The HPME program will no longer be accepting applications.
Discover your passion at Northwestern.
The Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) at Northwestern is a seven year BA/MD program. Our program is for exceptional, focused and dedicated students who want to become leaders in medicine, while also exploring a variety of experiences.
Why Northwestern HPME?
Research, volunteerism, and travel are all within reach of the HPME student. Our program supports undergraduate students personally and academically. We encourage the exploration of interests beyond the classroom.
Discover Northwestern HPME
Student Perspectives
Discover how our students used the HPME program to pursue personal interests. Get their perspective on why Northwestern HPME was right for them.
Victor
Pursued a MPhil in Sociology at Cambridge University on a Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The HPME program has opened many doors for me. At Northwestern, I dove into global health as a freshman and became President of a nationally run student-led global health and development organization called GlobeMed."
Smitha
Received Fogarty Global Health Fellowship and took a gap year between the third and fourth years of medical school
“I’m so grateful to HPME and the Northwestern community for giving me the opportunity to find my passion and to launch into an exciting career.” "
Prarthana
Pursuing a MD/PhD through the Medical Scientist Training Program
As an undergraduate student I was able to freely explore my interests in basic science, public health and clinical research without the tremendous pressure of having to apply to medical school. I studied biological sciences as my major but I was also able to study abroad, complete a global health minor, do a public health internship under a Northwestern Summer Research Grant and be very involved in South Asian cultural groups on campus."
Monica
Taught English in South Korea on a Fulbright Scholarship
“It’s an undeniably incredible feeling to be accepted to medical school at the age of 18 and have a sense of assurance in your future plans. Through college, I felt a sense of security knowing that I could diversify my skills and interests without having to worry about what it would mean for a medical school application.”"
Liz
Took a gap year to work for a management consulting firm between undergrad and medical school
“These experiences helped me develop on so many fronts. I learned about the greater healthcare landscape that I would eventually be plugging into, I learned the communication and professional skills needed to successfully work with people from all walks of life, and I learned an analytical skill set that I can apply to any complex problem.”"
Lisa
Pursued the MD/MPH degree
I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities being a Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) student has given me—my seven years with the program have exceeded all of my expectations. As part of HPME I have been able to explore my interests and even develop passions I didn’t know I had. "
Charlie
Got outside of his comfort zone with global education experiences
HPME allowed me all to explore all of my interests outside of medicine, which truly bolstered my undergraduate experience, but what I did not realize at the time is that it also prepared me for medical school. "
Ajay
Pursued the MD/MBA Program
HPME provided me space for creativity, allowing me to explore important questions (both personal and professional) with the support of an incredible institution and program behind me."
Adrienne
Awarded a Howard Hughes Research Fellowship at the National Institute of Health
The accelerated nature of the HPME’s undergraduate training gave me the me the comfort to take a yearlong HHMI fellowship during medical school, which in turn provided numerous additional opportunities as I continue to work towards my ultimate career goal of becoming a physician-scientist."
