SMDEP: Curriculum

Review of basic sciences and introduction to neuroscience, pharmacology, virology, and human genetics

Emphasis on developing reading skills. Every participant will read the same two assigned book. Test taking strategies, time management, and other learning skills will be taught by a nationally recognized learning specialist.

Mock interviews, writing-strategies workshops, and reading workshops will all improve learning development. Students will be randomly assigned to a small group that will do a literature search on a public health project of their choice and present it to their colleagues at the conclusion of the program.

One-on-one meetings with admissions committee members; medical and dental school fair; evening meetings with physicians and dentists

Take part in a videoconference as well as a two-day learning skills workshop, small group research project and presentation.

If you like ethnic flavors, visit the West Side Market, cleveland Museum of Art and enjoy our July 4th picnic, late-night ice skating trip, major league baseball game and a possible evening at the Blossom Music Center.

Academic enrichment courses: Presentation and review of the basic sciences (Biology, Organic Chemistry and Physics)

Key Electives: Series of complementary laboratory experiences in Histology and seminars relative to current topics in Medicine and Dentistry

Other: Narrative Medicine course

Accelerated Learning Skills Development (ALSD) aims to raise students' awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of their current study methods, to equip students with positive learning strategies so they can substantially improve their GPA's, to help them design an effective personalized study program for in-class and standardized exams, and to develop self-regulatory learning skills to form the basis of life long learning and the developement of a goal oriented individualized education plan.

Career Development and Information Resources (CDIR): The goal of CDIR is to create a strong foundation for skills related to lifelong information seeking and management. Topics include biomedical research skills, bibliographic management systems, scholarly publishing, copyright/ethics, and evidence-based medicine and dentistry.

Other: Additional written and verbal communication activities, including small group sessions.

Medical: Individual counseling sessions with the Associate Dean and Assistant Dean for the Office of Diversity.

Dental: Individual counseling sessions with the Associate Dean and Associate Director for the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and Assistant Dean for Admissions.

Seminars: Strategies to become a successful applicant to medical/dental school, admissions and financial aid, and a recruitment fair.

Other: Individualized education plan and electronic educational portfolio

Diverse clinical experiences; Career development and information resources course.

Narrative Medicine: Exposure to the diverse healthcare, social and cultural environment of New York City through various group activities.

Statistical and analytical skills developed in conjunction with research for small-group projects related to developing understanding and describing underserved communities, their health issues and epidemiology; development of analytical reading skills through daily practice; conceptual physical sciences (physics and general chemistry) curriculum presented in a lecture/reflection format; biology content presented through case-based small-group sessions focusing on the pathology of disease and associate lectures; organic chemistry concepts presented in learning skills sessions related to content organization for learning, memory and information retention.

Curriculum is designed to improve students' learning, study, and test-taking skills. Students will use small-group problem solving approach on specific test-taking skills. Students will refine learning approaches on lecture-based material, case-based problems, and small-group research projects. They will additionally have the opportunity to work on specific skills such as note taking, reading, memory, information organization for retention, test taking, and peak performance approaches to high-stakes exams.

Students will work on presentation skills through a small-group project that will focus on assessing health issues in a specific underserved community and suggesting an appropriate health intervention to ameliorate some of the community's health issues. Students will also enhance their communication skills by mentoring and teaching their peers in small group problem-based learning settings.

Students will develop a curriculum vitae and individual academic plans to reach specific career goals; individual advisement sessions to promote an early start in composing health professional school applications; opportunity to interact with medical, dental, and allied health students to discuss a range of career opportunities; presentations by various health professionals to better understand pre-health professional requirements and scope of practice of different health careers.

Main highlights/goals:
1) Develop a learning community of like-minded students, faculty, and staff working together to help students develop skills and knowledge central to careers that will improve the health care in underserved communities.

2) Develop the skills necessary to understand a specific underserved community (HPSA) and the major health issues facing that community.

3) Network with students, faculty, and staff involved in various aspects of the educational pipeline that leads to a variety of health careers.

4) Learn about significant issues related to health disparities in the US and world.

Preview of pre-med sciences: physics, cell biology, organic chemistry, and physiology. Scholars will take two sciences plus a course in writing in medical education and a course in quantitative topics.

Workshop on learning and test-taking strategies; on-going peak performance series; stress management and time management workshops.

Course on writing in medical education; weekly interviewing skills workshop.

Individual meetings with the director or associate director of medical school admissions; regional medical school career fair; evening meetings with faculty and clinicians.

Web-based instruction; laptops provided for use during program; weekly seminar on ethics, humanism, and health care policy; weekly discussion with physicians from various specialties; activities include American Dance Festival and Summer Festival of the Arts.

Students will take four courses with placement in math and sciences based on previous academic background and performance or placement exam. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the fundamental scientific concepts in (1) organic chemistry or biochemistry, (2) advance biology or physics, (3) mathematics, and (4) communications.

Designed to enhance critical thinking and scientific comprehension; will include an introduction to scientific journals, interpreting graphs and tables, and the language of science.

A major emphasis will be placed on effective writing, critical reading, and presentation of logical ideas, both written and oral.

Individual and group counseling and career development sessions conducted by faculty, peer mentor and staff of SMDEP.

Exposure to career options and the practice of clinical community-based medicine and dentistry in the culturally diverse setting of Washington, D.C.

Enrichment courses in organic chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and pre-calculus and calculus; lab experience in the human anatomy facility at the medical school.

Emphasis on developing learning strategies to be a successful student in professional school. After a personal learning-style assessment, the course will focus on reading, study, and note-taking strategies. Test-taking skills, time management, and use of information resources (library and Web) will also be covered.

Small-group, problem-based learning exercises related to the core curriculum will help develop group work and communication skills. Each student will develop a presentation on a current topic in health care and receive feedback. Practice interview with experienced dental and medical faculty interviewers.

Alumni and faculty speakers will discuss career opportunities. Review of admissions processes, including characteristics of successful applicants. Students will practice writing an admissions essay and receive individualized feedback from school faculty.

Dental: Group seminars plus individual counseling sessions with the Associate Dean for Admissions.

Medical: Group seminars and counseling sessions with Assistant Dean for Admissions.

Seminars: Strategies to become successful applicants to dental/medical school admissions and financial aid.

Other: Individualized career planning, financial management, and personal statements preparation; in addition, individualized training and interviewing techniques for admissions interviewing.

Group activities include local cultural and sports activities. Participants will work closely with medical and dental student mentors. Clinical experiences in a diverse range of settings with highly regarded clinical faculty.

Placement in sciences courses based on previous academic background and/or performance where the focus will be on understanding the fundamental concepts in organic chemistry, claculus with physics, advanced biology, and biochemistry; participation in human anatomy lab experiences.

Workshops on the academic strategies for medicine/dentistry, i.e. note-taking, strategies for organizing material (concept mapping), a personal learning style assessment, pre and post Nelson Denny reading assessment with emphasis on reading and comprehension skills.

Small group presentaion with focus on health issue affecting underserved populations; development of personal statement; emphasis will be placed on oral and written communication skills including interaction with standarized patients.

Individualized personal and academic career plan; mock interviews, admissions and financial aid workshops; mentoring by teaching assistants.

Certification in basic life support; how to take a history and physical examination and vital signs; special topics in humanism, professionalism, and ethics; social activities, i.e. dance, trip to amusement park and game and karaoke nights.

Core academic activity is a three credit-hour course, Introduction to fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences. Scholars are assigned to one of eight clusters that experience a new way of integrating and applying the basic sciences utilizing team-based medical/dental applications. Team-Based Learning focuses on providing high quality educational experiences for health sciences students to promote individualized learning within a group and to maximize efficient use of instructional resources. Our professors (content experts) serve as facilitators as class time is shifted from memorizing toward applying and integrating information. Weekly academic themes are reinforced by clinical correlations as dentists and physicians demonstrate the links between basic science understanding and clinical situations. Basic sciences emphasized: Physics, Organic Chemistry, Medical Biochemistry and Human Physiology. Health Disparities Symposium will raise scholars' awareness of issues confronting medically underserved populations. Classroom activities in our Standardized Patient Center and Simulation Labs provide hands-on learning opportunities. Oral and written comminication strategies are emphasized in special sessions and in all classroom and team-based learning activities.

Learning styles assessments followed by workshops on time management and self-discovery; emphasis on teamwork and small group study. Tutoring Tuesdays, Feedback Fridays and Academic Game Nights further enhance student development experiences.

Small group problem-solving emphasizes oral and written communication styles, including presentations and interactions with standardized patients. Workshops on cultural competency and professionalism. One-on-one assessments with development of personal statements. Students will maintain weekly journal entries on summer program experiences.

Following series of sessions with physicians, dentists, admissions officers, and counselors, PACE students create a customized academic and career plan using Charting Your Course module; individual follow-up and discussions.

More than 20 years experience in pre-professional programs.

Recreational activites include: 4th of July picnic, talent show and luncheon on riverboat cruise, Muhammad Ali Center and Waterfront Park.

Options: Upon completion of the six-week summer academic program, scholars have the option of applying for consideration to stay an additional four weeks for our intense MCAT/DAT prep program.

Scholars will have classes in math, biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, writing, medical ethics and humanities, and public health classes. Instruction is directed at reinforcing fundamental principles of each academic discipline to help scholars excel in advanced undergraduate classes.

The learning skills development portion of the program serves to fill gaps in learning techniques that become apparent when a student's abilities are stressed by a fast-paced and rigorous curriculum.

Topics covered include: time-management, organizing material for learning, note-taking, exam skills, approaches to board examinations. Scholars will also recieve personal learning assessmens to raise their awareness of their strengths and weakness in their current study methods. This awareness will aid in the development and implementation of an individualized student education plan. A strong emphasis is given to shaping the identity of the student and career exploration.

Small-group interaction will reinforce the principles and practices of effective written communication, interviewing skills, development of an autobiographical essay.

Scholars will receive extensive contact with medical/dental faculty in both formal and informal settings plus weekly interaction with current UNMC medical and dental students in the classroom and dormitory setting.

The progam also includes a financial planning workshop, bi-weekly fireside chats conducted by health professionals from the greater Omaha area, and one-on-one student meetings with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Scholars will obtain individual academic and career guidance, Public Health Outreach, Basic Life Support and Heartsaver First Aid certification, Basic Disaster Life Support training, dental simulation laboratory.

Extra-curricular opportunities include: a trip to Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo, the College World Series, A Taste of Omaha "family" activities, and a variety of other cultural events. Also, visit Old Market for good food and shopping.

Application of biology, chemistry, physics, and quantitative techniques to medicine; reading and writing skills.

Two-day course on learning and test-taking skills.

Workshop on time management, and stress management.

Courses designed to improve students' problem solving, writing, reading comprehension, interviewing, and other communication skills; do's and don'ts of the medical school admission process; development of a personal statement; simulated medical school interview.

Academic and personal counseling; financial planning; medical school recruitment fair.

23 years working experience with medical school prep programs; lecture series with distinguished national and international leaders in medical practice and research, including Noble Laureates; mentoring by eminent physicians and dentists; opportunities to interact with leading physicians; full access to academic and other resources at the University of Virginia; leadership skill development.

Enrichment classes in biology, organic chemistry, physics, pre-calculus, communications; exposure to current topics in health

Workshops and lectures on test-taking and study skills, as well as time management and team building, perceptual ability and hand-eye coordination

Written and verbal communication; an oral research presentation

Academic and personal counseling, financial planning, interview preparation and exposure to med/dent school admissions process

Physician and dentist mentoring; visits to migrant camps; lectures on health care issues related to minority and underserved populations; recreational activities around Seattle area (i.e., Mt. Rainier day trip)

Lectures and small-group seminars typical of medical school setting

Learning and study skills assessments; small-group workshops on academic achievement

Intensive writing and communication course, emphasis on science topics, multicultural health issues, and developing a personal statement

Large-group seminars; small-group workshops; individual career counseling sessions

Full access to academic resources and the diverse social and cultural environment of Yale University and New Haven