The University will offer a one-year pre-medical certificate program to post-Baccalaureate students beginning this summer, following the Board of Visitors Finance Committee's decision to approve the program by setting tuition Thursday.
The program allows individuals without the necessary science prerequisites to complete them in one year. The "Post-Bac Pre-Med" program focus is designed for students who wish to change their career path and pursue medicine.
"There are a number of people for whom the idea of contributing back to society is a dream, particularly in medicine, but didn't come to that realization until they are out of undergraduate school," said Sondra Stallard, Dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. "We thought we should provide that opportunity for folks to take those classes."
Last summer, the program received initial approval from the BOV based on a sample curriculum. Thursday, the Finance Committee reviewed the suggested tuition and expenses of $18,000 in-state and $22,000 out-of-state. The program is slated to begin starting with the second summer session through the following May.
The University will follow Bryn Mawr College, Duke University and Johns Hopkins University, which already have established similar programs. Stallard said the University was prompted to act when a number of University alumni requested a program that would allow them to complete certain requirements.
"Johns Hopkins is one of the main programs we looked at," said Bill Fornadel, program director in the school of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Fornadel and Higher Education intern Andrea Spreter worked together to create the program, through which students not only complete requirements, but receive career counseling, internships and assistance in preparing for the pre-medical examinations, the MCATs.
The program will impact the University more broadly, encompassing many departments.
"We're really utilizing the fantastic faculty that we have in the College," Fornadel said. "Our students will be sitting in with biology, chemistry and physics undergrads, although some of the labs will be taken within the cohort itself."
Stallard added that there was strong cooperation from the College and medical staff.
"A number of physicians have commented that [adult students] are exactly the type of people you want to see coming into the field," Stallard said. "We decided to give it a shot, and we're very excited about it."
Fornadel said the program wants to achieve 100 percent acceptance of graduates into medical school and then develop linkages with different medical schools.
"We want the expansion of the program to include other areas of health, whether it is pre-veterinarian or dentistry," he said. "We also would like to expand to beginning the program at various times during the year."
With the approval of tuition from the BOV, the program is moving forward. Rolling admission begins Feb. 1 and will be accepted until Mar. 15, and the program beginning this summer will admit approximately 20 students. To date 26 individuals have submitted at least partial applications, Fornadel said.
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