Diabetes Virtual Camp for Future Scientists and Physicians
Diabetes Virtual Camp is a free, Zoom-based research internship program that connects students and trainees with diabetes experts from UMass Chan Medical School and beyond. What began during the pandemic as a way to replace a canceled summer research experience has grown into an international learning opportunity for students interested in diabetes research, care, biomedical science, and academic medicine.
Diabetes Virtual Summer Camp 2026
Diabetes Virtual Summer Camp 2026 will be held in August, with registration opening in July.
The program invites high school, college, graduate, and professional students, as well as trainees, researchers, physicians, and other healthcare professionals interested in learning about biomedical research and academic medicine, with a focus on diabetes research and care.
Sessions will highlight current topics in diabetes research and treatment, along with academic career paths in medicine and science.
The program is free for all registered attendees, with a suggested donation to the American Diabetes Association. For more information, visit diabetesvirtualcamp.org.
A Family-Led Program with Global Reach
Diabetes Virtual Camp was created by the family of Jason Kim, PhD, whose laboratory at the UMass Chan Diabetes Center of Excellence investigates obesity, diabetes, and related complications. His research focuses on understanding how inflammation develops in obesity and contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes.
The idea began in 2020, when Dr. Kim’s daughter Lauren had her summer research internship at Harvard Medical School canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lauren and her sister Allison, both interested in careers in medicine and science, helped create an online program that could connect students with diabetes experts.
“It came together quickly and reached hundreds of college and high school students across the world during the pandemic,” said Dr. Kim, Professor in the Program in Molecular Medicine and Director of the Metabolic Disease Research Center at UMass Chan.
Past Participants
Since its launch, Diabetes Virtual Camp has reached more than 2,700 students from 52 countries and 48 U.S. states, representing more than 550 colleges and universities worldwide.
Many participants have been students from underrepresented backgrounds, students living with type 1 diabetes, or students with family members affected by diabetes.
“We’ve partnered with the American Diabetes Association and have raised thousands of dollars for diabetes research, education, and care,” said Dr. Kim. “Our mission is to support diabetes education and inspire a new generation of physicians and scientists.”
UMass Chan Diabetes Experts Volunteer Their Time
Several UMass Chan diabetes experts have participated in past sessions, including Dr. Kim; David Harlan, MD, co-director of the UMass Chan Diabetes Center of Excellence and Director of the Breakthrough T1D Barbara Dewey Cammett Center of Excellence in New England; and Michael Czech, PhD, the Isadore and Fannie Foxman Chair of Medical Research and Professor in the Program in Molecular Medicine.
“I was amazed at how quickly the first virtual program came together and reached so many students globally through the power of social media, and the credit goes to my daughters,” said Dr. Kim. “Lauren was already immersed in the virtual world through her high school’s remote learning, and she realized how we could use technology to reach more people than ever imagined.”
Although the virtual program was born in response to the pandemic, it has continued to reach students around the world who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to learn directly from diabetes researchers, physicians, and educators.