#ASPBP26 Call for Abstracts  Deadline: May 25, 2026

ASPBP is pleased to announce the call for presentation abstracts for the ASPBP Conference to be held virtually from October 6-8, 2026. This event provides opportunities to connect with and learn from others, and will provide you with new teaching techniques, ideas and resources. This year abstract proposals should fit into one of four formats: Member-Created Panel Submission Research Poster Presentations Roundtable Guided Problem-Solving Session Individual Panelist Application Form (note: this will take you to an external site) We will also be offering panel discussions in both traditional and non-traditional formats. If you have interest in participating in a panel discussion but do not have a panel in which to participate, please click HERE to learn more and apply as an individual panelist! Due to the virtual format, we encourage you to research innovative ways to virtually engage participants. Collaborative submissions are encouraged! All abstract submissions will undergo peer review using the following criteria: clarity of the proposal, the quality of content in the proposal, and interest to the ASPBP community. Potential presenters are encouraged to illustrate the innovative nature and/or timeliness of the content to be presented. Abstract submission deadline: May 25, 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern. Author notifications will be sent in September. Please click here to submit your abstract. Thank you, ASPBP   Submit Your Abstract Here

ASPBP is excited to feature Emil Chuck as the 2026 Program Chair! Below, Dr. Chuck talks about what ASPBP means to him, what he is looking forward to about the upcoming conference and more!

Emil Chuck, 2026 ASPBP Program Chair

What does being a part of ASPBP mean to you? In my early journey into college, pathway programs have given me the confidence to pursue research and science opportunities that have prepared me for my college and graduate education. The after-school and summer research opportunities from LSU-Shreveport to the National Institutes of Health instilled a strong passion for addressing problems through a scientific, multidisciplinary lens. These pathway and bridge programs nurture talented future scientists to understand the impact that a STEMM foundation can have on our world. Why do you think ASPBP membership is valuable? As someone who briefly supported a pilot program for aspiring dentists, I wanted to share my insights with more experienced colleagues and highlight the benefits for aspiring students and admissions professionals. The ASPBP community brings faculty and administrators together to celebrate our collective impact on the future STEMM workers and innovators.  What are you most looking forward to with the conference coming up in October? I am looking forward to showcasing the impact our ASPBP members have through a program recruitment fair on the last day of the conference. This is our first opportunity to persuade aspiring STEMM students and their advisors about the impact these pipeline and bridge programs have. I hope this fair excites students, teachers, and families as they connect with faculty, administrators, and stakeholders who care about their futures. Anything else about yourself or ASPBP that you want to mention? My cat, Willie, may also show up at the conference, as she has occasionally attended our ASPBP meetings. I thank all the Conference Planning Committee members (past and present) and everyone volunteering to make this Conference an incredible experience. In spite of the challenges we have seen in higher education, I hope attendees at this conference can celebrate hope and joy about the future we create together.

The 2026 ASPBP Annual Conference is set to take place virtually October 6-8, 2026! Keep checking your email for more information regarding the conference.

Deadline: May 25, 2026

Dear {Contact_First_Name},  ASPBP invites you to serve as an Abstract Reviewer for the ASPBP Virtual Conference October 6-8, 2026. (REMINDER: All abstracts are also due Monday, May 25, 2026 by 11:59 pm EDT) Each abstract reviewer will be assigned to review 5-10 abstracts. Each review will be submitted to an online peer-review database using a rating rubric and limited additional text-based comments.   Reviewers play a critical role in the ASPBP Virtual Conference and are recognized. Being a reviewer is an important contribution that can be added to your CV.  We appreciate your time and consideration! Reviews will be facilitated in mid-June. Please complete this interest form by Monday, May 25, 2026 at 11:59PM EDT.  To complete the Abstract Reviewer Volunteer Form, click here. Thank you, ASPBP

Become an ASPBP Conference Abstract Reviewer

The ASPBP 2026 Program Committee is proud to announce that the ASPBP 2026 Conference will occur October 6-8, 2026! We will be returning to our virtual format this year. This year's theme is "Reimagining Student Transitions in a Changing Higher Ed Landscape." 

We are excited to once again expand conference programming over three days to increase opportunities for learning and allow for more engagement across the network! Get ready to explore new ideas, meet fresh faces, and discover new ways to grow the success of your pathway or bridge program students!

Be on the lookout for further updates and information about this year's ASPBP Virtual Conference, including the theme, call for abstracts, speakers, and more, as we continue to move closer to October!

Thank you,

Emil Chuck
2026 ASPBP Annual Program Committee Chair

NBME contributes to the education and assessment communities with the goal of improving patient care through quality assessment of medical professionals, supporting the development of a diverse and compassionate health care workforce. To help achieve this goal, NBME – in collaboration with the Association of STEMM Pathway and Bridge Programs (ASPBP) – awarded a total of $100,000 in grants in 2025 through theInnovations to Advance Pathways to Medicine Programs Grants.

By providing resources to assist programs and building collaborations that aid learners with education, mentorship and resources at a crucial time in their development, we hope to help programs develop and utilize best practices to drive changes in medical education in the long term and support ASPBP in developing a pathway program community of practice.

These grants support pathway programs across the entire educational continuum. Community-based, elementary to high school and higher education programs were invited to submit applications that focus on evaluating the evidence for success of a particular educational or programmatic intervention strategy. NBME and ASPBP announced the 2026 grant cycle in February.

The awarded grants are listed below and include single-year grants for $20,000 and $5,000 respectively.  

Seed Grants - $20,000

The University of Texas at Tyler, School of Medicine

Mass General Brigham/Brigham and Women's Hospital

Nova Southeastern University

Rutgers Cancer Institute

Material and Resource Grants - $5,000

University of Texas at Tyler, School of Medicine

Stanford School of Medicine/Stanford Cardiovascular Institute

Alliance in Mentorship (MiMentor)

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Upcoming Webinar Playful Pedagogy: A Practical Guide to Gamified Outreach Designing Discovery: Innovative Pedagogical Approaches in STEMM Outreach March 25, 2026 at 2pm EDT

We're kicking off our Designing Discovery: Innovative Pedagogical Approaches in STEMM Outreach Program Series with our first webinar — Playful Pedagogy: A Practical Guide to Gamified Outreach — on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 2pm EDT!

Dr. Mikaela L. Stiver, PhD Assistant Professor of Teaching, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia Dr. Siobhan M. Moyes, DPhil Associate Professor and Lead for Anatomy, Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth

Register Here

2 PM EDT, Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - Playful Pedagogy: A Practical Guide to Gamified Outreach

While gamified strategies have becoming increasingly commonplace in both everyday life and formal education, the scholarly overlap between gamified learning (including gamification and game-based learning) and outreach remains surprisingly limited. Building on our recent publication, this interactive webinar will use case studies to guide participants' exploration of the intersection between these fields. Topics will include principles of co-design, key theoretical frameworks, and considerations for scholarship. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and tools to apply these principles in their own outreach contexts and with diverse audiences. Whether you are an educator, outreach coordinator, or program leader, this session will offer actionable insights to spark curiosity and engagement through playful pedagogy.

Thanks for being part of the ASPBP Community.

Brianne Lewis
Chair, ASPBP Membership Programming Committee

We are excited to share the upcoming sessions for our 2026 Program Series! Please see the following programs below and add them to your calendar so you don't miss an event. Topics for each session will be announced at a later date.

Save the dates for our 2026 Program Series Designing Discovery: Innovative Pedagogical Approaches in STEMM Outreach All programs are 2–3pm ET.

If you'd like to present your work at an ASPBP Event, contact Brianne Lewis, Chair of the ASPBP Member Programming Committee at lewis5b@cmich.edu.

Thanks for being part of the ASPBP Community.

Brianne Lewis
Chair, ASPBP Membership Programming Committee

NBME Call For Letters of Intent: Innovations to Advance Pathways and Bridges to Medicine Programs

Letters of intent are due by March 23, 2026.

Full proposal submissions are due by June 28, 2026.

NBME has a long history of contributing to the medical education and assessment communities with the goal of improving patient care through quality assessment of medical professionals. To further build on our contributions and our commitment to increasing representation in the medical and assessment professions, we are providing resources to assist programs and building collaborations that aid learners with education, mentorship and resources at a crucial time in their development. We hope to help programs develop and utilize best practices to drive positive changes in medical education in the long term and support the Association of STEMM Bridge and Pathway Programs (ASPBP) in developing a pathway program community of practice. Since 2024, NBME has collaborated with the ASPBP to award the Innovations to Advance Pathways to Medicine Programs Grants. In two grant cycles, NBME has awarded 21 grants totaling $450,000 to institutions and other nonprofit organizations implementing pathway programs. 

As we continue our support of pathways to medicine, NBME and ASPBP are initiating a call for applications in 2026 to continue to investigate the effectiveness of strategies that increase the representation of individuals in the medical profession. These grants are intended to support pathway programs across the entire educational continuum. Community-based, elementary to high school and higher education programs are invited to submit applications that focus on evaluating the evidence for success of a particular educational or programmatic intervention strategy.

There are two different funding opportunities: 

• SEED Grants

• • One-time grants of up to $20,000 for programs wanting to develop the foundation for a rational design of an intervention strategy or strategies. 

• Material and Resource Grants

• • One-time grants of up to $5,000 for programs wanting to improve their curriculum with needed educational resources such as learning management software, student data management software and educational or learning software.

• Eligibility to apply includes not-for-profit organizations and programs or their fiscal sponsors and not-for-profit institutions.

  Initial letters of intent are due March 23, 2026. After reviewing letters of intent, NBME will invite full proposals in April. Full proposal applications are due June 28, 2026. 

  Interested applicants can learn more about the requirements and how to apply here: https://www.nbme.org/contributions/pathway-program-grants. 

  In addition, ASPBP will host an information session on "Pathway Grant Letter of Intent and Application," that will take place on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 12:00 PM EDT via Zoom. 

  During this session a member of the ASPBP Research and Scholarship Committee together with Joanne King from NBME will be presenting on the upcoming Request for Letter of Intent and Grant Applications. The session will provide an overview of these funding mechanisms and the application process. Past recipients Emil Chuck and Angel Gonzalez will be joining the presentation sharing their insight and helpful tips. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions via the Zoom chat function.

ASPBP is seeking passionate members to contribute their time, talent, and expertise to our committees and initiatives. Committee membership is a 1-year commitment. We are also seeking an editor-in-chief of the PBP Wire, our bi-annual newsletter featuring organizational updates, innovative research, and member voices to strengthen the pathway and bridge programs community.

Joining an ASPBP committee or initiative is a fantastic way to connect with peers, contribute your expertise, and directly impact the future and value of our organization. Plus, it’s a great addition to your resume, LinkedIn, and CV. We currently have openings on several committees in addition to the open editor-in-chief role, and would love to have your perspective and energy.

Ready to make a difference? Take a look at the committees and complete the signup form here to let us know where you’d like to serve.

We look forward to collaborating with you!

In Partnership,

ASPBP Council
Association of STEMM Pathway and Bridge Programs 

Connect with ASPBP on LinkedIn

Join an ASPBP Committee!

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST
Wednesday, January 28, 2026

ASPBP is pleased to present its first Fireside Chat, set for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST! This is an ongoing effort to provide a space to exchange ideas and connect with like-minded people.

As a cozy continuation of our summer Poolside Chat, "bundle up" and log in from the comfort of your home for an afternoon of real talk, reflection, and refreshment! This relaxed, come-as-you-are virtual event will feature themed discussion rooms designed to help you navigate the ever-changing slopes of pathway programs, professional growth, and personal connection — no mittens required.

This is a member-driven gathering! The Fireside Chat Table Topics are listed below:

• Table 1: Reading Nook - Book Club & Connection
• Table 2: Sparks to Scholarship - Turning Programs into Publishable Ideas
• Table 3: The Resource Woodpile - Gathering & Sharing Program Resources
• Table 4: The Campfire Exchange - Cross-Sector Collaboration & Idea Trading
• Table 5: Tending the Flame - Exploring Professional Development Opportunities

To join the ASPBP Fireside Chat, click here.
Meeting ID: 892 1386 7655
Passcode: 681715