The mission of CUPID — Cancer in the Under-Privileged Indigent or Disadvantaged — is to address the impending shortage of practicing oncologists within the United States and to cultivate an interest in cancer treatment and research among medical students with an interest in underserved populations who have not yet fully defined their career plans.
What we are trying to do is say, ‘We’re glad you’re interested in taking care of under-served populations. Please consider taking care of them with respect to oncology and cancer, because that group—cancer patients—are really in need.’
Richard Zellars, MD — CUPID program founder and Chair of Radiation Oncology
The program runs for nine weeks. Students complete a longitudinal research project in an oncology basic science laboratory and participate in structured shadowing with medical, surgical and radiation oncology to gain clinical experience in the core specialties of cancer care.
There are daily lunchtime lectures delivered in collaboration with Johns Hopkins and Ohio State University (lunch provided). Presentations are delivered by world renowned experts from all three institutions covering the basic science and epidemiology of cancer, management of specific cancers, and oncologic healthcare disparities.
In addition, “Careers in Oncology” lectures throughout the summer offer insights into the daily life of different oncology specialties, and the path to practice from medical student to faculty. At the conclusion of the summer, students present their research at a formal cancer-center wide seminar.
As part of the CUPID program, students travel to Washington, DC to participate in a cancer advocacy program hosted by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS). Students will learn about advocacy, hear from cancer survivors about the unique challenges faced in survivorship, and will meet with their elected officials to advocate for legislation that address cancer survivorship.
The CUPID program offered me the incredible opportunity to meet cancer survivors and advocates and hear their incredible stories. I learned how to talk to my state representative about topics that matter and use advocacy to work towards positive change. I have been able to stay connected with the advocates I met and feel empowered to reach out to my representatives about topics that matter to me and those around me.
Clayton Hicks — CUPID 2023 Student
Students from any medical school in the United States or U.S. territories can apply. Selection for the CUPID program is based on a history of service/volunteer work, letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. Selected students will receive a stipend for the summer, daily lunch, and travel, and lodging for the advocacy trip to Washington DC. Housing for the summer is available for students who are not primarily located in Indianapolis.
Students may select their location preference of Indianapolis, Baltimore, or Columbus (Ohio State students only), or they may apply to all sites. The number of fellowships at each site is limited and admission is highly competitive.
The programs runs for eight weeks (June 2-Aug. 1, 2025) to align with the student's home institution calendar. Within these dates, students can select an eight-week period that best conforms to the academic calendar of their home medical school. Applicants who are not be available for a full eight-week period will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students with a strong history of service or working with underserved populations who want to learn more about oncology as a career. No previous research experience is required.
Offers for the program are expected to be made in the first week of March 2025. Below you will find the IU School of Medicine CUPID application. Please note that applications for CUPID will be separated by site, please direct yourself to the Johns Hopkins University CUPID website to apply for consideration of participating in the program in Baltimore.
The application deadline for 2025 has passed. Applications for summer 2026 will open in late 2025.
Housing is available for students who are not primarily based at the Indianapolis campus or who are from outside medical schools.
Contact Jordan Holmes, CUPID director, at jorholme@iu.edu.
