In his capacity as the Director of the Retinal Service at NYU Langone Dept. of Ophthalmology, Ken Wald, MD, envisioned a Summer Internship for minority students to spend eight weeks in the Ophthalmology Department shadowing and observing attendings and the practice of Ophthalmology both surgically and clinically. The interns were chosen from names provided by Prep for Prep, an organization dedicated to placing minority students with demonstrated academic ability in high level high schools and colleges.They also offer summer internships and so we were able to work with them to choose three students per summer, pay them well for 40 hours of work per week, give them white coats, books and inspiration to consider Medicine as a career. The NYU staff has been very enthusiastic about mentoring these special individuals and based on feedback, we have been successful in exposing the interns to the real world of Medicine and encouraging several to consider becoming physicians.The financial commitment of the Manhattan Eye & Ear Ophthalmology Alumni Foundation in supporting this entire effort, consistent with its Mission Statement, has made this unique program a decisive reality.