How do we define health? How do we promote it? From life sciences to biomedical research, from public health policy to self-care, how we think about and access health is complex. At Kenyon you can explore the practical, cultural and ethical underpinnings of our health systems, with hands-on opportunities at local hospitals and health departments, as well as training with faculty and health professionals conducting new research and more.
Med School Acceptance Rate Double the National Average
Kenyon students are accepted to medical school at twice the national average — an outcome built on a rigorous academic experience, intentional advising, consistent clinical and field experiences, and a community committed to helping every student succeed.Go Deep with Paid Research
Research takes center stage during the summer months at Kenyon, with funding for mentored research projects as early as your first year. Here are a few.
The Cascade Science Scholars program is designed for first-year and second-year students in the natural sciences who have no previous research experience. Students work for up to 10 weeks, during the summer, in close collaboration with faculty-student research teams in the natural sciences supported by the Summer Science program. Six to ten scholars are funded by the College.
Kenyon Keys Student Research Grants provide support for students to conduct site-specific research related to one or more of the Kenyon Keys. Keys grants support projects at various stages of development and provide funding for travel, accommodations, meals or other expenses necessary to conduct research and develop projects in a sustained way at archives, libraries, institutes, centers or other sites off campus.
Six qualified undergraduate students are selected each year for this highly competitive 10-week summer research program at the James Cancer Center at The Ohio State University. Scholars participate in groundbreaking studies and methods to advance cancer research, such as exploring strategies for metastatic cancer treatment and optimizing clinical management decisions for patients with gallbladder cancer.
Science Education and Outreach Scholars work with the Office of Community Partnerships, natural sciences faculty and local science teachers to develop and conduct targeted science programming for K-12 students. Scholars develop educational modules during the summer and carry out the work in the community the following year.
Summer Science Scholars, Kenyon’s oldest student-faculty mentored summer program, supports more than 30 student-faculty pairs. The student spends up to 10 weeks in the summer to delve into research projects in the natural sciences.
Biomedical Career Trek
Columbus, Ohio, is a healthcare hub, with a nationally ranked pediatric hospital, a leading cancer center and a growing biotech industry. During academic breaks, the Career Development Office organizes career treks where you can tour medical facilities and shadow researchers and physicians, many of them Kenyon alumni.Fast-track Your Internship
Every year, Kenyon alumni, parents and partner organizations turn to the College for talented interns. In addition to sourcing opportunities, Kenyon offers funding to supplement wages or offset expenses for internships that would otherwise be out of financial reach. Here is a sample of opportunities offered exclusively to Kenyon students in recent years.
Knox Public Health offers an internship to supervise and mentor teens (ages 14-19) in a community garden program teaching sustainable agriculture, nutrition and life skills. Interns lead garden maintenance, facilitate educational workshops with local experts, coordinate farmers market activities, and create an inclusive learning environment focused on food systems and youth development.
Stonewall Columbus offers a summer internship supporting LGBTQ+ community programming, Pride festival operations, communications, or development at one of the Midwest's largest Pride organizations. Interns choose from four focus tracks, contribute to Pride Month activities, and complete a capstone project in community programs, marketing, donor stewardship or event operations.
The USC Childhood Cancer Research Laboratory offers a research opportunity to conduct laboratory research investigating gene imprinting and childhood brain tumor risk using California Biobank samples. Interns work with PhD students using droplet digital PCR techniques to analyze neonatal blood spots, participate in weekly lab meetings, and gain hands-on experience in molecular biology and cancer epidemiology.
Gain Experience Abroad
If you’re interested in healthcare or public health, studying abroad can give you a view into healthcare systems across countries and cultures. Here are a few programs to explore.
With their publicly financed, universal healthcare systems, Sweden and Denmark serve as unique case studies of the challenges and opportunities in modern public health issues. This makes the DIS program in public health an especially interesting option.
In the IFSA London program, courses in public health are taught by London-based faculty at the IFSA Program Center in Mayfair. In addition, IFSA offers a health sciences career accelerator to stay on track with pre-health studies.
In MSID's health in Thailand program, study the close link between environmental, animal and human welfare and its impact on community health in Thailand. Learn about the Thai approach to public health, family planning, health education, illness prevention, zoonotic diseases and more. Complete an internship or research related to public health, community education or veterinary health.
SIT offers programs in public health and well-being in multiple countries around the globe.
Clubs & Organizations
-
KC Meds
KC Meds helps students explore careers in medicine by coordinating job shadows with local health professionals and providing MCAT study material and review opportunities.
-
Active Minds
Active Minds is the Kenyon chapter of a nationwide organization that promotes mental health for young adults.
-
Clubs Sports and Recreation
From rugby and frisbee to archery and running to recreational soccer, swim and equestrian teams, Kenyon offers more than a dozen club sports for athletes of all levels. Explore.
-
Morgan’s Message
Morgan’s Message strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics.
