Guthrie Scholars Program

The Guthrie Scholars program is designed to give qualified students at both Wilkes University and Binghamton University who are interested in pursuing medicine the opportunity to earn 12-15 credits while gaining first-hand knowledge of the life of a physician.

The selected students participate in a research project (bench or clinical), attend Medical and Surgical Grand Rounds, hear lectures, participate in Teaching Rounds, shadow physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, allied health care providers, and administrators. They also spend days with Guthrie Hospice and Guthrie Home Health care, a day with the Greater Valley Ambulance Service, and a possible day with the Guthrie Air Flight Team.

Scholars Program Eligibility

To be eligible for the Guthrie Scholars program, students must be a resident of one of the following counties:

  • In New York – Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, Tompkins or Tioga (other counties by special circumstances)
  • In Pennsylvania – Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Cameron, Elk, McKean or Potter (other counties by special circumstances).

Additionally, students must be suggested by their respected academic institution and go through Guthrie's interview process.

Wilkes Student Qualifications:

Students must be at least in their junior year in high school to begin the application process. They must also have gained acceptance into Wilkes University and have completed a premedical scholar's application with Wilkes University by November 15 of each year to be considered for the Guthrie Scholars Program.

For more information, interested students should contact Constance Dombroski at Wilkes University to indicate interest in the Wilkes University Guthrie Premedical Scholars Program.  Wilkes University also has spots open for current students who may have decided upon medicine after enrollment into Wilkes University.

Constance Dombroski, M.S.
Director, Center for Health Sciences & Student Success
Vice Chair, University Staff Advisory Committee (USAC)
Wilkes University 
P: (570) 408-4823

Binghamton Student Qualifications:

Students must be part of the Binghamton Scholars program.  The student must apply on a semester-by-semester basis through their school to obtain a possible interview.  For more information, interested students should contact Katherine Bouman at Binghamton University to indicate interest in the Binghamton University Guthrie Premedical Scholars Program. 

Katherine Bouman
Associate Director
Binghamton University Scholars Program
Phone: (607) 777-3593

Presentations

Guthrie Scholars

“I was a Guthrie scholar during my first semester of junior year of college. I cannot express how valuable this experience was for me in terms of exposure and insight into the medical field. I was always interested in science and I signed up to be a Guthrie scholar already knowing that I wanted to apply to medical school one day. My time as a Guthrie scholar not only solidified my decision to go into medicine, but also helped me grow as a future doctor.

It is difficult to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at the ripe age of 17, especially when the only exposure you’ve had to the field is through the rose colored glasses of a medical TV show drama. If you asked me before my experience as a Guthrie scholar what my reasoning was for wanting to enter the medical field, I would have told you that I’m interested in science and helping people, which is absolutely true. However, there are many fields out there that allow you to do just that.

The unique experience of spending valuable one on one time with physicians from different backgrounds in almost every specialty under the sun allowed me to truly understand why I wanted to sign up for many more years of schooling and loans. I gained useful clinical knowledge from my preceptors well in advance of medical school, and I learned invaluable life lessons. I realized that my love for learning, and finding the answer to the question “why” is the reason I wanted to go to medical school. I learned that medicine is about going beyond the surface to piece together a puzzle of not only a certain pathology, but of a full human being with complex life circumstances and excruciating individuality. I knew that I wanted to go to school for as long as is necessary to have all the knowledge and tools to be able to confidently take care of my future patients. Now, as a third year medical student, I still have this same mindset and I’m forever grateful for the eye opening experience that I had at such an early stage of my future career as a Guthrie Scholar.”
Jessica Pinsker

Jessica Pinsker

Binghamton University/SUNY Upstate