New program offers early acceptance to future medical students

Starting next year, selected University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa students will be able to jump-start their medical education with special academic support and tuition-paid scholarships, under a new program announced today by UH Mānoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw and Medical School Dean Jerris Hedges.

 

Up to 10 UH Mānoa freshman entering in Fall of 2012 will also be accepted into the UHM John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) upon successful completion of their baccalaureate degree.  These “JABSOM Scholars” will be accepted into UH Mānoa’s undergraduate Honors College and a special peer-mentored residential learning community, enrolled in an intensive Pre-Medical curriculum, receive mentoring from JABSOM alumni, and participate in summer clinical, research and service internships.  They will also receive scholarships covering undergraduate tuition costs for four years.

 

“This exciting initiative encourages and supports Hawai‘i’s outstanding high school graduates who are committed to future medical careers,” said Chancellor Hinshaw.  “This is a great way to use the excellent educational opportunities offered by UH Mānoa and our Medical School to help students become physicians and practice medicine here in Hawai‘i.”

 

Dean Hedges added,” UH Mānoa will join 43 other universities offering a combined bachelors-M.D. program – these include Northwestern, the University of Southern California, Brown, Rutgers and others.  JABSOM is pleased to build a stronger undergraduate pathway into medical school at UH Mānoa - one designed to support exceptional local students - and we appreciate the planning that has been done by UHM Vice Chancellor for Students Francisco Hernandez and UHM Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Reed Dasenbrock."

 

Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Alan Yang added that a major goal of the program is that graduates remain in Hawai‘i to serve the growing health needs of our citizens.   A website describing the program and application requirements has been established at: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/admissions/undergrad/early_admissions/.