Vanderbilt Initiative for Medical Student Training in Oncology (VISTO) Program
The VISTO Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) provides a 12-month, paid mentored cancer research experience for medical students. VISTO aims to support medical students interested in cancer research by matching them with a faculty mentor and providing career development activities that will help prepare them for a career in biomedical research.
About the VISTO Program
Program Benefits
- Competitive salary supplement
- Career development seminars and counseling
- 1-1 Mentorship and Community of Practice
- In addition to research, VISTO fellows will have the opportunity to participate in:
- Meharry Medical College (MMC)-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State University (TSU) Cancer Partnership (MVTCP) online modules
- Cancer Biology Science Hour presentation
- VICC Annual Scientific Retreat, MVTCP retreat, and other retreats
- Scientific conferences
- Career Path Lunch & Learn Sessions
- Online resources from Vanderbilt University, Nature Masterclasses
- Science & Community Impact Talks
- Volunteer opportunities
Eligibility
Prospective applicants must:
- Be a medical student at Vanderbilt University or Meharry Medical College.
- Be in good academic standing and have passed the Step 1 exam before July 2026.
- Be able to commit full-time to the 12-month program starting July 2026.
- Have a strong interest in cancer research.
Research Areas
Participants will engage in research with a faculty investigator aligned with one of VICC’s seven research programs:
- Cancer Health Outcomes and Control
- Cancer Epidemiology
- Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment
- Cancer Cell Biology
- Breast Cancer
- Genome Maintenance
Contact & Application
Applications for the 2026-2027 program are due by January 2nd, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST. Required application materials include:
- Two letters of recommendation from an educator
- A letter from your institution’s Dean of Student Affairs confirming that you are currently enrolled and in good academic standing
- A statement of interest
To apply, click here: https://redcap.link/VISTO
For questions, please contact us at: viccprograms@vumc.org
