How to Get Into UNC Medical School

How to Get Into UNC Medical School – Know the Curriculum:

The Foundation Phase, the first year and a half of the curriculum, introduces students to medical science through organ-based courses that cover normal structure and function as well as disease pathophysiology. Interactive large-group sessions, problem-based and case-based small-group sessions, laboratory sessions, and electronic resource materials are used for presentation. Introduction to the medical profession begins in the first week of the first year with Patient Centered Care (PCC). PCC offers weekly small-group seminars as well as practice with both simulated and actual patients. Professional Development, a second weekly seminar, focuses on health-care issues. In addition, students in the Foundation Phase spend a week in a primary care private practice during each of the three semesters.

• Grading is H/P/F
• 70% is considered a pass.
• Block Scheduling, Systems-based learning, Small Group Problem-Based Learning
• Class attendance is mandatory for small groups.
• Step 1 Prep time is 5 weeks.
• Research thesis not required.

Scholarly Concentrations

At UNC School of Medicine, you can choose a Scholarly Concentration. A Scholarly Concentration is a focused academic track that allows medical students to explore specialized areas of interest through research, mentorship, and hands-on projects. These concentrations enhance students’ education by providing opportunities to develop expertise in a specific field while contributing to advancements in medicine.

1. Care of the Older Adult – Focuses on improving healthcare for elderly populations, including geriatric care and aging-related diseases.
2. Clinical Research – Provides training in clinical trial design, implementation, and data analysis.
3. Global Health – Prepares students to address healthcare challenges in low-resource and international settings.
4. Health Care Engineering – Combines engineering principles with medical practice to innovate healthcare technologies.
5. Medical Education – Develops skills in curriculum design, teaching, and medical education research.
6. Medical Humanities – Explores the intersection of healthcare with ethics, philosophy, literature, and social sciences.
7. Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Focuses on the development of new medical technologies and business ventures in healthcare.
8. Medical Management and Leadership – Prepares students for leadership roles in healthcare management and policy.
9. Physician Scientist – Provides training for careers in biomedical research alongside clinical practice.
10. Quality Improvement and Patient Safety – Aims to improve healthcare systems by enhancing patient care quality and safety.
11. Simulation in Healthcare – Uses simulation technologies to teach and improve clinical skills and teamwork in healthcare.
12. Social Medicine – Focuses on the social determinants of health and aims to reduce healthcare disparities through advocacy and research.

Unique Highlights of Preclinical Experience:

• UNC School of Medicine offers small-group learning environments that promote collaboration and critical thinking skills.
• The Preclinical curriculum includes innovative courses like “Patient-Centered Care and Chronic Illness” and “Health Systems Science.”
• Students have the opportunity to participate in community service projects and health fairs through the “Whitehead Service Society.”
• Curriculum includes exposure to clinical skills early on through the “Practice of Medicine” course, which includes clinical simulations and interactions with standardized patients.
• Specialized Institutes include the Center for AIDS Research and the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies

UNC School of Medicine Pre-Clinical Transition Course:

One of the unique courses offered by the UNC School of Medicine is the Transition Course, which is part of the school’s Technology Enhanced Curriculum (TEC). The Transition Course is designed to help incoming medical students transition from undergraduate coursework to the rigors of medical school.

• The course covers a variety of topics, including study skills, time management, test-taking strategies, and self-care. Students also have the opportunity to participate in small group discussions with faculty members and upper-level medical students, as well as attend lectures and workshops on topics such as medical ethics, professionalism, and cultural competency.
• Overall, the Transition Course is a valuable resource for incoming medical students at the UNC School of Medicine, helping them to succeed in their studies and develop the skills they need to become compassionate, competent physicians.

 UNC School of Medicine Clinical Transition Course:

• Prior to beginning clinical rotations, students complete a transition course that focuses on essential clinical skills and knowledge needed for success in the clinical setting.
• The transition course includes topics, such as physical exam skills, communication with patients and colleagues, medical ethics, and more.
• The course also includes hands-on clinical experiences, such as shadowing physicians and observing patient care in the hospital.

Unique Programs at the School

• Dual Degrees Offered – MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA

The awesome thing about UNC School of Medicine is that it has a bunch of other unique programs!

Fully Integrated Readiness for Service Training (FIRST)

FIRST is a three-year medical school curriculum that is accelerated and enhanced

• The FIRST program offers specialty and clinical experience to its scholars. Starting from March of their first year of medical school, FIRST scholars spend one half-day each week in a clinic of their chosen specialty, including family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, or surgery. This opportunity allows scholars to gain hands-on experience in their field of interest and get a better understanding of what a career in that specialty would look like. During the Foundation Phase, scholars in Asheville, Chapel Hill, and Wilmington will do their weekly clinics in Chapel Hill, and then at their respective campuses during the Application Phase. Scholars in Greensboro will do their weekly clinics in Greensboro.
• The majority of the clinical experiences for FIRST scholars occur in their chosen specialty and at the location of their directed pathway residency program. This arrangement allows scholars to form relationships with the doctors at their future residency location, as well as gain a better understanding of how the residency program operates.
• The FIRST program offers scholars a pathway to an affiliated residency program after completing their medical education. The residency program is designed to continue the focus on service in rural and underserved communities. The affiliated residency programs include Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgery.
• FIRST scholars are eligible to apply for a directed pathway residency program, which is a program designed to provide scholars with additional mentorship and support as they transition to residency training. The directed pathway residency program offers scholars a more comprehensive training experience with additional opportunities for service in underserved communities.
• Three years of service in a rural or underserved community in North Carolina, with ongoing practice support. The FIRST program places a strong emphasis on service in rural and underserved communities. After completing medical school and residency, FIRST scholars commit to serving in a rural or underserved community in North Carolina for three years. This service commitment provides scholars with valuable experience working with underserved populations and helps address healthcare disparities in the state.
  • Popular locations students rotate are:
    • Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville, NC
    • MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in Asheville, NC
    • MAHEC Hendersonville Family Health Center in Hendersonville, NC
    • Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC
    • MAHEC Family Medicine and Residency Program in Asheville, NC
    • MAHEC Family Health Center at Enka-Candler in Candler, NC
    • MAHEC Rural Health Center in Murphy, NC
    • Robeson Health Care Corporation in Pembroke, NC

Including the FIRST program, there are other unique Rural Health opportunities at UNC.

The UNC School of Medicine rural medicine initiatives include:

• Kenan Primary Care Scholars:Funded by the Kenan Charitable Trust, the program was launched in 2013. Kenan scholarships support the second, third and fourth years of medical school and reduce student debt by a total of $30,000 per student. Students spend their third year working at the UNC School of Medicine’s Asheville campus working in clinics in the western part of the state. Scholars also take part in a six-week summer program which includes housing and a stipend. The scholarship also has recently expanded into underserved urban communities, with some students working in Charlotte, and the program will soon expand to a Wilmington campus.
• Kenan Scholars Fellowship:This new program is a one-year fellowship following medical school but before residency. Students are supported with housing and a stipend to work in a rural area to become engrained in a community. Bashford hopes many of the students will eventually want to serve in local government and contribute to the community beyond healthcare.
• Fully Integrated Readiness for Service Training (FIRST):This is a fast-track program that allows students to complete their medical degree in three years and guarantees them admission into the UNC Family Medicine Residency Program, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation by US News & World Report. After the residency, FIRST scholars commit to three years serving in a rural or underserved part of the state.
• North Carolina Rural Health Scholars:Launched last year, this state-funded program is a $40,000 scholarship paid upon medical school graduation. Scholars commit to serving in one of the state’s 80 rural counties after residency.
• Primary Care and Population Health Scholars:A voluntary program for elective credit, it serves medical students who are interested in practicing cost-effective, high-quality primary care with the larger vision of improving the health of populations. Students also develop skills in research, writing and leadership.
• Family Medicine Rural Track Residency:The Department of Family Medicine offers an Underserved Track for residents seeking more experience caring for that population. The program gives residents the opportunity to work with a high volume of Spanish-speaking patients. This program was the first of its kind in the state, launched in 2012.