Summer Advocacy Exchange Program
Summer Advocacy Exchange Program
The minor in science and patient advocacy is proud to offer a variety of ways students can gain hands-on, real-world experience working with rare disease patients, their families, and the organizations that support them. The Summer Advocacy Exchange Program (formerly the Summer Immersion Program), funded by Ms. Laura Schumacher, awards students with a summer stipend to work directly with a rare disease patient service organization in order to gain immersive experience, while also providing a benefit to the partnering organization. Students who are selected as grantees receive a stipend of $6,000 for the 10-week program. Additional supply and travel funding may be available.
The Patient Advocacy Initiative team solicits potential projects from collaborating organizations at the end of each fall by invitation, and interested students apply early in the subsequent spring semester. Successful student candidates will be matched with a partnering organization based on interests and skillset needed for the summer project.
Student Responsibilities:
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Commit to a full-time schedule (approximately 35–40 hours per week) for the duration of the program. Due to the full-time schedule of this opportunity, the expectation is that you are not taking on additional summer employment elsewhere. Duties to the host site should remain the top priority.
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Treat the experience as a professional position—arrive on time, meet deadlines, and maintain open, respectful communication.
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Take initiative in understanding the organization’s mission, identifying ways to contribute, and following through on assigned projects.
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Communicate clearly and proactively with your host supervisor—especially regarding expectations, workload, and any challenges that arise.
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Respond promptly to feedback and be open to mentorship and learning opportunities provided by your host organization.
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Represent the university and the Patient Advocacy Initiative professionally and positively at all times.
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Participate in required onboarding training (Spring 2026), biweekly reflections on Canvas Discussion Boards, post-program evaluation survey, and Patient Advocacy Summit poster session (Fall 2026).
2026 Program Timeline
Application Cycle: October 27 – November 25, 2025
Notification Date: No later than December 18, 2025
Exchange Program: Approximately May 26 – August 1, 2026 (10 weeks, full-time). Dates can vary slightly depending on specific needs of organization, supervisor, and/or student.