The Student Doctor Network, known as SDN, (www.studentdoctor.net) was founded on December 1, 1999, and is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Published by the Health Professional Student Association (HPSA.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, SDN has helped prehealth and health professional students achieve their career dreams for a quarter century. The heart of SDN is its vibrant forum community, with over 875,000 members contributing to more than 1.2 million discussion threads. These conversations have provided invaluable guidance and support to countless students navigating their path to healthcare careers.

“For 25 years, SDN has helped students across health professions become doctors,” said Laura Turner, Executive Director of HPSA. “Thousands of physicians, dentists, psychologists, veterinarians, and other doctoral-level health professionals have relied on SDN for advice and support as they completed their applications, moved through their education, and into their careers. We’re excited to mark this incredible milestone and reflect on the countless students we’ve supported on their journey to becoming healthcare professionals.”

The Health Professional Student Association believes that regardless of background, every student should be able to achieve their dreams of becoming a healthcare professional. It executes this mission to help students from underserved communities to become healthcare providers in their communities. The Student Doctor Network is a key component to support that vision, allowing free or low-cost resources and expert advising to be delivered via the Internet to students nationwide.

25th Anniversary Initiatives

As a part of the 25th-anniversary celebrations, SDN is launching several new initiatives. The largest is a new scholarship targeted towards prehealth students, opening today to applicants.

“It has only grown more difficult to apply to health professional school over the past 25 years as costs have continued to increase,” notes Emil Chuck, PhD, Director of Advising Services, HPSA. “An average medical school applicant will spend over $4,000 on test prep, test fees, applications, and interview travel. This scholarship is designed to help students from underserved areas and underresourced backgrounds with these costs, helping them achieve their dreams of getting into health professional school.”

Four $2,500 scholarships will be awarded in May 2025 to students pursuing admission to doctoral-level health professions in the 2025-2026 application cycle. Interested students can learn more about the scholarship and submit a preliminary application.

In addition to the scholarship, SDN will offer exclusive partner discounts to all SDN forum community members. “SDN would not be where we are today without the support of partners and sponsors, and we appreciate their long-term commitment to the mission of the Student Doctor Network.”

History of SDN

Since its founding in 1999, the Student Doctor Network has grown from a small community forum to one of the largest online resources for pre-health and health professional students. SDN has continually expanded its offerings, launching tools like the Application Cost Calculator and Interview Feedback database, which have supported thousands of students in their journey to healthcare careers. 

Moving into the Future

The Student Doctor Network continues to evolve, adding additional tools and resources to support the HPSA mission in four specific ways:

• Provide free, expert advice
  In addition to providing extensive tools and articles detailing the admissions and healthcare education process, SDN’s Confidential Expert Advice allows students to privately ask their questions to our panel of vetted experts.
   
• Advocate for students in the admissions process and their education
  SDN and HPSA are at the forefront of researching emerging trends in healthcare admissions and training.
   
• Connect students with opportunities to support their application
  SDN tools include Activity Finder, which helps students find extracurriculars to support their health professional school admission.
   
• Encourage careers supporting community health
  The Becoming a Student Doctor course helps students understand their role in the larger healthcare environment and how they can better advocate for healthy communities.

“Over the past few years, we have developed a new course to help students with leadership topics they could be asked about during the application process called Becoming a Student Doctor. This course includes deep dives into interprofessional healthcare topics and one-on-one application advising,” said Chuck, who presents the course. “Thanks to the support of our sponsors and donors, we can offer this course at a nominal cost, or free to students who meet scholarship requirements.”

“We also are excited about the research surveys we’ve conducted on the admissions process,” said Laura Turner. “Our surveys have covered the experiences students have with situational judgment tests, a newer hurdle added to the admissions process, and how students use Generative AI tools in their education and application processes. These surveys have highlighted important impacts to students that admissions committees should consider as they implement new test requirements and policies.”

Founder Lee Burnett, DO, FAAFP, concludes, “I’m humbled to see how SDN has grown and developed through the amazing work of our volunteers, members, and staff. As we celebrate 25 years, we invite you to join us in shaping the next chapter of SDN. Whether you’re a student seeking guidance, a healthcare professional ready to give back, or an organization looking to support our mission, there’s a place for you here. Explore our resources, share your journey, and partner with us to ensure every aspiring young student has the tools they need to become a successful doctor.”