The Department of Neurosurgery at NYU Langone offers a four-week ‘Pathways to Medicine (PTM)’ summer observership program in the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery for undergraduates interested in pursuing a career in medicine or neurosurgery. During the program, supervised by Eveline Teresa Hidalgo, MD, college students shadow pediatric neurosurgeons in their offices and participate in clinical research projects.

Our division is one of the world’s leading centers for the neurosurgical treatment of children with brain and spinal tumors, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, Chiari malformations, spina bifida, pediatric spine disorders, and other congenital and developmental conditions of the nervous system.

Our summer 2025 program applications are now open. The program will include two sessions: May 26 to June 20th and June 30th to July 25th. Application deadline is March 1st.

Applicant Requirements

This year’s program is designed to support students who have faced barriers to entering the healthcare and research fields, with a focus on expanding opportunities for those with limited access to educational and professional development resources.

Prospective observers should have completed their freshman year of college. We seek observers who can demonstrate good teamwork skills, respect for our patients, and professional behavior.

Applicants should also be New York City residents and meet one of the following criteria:

• have a background that has been underrepresented in healthcare and scientific fields
• be a first-generation college student
• have faced significant financial hardship, as defined by New York State’s income eligibility guidelines for reduced or free lunch

We recognize that food and travel in New York City can be costly for college students. Our summer program provides food vouchers for our NYU Langone cafeterias, as well as MetroCards for students during their session.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a CV or resume and a motivational letter online (one page max).

Your motivational letter should be an introduction of yourself and a brief description of why you are interested in our program. It should also include how you meet the criteria for the program.

The application deadline is March 1, 2024. We will send responses beginning on March 8, 2024. When applying please make sure to indicate which session you are interested in.

Contact Us

For more information about our PTM summer observership for undergraduates, please contact Madeline Ventura, office administrator, at Madeline.Ventura@NYULangone.org.