Looking around his undergraduate classes at Yale, Mexican-American Daniel Sanchez saw a lack of diversity among his fellow pre-meds. Since the 1990s, minority applicants to medical school have decreased as diversity in the United States increased.

During a summertime internship at Stanford after his sophomore year, Sanchez had the opportunity to experience medical careers firsthand and found a network of supporters in his quest for a medical degree. "It was a chance to re-evaluate what I really want to do with my life, and I decided I want to devote my life to medicine," Sanchez said.

The medical center's Health Careers Opportunity Program, known as HCOP, runs a six-week summer program for college sophomores from underrepresented minority groups. The 25 students selected each year don't get straight A's; rather, the program targets dedicated students who could use a little help achieving their goals. Glenn Valenzuela, a third-year medical student who has served as a residential coordinator, mentor and anatomy instructor for HCOP, describes the program as "medical boot camp with love."

The students take courses in anatomy and cell biology, attend workshops on the medical school admissions process, listen to guest lecturers and enjoy social activities. They also take a practice MCAT -- a standardized test required for medical school admission -- and spend one morning each week shadowing a clinician. Medical students teach most of the classes and also mentor the undergraduates, a process that often continues when the six weeks are over.

"Ever since I've been involved I've tried to keep in touch and make sure my students aren't falling through the cracks," Valenzuela said.

After graduating from Yale, Sanchez spent two years teaching eighth grade in the Los Angeles Unified School District through the Teach for America program. Now he is heading back to Stanford, this time as a medical student. "Stanford has always been there for me," Sanchez said. The diversity here was also a factor. "I didn't even apply to schools without any Mexican-American minorities."

So far, 104 students have completed the HCOP program. "Students leave feeling empowered. They form student health clubs and become leaders on their campuses," said Kathryn Fitzgerald, associate director of the program.

Fifteen HCOP graduates have entered medical school, and Sanchez is the third to attend Stanford. The other two, Ana Miranda and Cesar Hernandez, will teach an HCOP workshop on medical school admissions this year with Ronald Garcia, PhD, who directs both HCOP and the Center of Excellence, which has as its goal increasing the number of underrepresented minority leaders in academic and clinical medicine at Stanford.

"It's inspiring to see their level of commitment to the program," Garcia said. "It will be a unique year, with the chemistry of having them involved and able to relate to the students."

This year's Bay Area HCOP students will have the opportunity to extend their HCOP experience by taking part in the new Community Health Scholars Program. Working with local community clinics, they will carry out a research project during the academic year as well as attend seminars at Stanford. Garcia said he hopes the research projects lead to published papers as well as an increased understanding of minority health issues.

"We really need to invest in training clinicians who are informed, who are skilled, who know about issues related to culture, language and diversity, because the population is going there," Garcia said.

HCOP is looking for faculty, fellows and house staff for students to shadow from 9 a.m. to noon on June 26, July 3,10, 15, 22 or 31. Participating clinicians will work with one or two students each week.

Interested volunteers should contact Fitzgerald at 498-4003 or kathrynf@stanford.edu.