2025 Program Dates: 6/2/2025 - 7/25/2025
Applications for the 2025 Four Directions Program will open in Fall 2024.
Four Directions Summer Research Program
The Four Directions Summer Research Program (FDSRP) is a unique summer research opportunity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) for undergraduate rising sophomores, juniors and seniors with a commitment to the health of Native American communities. Students engage in a basic science research project under the direction of a Faculty Mentor. Additional activities include clinical shadowing, career development seminars, weekly Talking Circles, networking events and more. Upon completion of the program, students leave BWH with new skills, experiences and knowledge that can be used to empower themselves, their communities and future generations of Native peoples from all Four Directions.
Our Mission
The mission of the Four Directions Summer Research Program (FDSRP) is to train the next generation of leaders in Native American health care. With the support of our research administration. Under the guidance of BWH faculty, FDSRP is able to prepare students with mentoring, networking, and hands on research experience under the guidance of BWH faculty.
Our Goals
To provide students with tools, information and opportunities on their journey to becoming physicians, researchers and public health professionals; as well as role models and teachers in the academic community. To create an extensive network of health professionals dedicated to Indigenous Health Care that will serve as a venue for knowledge sharing, nationwide mentoring and advocacy. To cultivate students’ understanding and awareness of Native American health issues and minority health issues more broadly.
Our History
The Four Directions Summer Research Program was founded by Native American students attending Harvard Medical School. These students shared a common vision of increasing educational and career opportunities for promising Native American students. With the help of a few devoted medical school faculty, the program was launched in 1994 with the successful enrollment of 6 students for the first summer. FDSRP is now in its 30th year and has brought over 200 students to BWH and HMS.
Location
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Center for Diversity & Inclusion
Thorn 13 Suite 1304
20 Shattuck Street
Boston, MA 02115-6054
Hours
Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm
Watch: 1st Generation Journeys at Harvard Medical School
Program Features
Features
- Eight-week research experience. Students work with their lab mentor to submit an abstract of their summer research and share their research findings during a final research presentation day.
- Clinical shadowing. Students will shadow clinicians for half a day across a wide range of disciplines at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Talking Circle. The Talking Circle is a traditional aspect of Native American culture, where students meet weekly with Program Directors and mentors to discuss a variety of topics.
- Professional and Career Development Workshops. Students meet regularly with faculty from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Harvard Medical School (HMS) and Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) to discuss topics such as MD/PhD programs, medical school admissions, health policy, interviewing and presentation skills.
- Social & Networking Events. Group dinners and barbecues, sight-seeing
around Boston, networking events with faculty, trainees and students.
Financial Support
- Transportation to and from Boston. We
provide the students with a subway pass and transportation to and from the airport. - Housing. Our program provides housing free of charge for the entire length of the eight-week program. We also provide pots, pans and other utensils for meal preparation.
- Living stipend. FDSRP and provides each student a stipend of $5,000 for the eight-week program.
Select program meals and social activities. Includes light breakfasts and lunches during workshops, weekly dinners for Talking Circle, and food, transportation and tickets for program-specific social activities.
Program Team
Sharlay Butler, MD, MPH
Faculty Director, BWH Summer Research Programs
Dr. Butler is an academic generalist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She played collegiate basketball in Nebraska and attended medical school at the University of Washington. After completing her OBGYN residency at Northwestern, she finished a fellowship in Reproductive Infectious Disease and Master of Public Health in Infectious Disease Management, Intervention and Community Practice at Magee Women’s Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Butler enjoys mentoring and teaching all learners and practices full spectrum general OBGYN centered in health equity, cultural humility, and respect. Her research interests are in implementation science as it pertains to STI/HIV prevention and treatment, medical education, and community informed healthcare delivery.
Tom Sequist MD, MPH
Program Advisor
Dr. Sequist is the Chief Patient Experience and Equity Officer at Mass General Brigham. In this role he leads system wide strategies for improving patient experience and health care equity, while also leading core programs in quality and safety. He is a member of the Taos Pueblo tribe in New Mexico and is committed to improving Native American health care.
Josine Uwase
Project Coordinator, CDI
Josine Uwase is the project coordinator for the BWH Summer Research Programs. She is responsible for planning, implementation and delivery for the STARS and the Four Directions programs. Prior to her role at the CDI, Josine worked for the international office at Massachusetts General Brigham as an immigration coordinator for 2.6 years. Josine has an undergraduate degree from UMass Boston in international relations and a minor in Spanish.
How To Apply
Prepare & Submit Your Online Application
- Write your Personal Statement
Please describe in 400-750 words your educational and professional goals, and how your participation in the BWH Four Directions Summer Research Program will assist in meeting your goals. Be sure to articulate your qualifications and reasons for wishing to participate in the program. Please upload your personal statement to the application as a word document or PDF file. Be sure to include your last name as a header on all pages.
- Write your answer to the Essay Question: In 150 words or less, please describe your involvement in the Native American Community. Please be sure to include any hobbies, cultural activities or volunteer work that may demonstrate your contribution to the lives of Native People.
- Send your Unofficial Transcript: Please have them sent to: fourdirections@bwh.harvard.edu (PDF format)
- Request 2 Letters of Recommendations (you must make these requests).
Recommendation letters must be submitted :Via Email to fourdirections@bwh.harvard.edu
Letter should be emailed as a PDF document and include an official letterhead at the top.
Letter must be emailed DIRECTLY by the letter writer. - Complete online application here and upload your essay.
- Wait for application confirmation screen
Important Dates & Deadlines
Application Opens:
November 1st, 2024
2025 Program Dates:
Monday, June 2nd, 2025 – Friday, July 25, 2025
All FDSRP Required Supporting Materials must be received by our office by: January 3rd, 2025
FAQ
Do I have to be Native American/Alaskan Native to apply?
Anyone with a demonstrated commitment to the health of Native American communities is welcome to apply to our program. However, we strongly encourage Native American/Alaskan Native students to apply.
How much is the research stipend?
The research stipend for the eight-week program is $5,000 USD. Stipends will be delivered the 3rd or 4th week of the programs please note that you should bring some funds to cover cost the first few weeks.
Do I need prior research experience to be a competitive applicant?
No. Many of our students enter the program with no prior lab experience. Our program places you with a Harvard Medical School lab mentor who will guide you through your research and make themselves available to answer any questions throughout the process.
Where are we housed during the program?
FDSRP students are housed at the MassArt School of Design Artists’ Residence for the eight-week program. The Artists’ Residence is apartment-style housing with individual rooms and a shared kitchen area. The Artists’ Residence is walking distance to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, making it easy to get to and from lab each day.
How do I arrange my travel for the program?
Our team books your travel internally and covers the complete cost of travel to and from Boston. This includes your flight/bus to and from Boston Logan Airport as well as your travel from Boston Logan Airport to your housing at MassArt Artists’ Residence, and vice versa upon departure.
