Office of Enrichment Programs
Welcome to the Office of the Medical School Enrichment Program’s web page. The mission of the Office of Medical School Enrichment Programs is the recruitment of a diverse population of students to medical school. This includes economically, educationally disadvantaged, as well as underrepresented minority students. The programs provide mentoring and academic enrichment opportunities for students that will assist in their matriculation into medical school and their retention and graduation from medical school. High school, undergraduate, and medical students are presented with an array of opportunities to increase their academic success. This office has established partnerships with a number of Texas colleges and universities to assist with the recruitment of students with an interest in the medical field. Through this website, students interested in medical school may obtain information and applications to the many summer programs which are sponsored by this office. There are also research opportunities. This office supports academic excellence, diversity in medical education and promotes the importance of service and leadership for mankind. The programs offered are supported by the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the National Institutes of Health, the TG Public Benefit Grant Program, and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Early Medical School Acceptance Program (EMSAP)
EMSAP is designed to provide a rigorous undergraduate educational experience to assure that students receive the academic preparation required to pursue a medical education. Upon acceptance to EMSAP, students also receive conditional acceptance to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Final matriculation into UTMB is dependent upon successful completion of all EMSAP requirements and graduation from one of the six partnership schools:
The UTMB School of Medicine has partnership agreements with these six universities for the purpose of identifying 30 high school students who will matriculate into each of the universities. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 and are also required to earn a total MCAT score of at least 24. Currently, there are 106 students in the pipeline. The students will participate in a summer enrichment program on the UTMB campus for the purpose of providing academic and pre-professional enrichment activities, as well as clinical exposure to the medical profession.
Program Description
- During the academic school year, students will attend classes as pre-medical Biology or Chemistry majors
- Standard course work will be augmented through distance learning sessions and/or seminars to strengthen medical school preparation
- Academic advising and mentoring will be provided
- Exposure to the clinical practice of medicine and medical research will be experienced on the UTMB campus
Program Components
- Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree within 4 years at one of the 6 affiliate schools
- Academic enrichment courses and seminars to strengthen medical school preparation
- Academic advising and mentoring from undergraduate advisors and from faculty, staff and administrators at UTMB
- Exposure to the clinical practice of medicine with UTMB clinicians
- Problem Based Learning (PBL) scenarios while visiting the UTMB campus
- MCAT preparation course
- Workshops for medical school admissions, personal statement, and interviewing skills
Program Dates
Cohort 12 (Rising Seniors) – May 28 – June 13, 2013
Cohort 13 (Rising Juniors) – May 23 – June 14, 2013
Students With Dual Hours
Students who have dual credit enrollment hours can apply to the EMSAP program; however, they will not be allowed to matriculate at UTMB until four years have elapsed since the year of their initial admission into the EMSAP program.
Application Requirements
For Incoming College Freshmen:
- Graduating high school seniors applying to one of the partner schools
- Texas resident with U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
- Above average high school academic performance and standardized test scores:
- High School Average of 90 or above
- SAT 1500 (3 part) or ACT 21 or above
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Motivation for a career as a physician
- Additional evidence of exceptional achievement
- Interview with UTMB faculty
For Current College Students:
- Texas Resident with U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
- Demonstrated an interested in Medicine as a Career
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Essay outlining motivation for a career as a physician
- Maintain an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher
- Interview with UTMB faculty
Application Deadline
Application must be postmarked by February 1, 2013
All supporting documents (transcripts and Letters of Recommendation) must be received by February 8, 2013
Medical School Matriculation Program (MSMP)
Mission
The Medical School Matriculation Program is designed to increase the pipeline of competitive minority students who can be recruited to medical school. This competitive and intensive six-week preparatory program has two levels.
- Level 1 is designed to give academic enrichment, motivation, and clinical exposure to rising junior pre-medical students with an intense comprehensive MCAT preparation review course;
- Level 2 provides rising pre-medical senior students assistance with the medical school application process, including preparation of the personal statement, mock interviews, and information about admissions policies and procedures. MSMP participants are introduced to medical school life, provided with mentoring, and given the opportunity to interact with UTMB administrators, faculty and medical students. Students will spend 6 weeks on the campus of UTMB during the summer.
Program Components
- Academic enrichment courses and seminars to strengthen medical school preparation.
- Academic advising and mentoring from undergraduate advisors and from faculty, staff and administrators at UTMB.
- Exposure to the clinical practice of medicine with UTMB clinicians.
- MCAT preparation course.
- Workshops for medical school admissions, personal statement, and interviewing skills.
Program Dates
May 22, 2013 — June 26, 2013
Application Requirements
- Texas Resident with U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
- Overall GPA of 3.25 and Science GPA of 3.25
- Two (2) letters of recommendation - [One (1) from your pre-medical advisor]
- Personal statement outlining motivation for a career as a physician
- Additional evidence of exceptional achievement
- Junior and Senior college classification for the Fall Semester of 2013
- Economically disadvantaged and underrepresented students in the medical science.
Application Deadline
Applications must be received by March 29, 2013.
Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation must be received by April 12, 2013
Medical Careers Health Track Overview (MCHT)
The Medical Careers Health Track (MCHT) Program is designed to expose talented freshman high school students, who are in the Ball High School Prep TSTEM Academy, to a career in medicine. MCHT will provide four seminars that will consist of academic workshops, clinical applications, lectures, and career presentations by UTMB faculty and students. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the medical profession, provide academic enrichment and present a realistic picture of the preparation necessary for entrance into college and medical school. The students will be mentored by UTMB faculty and students, tracked, and will be encouraged to apply to one of UTMB’s pre-medical preparatory programs.
Program Components
- Academic enhancement activities consisting of problem based learning workshops centered on clinical topics. The students will also receive lectures regarding clinical issues based on basic science principles.
- Presentations by UTMB faculty. This will provide information regarding a career in medicine.
- An introduction to the clinical techniques. Students will learn how to perform techniques such as listening to heart sounds and taking blood pressure.
- Presentations on college preparation, survival techniques, and application submission.
- Mentoring by UTMB faculty and students.
Selection Criteria
- Texas Resident with U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status
- Economically disadvantaged and underrepresented freshman students
- A member of the Ball High School Prep TSTEM Academy in good academic standing
- Completion of application and personal statement outlining an interest in the health profession careers.
Application
Applications will be available in Dr. Marsha Ricks office, Principal, Ball High School Prep TSTEM Academy.
Pre-Medical Allied Health Academic Achievement and Retention Program (AARP)
AARP Mission
Pre-Medical Allied Health Academic Achievement and Retention Program (AARP) is a program that provides year-round web-based retention and academic enrichment activities that will enhance the academic performance and increase the retention rate of lower socioeconomic and minority students that are traditionally underrepresented in allied health, medicine, and the sciences.
Program Components
Students will engage in year-round, intensive web-based curricular activities designed to enhance their academic performance, increase performance on standardized tests, and improve their critical analytical thinking, study/reading, communication, and time management skills.
Program Dates
June 2, 2013 – June 15, 2013
In the two-week summer component, students will visit the UTMB campus and:
- Participate in problem-based learning, team learning exercises, didactic lectures, and social networking
- Take part in mentoring activities designed to augment the retention concepts they were exposed to during the academic year
- Participate in academic enrichment courses and seminars to strengthen medical school and/or allied health preparation
- Interact with other undergraduate students with similar career goals and meet UTMB Health students, faculty, and allied health/medical school administrators
- Receive a realistic view of factors necessary for success at the undergraduate level, and ultimately, in allied health or medical school
Application Requirements
- Must be a legal resident within the United States (students who attend school outside of Texas must be a Texas resident)
- Must be economically disadvantaged (based on your FAFSA report) or from an underrepresented minority backgrounds which include African American, Hispanic, mainland Puerto Rican, American Indian, or Native/Hawaiian
- A minimum entry (and MUST maintain) GPA of 2.8 for Freshmen applicants (High School Transcript); 3.0 for Sophomore applicants; 3.2 for Junior applicants
- A minimum ACT score of 21 or SAT score of 1200 (2 part)
- Must submit 2 letters of recommendation from science professors
- Must submit a personal statement detailing an interest in and a commitment to completing a college education, the benefits of AARP, and interest in a career in medicine or the allied health careers
Application Deadline
Application must be postmarked by December 12, 2012
All supporting documents (transcripts, Letters of Recommendation, and FAFSA printouts) must be received by December 19, 2012
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Infectious Diseases and Inflammatory Disorders Training Program
The Infectious Diseases and Inflammatory Disorders Training Program sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is an innovative research program that provides an in-depth exposure to biomedical concepts, modern biomedical research areas, and an intensive, “hands-on”, well structured 12-week research experience.
National Heart, Lung and Blood institute (NHLBI) Research Diversity Program at UTMB
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) supports basic and clinical research directed to the causes, prevention, and treatment for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematological diseases. Summer research training opportunities in these areas are available at UTMB for talented, under-represented minority undergraduate and medical students.
Pre-Matriculation Reinforcement and Enrichment Program (PREP)
The Pre-Matriculation Reinforcement Enrichment Program (PREP) is a program for students that have been offered admission to medical school at UTMB. It is an outstanding pre-entry preparatory program that is offered by invitation to students from educationally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged backgrounds. The intent of this program is to provide a smooth transition from the undergraduate curriculum to the rigorous and demanding expectations of the medical school curriculum.
This six-week program gives a realistic preview of selected courses in the first-year medical school curriculum. These classes are taught by medical school faculty, and the demands of the course, including the pace and the examinations, mirror that of courses during the academic year. PREP provides the opportunity to make the academic, psychological, emotional, and physical adjustment necessary to adapt to the demands of medical school curriculum.
Aerospace Medicine Track
The Aerospace Medicine Track Curriculum is unique to UTMB Health and was implemented in 2007. The purpose of the curriculum track is to introduce medical students to aerospace medicine and to space medicine research. Students join the track in their first year of medical school and continue throughout their fourth year.
Students join the aerospace medicine track because they have an interest in:
- Becoming Astronauts
- Establishing a career as a flight surgeon
- Certifying military pilots
- Certifying individuals interested in commercial space flight travel
- Participating in space medicine research
- Increasing their knowledge of the effects of space medicine on the human body
Students must contribute at least five electives (5 months) of their medical education to aerospace medicine. The track will consists of a combination of seminars, research opportunities, and an intensive aerospace medicine course. Students also benefit from UTMB Health’s close relationship with the Johnson Space Center and from interactions with Directors of the Aerospace Residency program at UTMB Health. Upon graduation students receive a certificate indicating that they are “Scholars in Aerospace Medicine”.