, NJ, 07110
Tade.Ayeni@hmhn.org
(717) 827-7892

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the dates the internship is held?
The internship will be held July 20–August 27th, Monday–Thursday.

Where is the internship held?
The internship will be held at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine located at 340 Kingsland St Nutley, NJ 07110. Interns will be working Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

If COVID-19 regulations prevent the internship from being held in-person, the program will still take place virtually on the same dates (07/20 – 08/27) with a modified daily schedule.

Does the internship provide transportation?
Transportation is available by request.

Will the internship provide lunch for the interns?
Interns will be given notice if lunch will be provided on any given day during the internship. Students are encouraged to bring their own meals, but lunch can also be bought from the café on campus.

Do interns have to complete exams?
Yes! Each week interns will be tested on SAT material and medical knowledge.

Application Information

The application portal for the 2023 Medical Internship Navigating Diversity and Science (MINDS) is now open. Please submit a fully completed and accurate application, along with all supplementary documents to be considered.

Preferred Gender Pronoun*
Name*
First Last
Phone*
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
Date of Birth*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Sex*
Ethnicity*
Year in High School*
Name of High School*
Overall GPA*
Transcript
Max. file size: 80 MB.
File uploads may not work on some mobile devices. Your transcript should reflect all years completed in high school. Please Attach Transcript (PDF)
Caregiver Information
Caregiver Name*
First Last
Caregiver Phone*
Caregiver Email*
Is your primary caregiver(s) a college graduate?
Name*
Name of Person Providing Recommendation (Please have your recommendation letter writer send their letter to Tade.Ayeni@hmhn.org. Applications will not be considered complete until the letter of recommendation is received.)
First Last
Email*
E-Mail Address of Person Providing Recommendation Letter
Essay: “Why are you interested in pursuing a career in medicine?"
Max. file size: 80 MB.
File uploads may not work on some mobile devices. Please attach a 500-word essay answering the prompt “Why are you interested in pursuing a career in medicine?" (PDF)
How did you hear about this program?*
This is an extremely competitive program. You must attend every day of the program. Will you be available Monday - Thursday from July 17th to August 25th?*

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Mission and Vision
Students and Faculty
Student Clubs/Organizations
High School Pre-Med
Undergraduate Pre-Med
Diversity and Equity Committee
You Belong Here
Contact Us

Tadé Ayeni, Ed.D
Director of Diversity & Equity

Photo of Tade Ayeni Dr. Tadé Ayeni is the Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and an Assistant Professor at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Dr. Ayeni received his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University where he was first introduced to the study of societal inequities and people who have been historically marginalized. Subsequently he completed a Master’s Degree in English Literature at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Saint Joseph’s University. His dissertation was a phenomenological study of the experiences of underrepresented minority students in medicine as they matriculate to and through medical school.

As the Director of Diversity and Equity, one of his goals will be to create meaningful connections with people from various backgrounds within and outside of the medical school with the aim of working toward a more genuinely equitable educational system for all students. Dr. Ayeni’s educational philosophy centers on moving away from merely teaching students to memorize facts, and helping them enter a more genuine learning process by equipping them with the tools of inquiry to become lifelong learners and researchers.

Tade Ayeni, Ed.D
Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
123 Metro Blvd., Building 123, Nutley, NJ, 07110
Tade.Ayeni@hmhn.org
(717) 827-7892

Past Cohorts