Summer Student Research Program

Women's College Hospital (WCH) is an academic, ambulatory care hospital in Ontario with a focus on health for women, health equity and health system solutions. If you're ready to be part of a team that is revolutionizing the future of healthcare, then you will want to join an institution where the possibilities for innovation, new discovery and system thinking are limitless. Women's College Hospital is committed to equity, quality and patient safety as key professional values and essential components of daily practice.
Healthcare Revolutionized 2030 is our roadmap to the future. Our strategy is built on the pledge that the founders of our hospital made 140 years ago and reaffirms our commitment to providing equitable, accessible, best-in-class healthcare for everyone - meeting people where they are on their healthcare journey and partnering with them to reach their goals of living their healthiest lives possible. The stage has been set for Women’s to accelerate our priorities and capture the momentum to catapult our system forward to revolutionize healthcare for everyone.
Applicants must reside and be legally eligible to work in Ontario.
The Women’s College Hospital Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) is designed to introduce students to the world of scientific and health research. Our high school program is uniquely tailored to give students a hands-on experience that helps them take the next step in their academic careers and learning journeys.
Our high school program will offer high school students first-hand experience on the research currently underway at Women’s College Hospital over 6 weeks in the summer. This temporary full-time (35 hours per week) opportunity will take place from July 8th to August 16th, 2025.
This opportunity is supported by the Emily Stowe Scholar Program (ESSP) which assembles a community of individuals, foundations and corporations dedicated to breaking down barriers to careers in academics and health leadership. The ESSP is committed to establishing relationships that support, mentor, and advance the wholistic development of diverse persons that self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized women, 2SLGBTQI+, two-spirit, trans, non-binary, and persons with a disability who have been systemically and historically excluded in health care and health science career trajectories.
This program is designed, in part, to assist equity-deserving students to achieve equal opportunity in academics and to build pathways toward careers in health leadership in accordance with the Special Programs provision under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
- A copy of your most recent high school transcript
- A written letter of reference on official letter head with contact information of referee (from a current/past teacher)
- A brief resume including contact information, the high school you are attending, any part-time work or

volunteer experiences, as well as any school extracurriculars
- A short essay (500 words max.) and/or creative project (i.e., video, painting, drawing,

**song, poem, etc.) that answers the following question**:
How would you use science to impact or empower your community?
**Summary of Duties, but not limited to**:
Individual student responsibilities and tasks will vary depending on the final research project and will be up to the discretion of the Principal Investigator.
The summer research high school student may be involved in some or all the following activities:

- Working with the project team and relevant partners to implement a project
- Assisting with data entry
- Helping with literature searches, as required
- Assisting investigators in preparation of materials for presentation and publication, and
- Observing clinician-researchers in a clinic setting and/or during rounds, as appropriate.

The responsibilities described above are representative and are not to be construed as all-inclusive.
As a WCH Summer Research Student, it is expected that you will participate in the activities of the Summer Student Research Program and Academics at WCH, including weekly group sessions, panels and webinars, Summer Student Research Week, research showcase, and any other networking initiatives.
As a learner, you will work to identify and engage in best practices that contribute to the delivery of safe, cultural appropriate, and exemplary care.

**Qualifications**:

- Students must be enrolled in grade 11 or 12 of high school and/or will be graduating in June 2025
- At least 16 years old by start date (July 8th, 2025)
- Must have previously taken grade 11/12 Biology and Chemistry
- Demonstrated interest and commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in the health care sciences is preferred
- Willingness to respectfully engage with culturally diverse ways of knowing considered an asset
- Highly motivated; capacity and willingness to learn
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft programs (