Since 2002, Penn Medicine has coordinated the Host Our Students as they Travel (HOST) program.
With the costs of medical education skyrocketing, students often find themselves more than $100,000 in debt upon graduation. Through the HOST program, Penn Medicine and its alumni volunteers can help offset the financial burden of traveling for residency interviews by offering students free housing, meals and transportation in the vicinity of their interview sites.
How Does the HOST Program Work?
The HOST program matches alumni across the country with fourth-year medical students who are seeking information about residency training programs and lifestyles. Many alumni offer to host a student (and his or her spouse) for a one- or two-day stay, typically during the months of October through January.
Perhaps the most valuable part of the program is the part alumni share with the students. As an alumni host, you can offer the benefit of your own experiences, providing an insider’s view of the medical profession, your specialty, and the area in which you live or practice. In turn, you have an opportunity to learn firsthand from a student about the new endeavors your alma mater is embarking upon.
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