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SHPEP convened its last cohort in the Summer of 2026 after 38 years of supporting students pursuing health professions careers. After many years of support for SHPEP, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the program's founding partner and core funder, decided to sunset the initiative following careful deliberation and research. The Foundation is now directing its efforts toward strategies aimed at dismantling structural racism in the health sector at the institutional level. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and RWJF proudly recognize the program’s lasting impact and thousands of students, alumni, organizational partners, and institutional leaders who contributed to its legacy. This website has been preserved as an archival resource to celebrate SHPEP’s history, outcomes, impact, and contributions to the health professions. Learn more about the program’s conclusion in our FAQs.
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Satnam Aulakh

"SHPEP was a phenomenal program that helped me gain confidence in my career path once again."

Ms. Aulakh attended SHPEP in 2020 at the University of Iowa. Today, he is a pre-dental senior and psychology major.

About

Health Profession

Dentistry

Program Year

2020

Program Site

University of Iowa


Contact

Satnam Aulakh

Satnam Aulakh

What led to your interest in a health profession?
Being able to provide quality care for future patients and having a work-life balance at the same time.

What obstacles did you overcome in your educational or career journey?
Study habits, procrastination, imposter syndrome.

How did SHPEP influence you?
SHPEP was a phenomenal program that helped me gain confidence in my career path once again. I was struggling very hard with my GPA and was losing my faith in this path. With SHPEP it has been a blessing for me to keep moving forward. 

What is the best career advice you have received?
Do what makes you happy and don’t listen to the voice in the back of your head saying you cannot do it.

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