College of Medicine M.D. Program Office of Admissions
U NI V E R SI T Y O F CEN T R A L F L O R ID A O R L A ND O , F L O R ID A
www. m e d . u c f.e d u
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CONTENTS What’s Different? Student Profile Faculty Profiles A New School A Medical City Central Location Outside the Classroom Requirements & Process Technical Standards Curriculum Pre-Med Checklist
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W E L C O M E
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COLLEGE OF MEDICINE STUDENT VIEWBOOK
T H E
University of Central Florida
I
t is my belief that every medical student comes to
medical school with a dream for the future. At UCF, we help each student build that dream from day one.
We seek students with a pioneering spirit—a real sense of curiosity and inquiry—who wish to make a difference in the lives of others.
The power to make a difference and effect change lies in those who have passion, compassion and ambition. These are individuals who are driven to be part of something greater than themselves. This spirit describes our faculty and our culture at UCF. I went to medical school because I had a dream. With the teaching experience of our faculty, the wisdom of our community leaders and our students’ inquisitive minds, we offer an innovative program that promises to be a model for medical education in the 21st century. We invite you to explore and see why UCF’s College of Medicine is like no other—the place to build your dream. Deborah C. German, M.D. Dean, College of Medicine
The University of Central Florida contributes excellent resources to the development of the
College of Medicine in areas of information
technology, knowledge management, simulation technology and software development, and
faculty development. The developing knowledge management and assessment systems have the potential to be a national model.
Liaison Committee on Medical Education Site visit team
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What Makes Us Different?
Your passion will take you to the place you want to go.
Deborah C. German, M.D. Dean, College of Medicine
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ur College of Medicine takes an entirely new approach to learning by encouraging you to pursue your passions in medical school,
instead of waiting until you graduate. In some cases, you will help design your own programs. You will work closely with faculty members, community patients and physicians, as well as fellow researchers, to create an atmosphere of innovation and inquisitiveness most medical students wait years to experience. Our methods are fresh We know what you learn is just as important as how you learn. We breathe curiosity into our approach. Classes will include live patient interaction early and often, clinical cases throughout, organ-based instructional modules, interactive lectures and labs, small groups, and individualized research and study. The UCF researchers and outstanding physicians will be an added dimension to your medical education from the moment you start. So, whether your passion is helping one patient at a time, curing cancer, or changing the state of health care for the better, you can tailor your work toward those goals with us.
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Facts Vision
A glimpse of your future The first thing you’ll notice about Central Florida’s medical community is how welcomed you are. Our university, physicians, and leaders will do everything to help you be successful. We want creative minds to begin helping patients and solving medical problems. We’re dedicated to educating doctors who will provide quality care.
The University of Central Florida College of Medicine will be the nation’s premier 21st century college of medicine—a national leader in education, research, and patient care, recognized for supporting and empowering its students and faculty to realize their passion for discovery, healing, health, and life, and for its ability to create partnerships to transform medical education and health care.
M a k i n g h i s to ry The UCF College of Medicine M.D. program admitted the charter class of 41 students in the fall of 2009. We plan to admit 60 new students into our class for 2010, and will continue to increase by 20 each fall until we reach 120 entering students per year. • The college was the first medical program in U.S. history to offer full four-year scholarships to an entire class. • The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) noted that the developing knowledge management and assessment systems have the potential to be national models.
Breaking records The college received 4,307 applicants for its 41 charter class seats—more applications than any public medical school in Florida history.
A c c r e d i tat i o n The University of Central Florida is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Commission on Colleges • 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 • 404-679-4501 • sacscoc.org
The UCF College of Medicine was granted accreditation by the LCME to begin offering the M.D. program in fall 2009. 3
We’ll get to know one another
With only 41 students in our Charter Class, and 60 in the second class, you will work more closely with our faculty than at any other medical school. The team we’re building is comprised of visionaries and motivated mentors from all aspects of medicine and from some of the most impressive programs across the nation. We’ll share the wealth of our experiences and accomplishments with you individually. We’re eager to get to know you and to guide you in reaching your goals.
Charter Class Class Size
41
MCAT
32.2
Standout Student
GPA
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STUDENT PROFILE:
Katherine Fersadt Charter Class
Katherine Fersadt has made UCF history. But who could imagine that she came to America just five years ago and knew very little English? In Venezuela, her mom taught her strong values—like giving back. You don’t want to go through life without meaning. You need to help as many people as possible. As a hospital volunteer she learned: Patients need to be treated as individuals. And her moment in UCF history? It’s big. Katherine was one of the first two students accepted into the new medical school.
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Outstanding practitioners
Faculty & Students
F A C U LT Y P R O F I L E :
Garrett H. Riggs, M.D., Ph. D. Department of Medical Education
Dr. Garrett Riggs is an Assistant Professor of Neurology, board-certified neurologist, and an awardwinning teacher who focuses on neuroscience education and clinical medicine. As a cognitive neurologist, his studies of memory and thinking dovetail with education. He is also interested in psychometric techniques in medical education to assess how students and residents learn best and to help match learning styles and personalities with future success in medicine. In addition to cognitive neurology, Dr. Riggs’ clinical interests include brain tumors, stroke, and neuro-critical care. His research interests include the biological basis of consciousness, learning and memory (especially as they relate to education), biomedical ethics, medical humanities and history of medicine.
F A C U LT Y P R O F I L E :
Lynn M. Crespo, Ph.D.
Department of Medical Education Dr. Lynn Crespo is the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education and a Professor of Pharmacology. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Indiana University in Bloomington, and her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York. Dr. Crespo has received numerous awards throughout her career for teaching excellence at all levels, including undergraduate, graduate, medical and other professional programs. In addition, she has authored publications on medical education, as well as several chapters in the medical textbook, Brody’s Human Pharmacology. She is currently serving as section editor, and author for the upcoming 5th edition of Brody’s Human Pharmacology.
F A C U LT Y P R O F I L E :
Henry Daniell, Ph. D.
College of Medicine Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences You don’t usually look to lettuce to solve the world’s greatest health challenges, but Dr. Henry Daniell has a vision. My goal is for UCF to be the world’s first university to produce plantbased vaccines and bio-pharmaceuticals. Henry’s anthrax vaccine earned him a congratulatory call from the Director of Homeland Security. And he continues researching possible cures for diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. But how did it all start? UCF gave me the opportunity to build my team and design my own lab. 5
A New School from the Ground Up We are building the foundation that will enable our children and future generations to change the world.
Rasesh Thakkar TAVISOCK GROUP College of Medicine Scholarship Donor
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Our state-of-the-art home will be your home
In the summer of 2010, we’ll enter a new technology and research-centered facility. It will house four cutting-edge laboratory suites in simulation, clinical anatomy, clinical skills, and digital pathology. It will also include lecture rooms designed for presentation flexibility, an outstanding health sciences library with room to study and collaborate, and places to eat. The College of Medicine will be part of a stunning new medical city being built for the Central Florida region.
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COLLEGE OF MEDICINE STUDENT VIEWBOOK
Medical Education Bldg. cross section
Medical Education Bldg. aerial view
Library interior
1st Level Floor plan
Student auditorium
Main lobby
3rd Level Floor Plan College Wellness Center
Dean’s Overlook Board Room Health Sciences Campus Information Technology Hub
2nd Level Floor Plan
Clinical Skills Lab Multi-Media Digital Production Lab Problem Based Learning Rooms
4th Level Floor Plan Anatomy Lab Microscopy and Virtual Laboratory
OPENS SUMMER 2010
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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
UCF’s Health Sciences Campus is set in the heart of the Science and Technology Park
The Medical City at Lake Nona When this community gets committed to something, they move quickly here. We’re going to see the development of something unusual— if not unique—here: a medical city.
John C. Hitt, PH.D. President, UCF
We’re building a new city
As part of the medical city at Lake Nona, the College of Medicine will house the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando Cancer Research Institute. It will also be neighbors to the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, a new Orlando VA Medical Center, a new Nemours Children’s Hospital, and more. Surrounding the medical city will be a new community where the concepts of live, work and play fit perfectly together. Residential areas will be within walking distance to an abundance of shopping and dining options. More than 40 percent of the area is left green with more than 40 miles of paved and unpaved trails reserved for hiking, biking and exploring nature.
The UCF College of Medicine Medical Education Building is adjacent to the Burnett Biomedical Sciences Building
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Aerial photographs courtesy of Aero Photo
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COLLEGE OF MEDICINE STUDENT VIEWBOOK
Lake Nona’s proposed master plan
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Dueling Dragons at Islands of Adventure
Downtown Orlando at dusk
Cirque de Soleil at Downtown Disney
Entertainment includes Broadway shows, professional, community
and college theater, independent film houses, and the nationally Shamu and trainer at Sea World
recognized Florida Film Festival.
Theater in Orlando
Stuff, the Orlando Magic’s mascot.
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Photos this page: ŠOrlando/Orange Co. Conventions and Visitors Bureau, Inc.
Highlights •T here are 95 theme parks and attractions, including seven of the world’s largest and most popular •Y ear-round art exhibits and cultural events, the most comprehensive collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the Orlando Museum of Art, the popular Zora Neale Hurston Festival, the Orlando Science Center and the Orange County Regional History Center
Located in the Heart of Florida The perfect backdrop
Central Florida is world-renowned as a desirable place to live, learn, work and play. It’s a destination for millions every year looking for entertainment and leisure, as well as professional businesses and individuals. Orlando is also a technologically-driven marketplace, creating the perfect environment to learn innovative methods. In Orlando, and at the College of Medicine, you’ll get the chance to explore your dreams in the laboratory and classroom, in our theme parks, on nearby beaches, and in our community.
•N ightlife includes ultra-hip bars and high-energy dance clubs to laid-back pubs, coffee houses and multivenue entertainment complexes •O range County Convention Center is the second-largest exhibition space in the country •R ecreation offerings include 2,000 lakes, springs and rivers for swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing; 150 golf courses, 800 tennis courts and 21 fitness trails for biking, walking and skating St. Johns River
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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Thinking Outside the Classroom
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he UCF College of Medicine will get students into the community by working with our medical partners. The following partners will
allow our students to begin experiencing the satisfaction of applying their passions beginning on the first day of school. From honoring and
serving veterans to healing children in need, Central Florida is an ideal environment for medical students.
Florida Hospital Network
Orlando Health
According to U.S. News and World Report, the Florida Hospital Network is one of “America’s Best Hospitals.” The largest, not-for-profit Protestant health care organization in the nation, Florida Hospital Network (FHN) is dedicated to healing the whole patient: physically, mentally, and spiritually. FHN currently has more than 44,000 employees, 38 hospitals in 10 states, a total of 6,200 beds, and a wide range of fellowship and residency opportunities. Designated as a National Research Corporation Consumer Choice Hospital, FHN advances medical knowledge while emphasizing medical service through comfort, empathy, and sound advice.
Citing medical education as part of its core mission, Orlando Health is dedicated to partnering with the College of Medicine. Orlando Health, formerly Orlando Regional Healthcare, shares the college’s goals of developing unique approaches and solutions to health care issues through innovative research and fresh teaching methods. One of Florida’s most comprehensive, not-for-profit health care networks, Orlando Health features state-of-the-art facilities, highly qualified staff, and a commitment to advancing medicine through cutting-edge medical treatments and procedures. Comprised of nine hospitals, the 1,780-bed system treats nearly two million Florida residents and 4,500 national and international patients. Orlando Health also engages in groundbreaking special treatment programs, including the nation’s fourth-largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It also specializes in high-risk pregnancy, stroke, neurology, orthopedics, memory disorder, epilepsy, brain surgery, radiation-oncology, and gynecologic-oncology.
Seeing almost one million patients a year, FHN is ranked first in the nation for inpatient admissions and is ranked nationally in Heart and Heart Surgery, Orthopedics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Gynecology (including reproductive cancers), Urology, Digestive Disorders, Hormonal Disorders (including Diabetes and Thyroid), Kidney Disease, and Ear, Nose and Throat. Of special note are FHN’s facilities and resources for residents in preventative care, clinical pharmacology and human behavior, immersing you in a environment that promotes ethical ideals and medical advancement. Visit www.floridahospital.com to learn more.
Orlando Regional Medical Center boasts a Level One Trauma Center with its own Air Care Team. Involved in seven Accreditation Council for Graduate Education residency programs, medical education is one of the Orlando Health’s most important enterprises. Visit orlandohealth.com to learn more.
It’s not just about economic impact; it’s about saving lives. John C. Reed CEO, Burnham Institute
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COLLEGE OF MEDICINE STUDENT VIEWBOOK
Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Nemours Children’s Hospital
Central Florida is home to nearly 400,000 veterans, 90,000 of which are seen at the current Orlando VA Medical Center every year. Comprised of a Nursing Home Care Unit, the Domiciliary and Rehabilitation Program, the Viera and Daytona outpatient clinics, and three Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Leesburg, Kississimmee, and Sanford, the VA Center provides a wide range of services to veterans throughout the region. Striving to honor veterans by providing exceptional health care, the Orlando VA Medical Center, a new $560 million 134-bed hospital, has been approved to join us in the medical city. As our neighbor and partner, the Orlando VA Medical Center will be a resource for patient care and research and a rich opportunity for exposure to health and public affairs through its veteran’s benefits office.
One of the nation’s largest health systems dedicated to children, Nemours cares for more than 250,000 children a year through the generosity of the DuPont legacy. Expanding to Orlando two years ago through the Nemours Children’s Clinic, plans are now in motion to join the community of partners at the Lake Nona medical city, in a state-of-the-art children’s hospital. Already making strides in cancer detection and therapy, eye disorders, robotic surgery, and medical engineering, Nemours is dedicated to educating doctors and to conducting research. The hospital also educates children and their families about their own health through their groundbreaking program KidsHealth, the world’s mostvisited Web site dedicated to the health of children.
The Orlando VA Medical Center’s partnership with the College of Medicine is shared through our partnerships with Orlando Health and the Florida Hospital Network. As a teaching hospital, the center will be a state-of-the-art environment that will provide a full range of services and educational opportunities while fostering a philosophy of medical service as an empathetic enterprise. Visit the Orlando VA Medical Center at www.orlando.va.gov to learn more.
With a focus on pediatric medical care, research and advocacy, Nemours Children’s Hospital is a growing force in the care of children. Joining their community partners at the medical city, Nemours Children’s Hospital offers you dynamic pediatric services, including areas such as neonatology, critical care, rheumatology, gastroenterology, allergy, and emergency medicine. As a student at the College of Medicine, you will have access to one of the most acclaimed pediatric hospitals in the nation. Visit www.orlandokids.org to learn more.
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Academic Requirements
A p p l i c a t i o n Pr o c e s s
Required Course Work
AMCAS Application
Requirements must be taken in residence (not online) from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Applicants must have completed at least a bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment in the M.D. program.
Applicants must complete an application through the online American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) at www.aamc.org. AMCAS is the national application service that processes applications for M.D. programs. Through AMCAS, an applicant may apply to most M.D. programs by completing one application and paying the appropriate fees. AMCAS provides the school with applicant information immediately upon completion of AMCAS transcript verification process.
General Biology General Chemistry Organic Chemistry General Physics College English College Math
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Semesters Semesters Semesters Semesters Semesters Semesters
(with (with (with (with
labs) labs) labs) labs)
All majors are eligible to apply for admission to the College of Medicine (COM) as long as the minimum academic requirements are met. Non-science majors are encouraged to take as many science courses as possible.
Additional course work that is recommended, but not required, includes biochemistry, embryology, cell biology, comparative anatomy, and genetics. Course work in humanities, natural sciences or communication arts is also encouraged. While no specific college math courses are required, some college work in calculus is strongly recommended; familiarity with the principles of statistics for analysis of data is also important.
Application Requirements Interview Selection Requirements
Each applicant must demonstrate strong academic skills, a motivation for medicine, history of research, and compassion for others. To be competitive for interview selection, an application should include the following: • Minimum undergraduate GPA 3.0 • Minimum Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) GPA 3.0 • Minimum MCAT 24 (best single test, last three years) • Meaningful and consistent medical clinical activities • Consistent service to the community • Physician shadowing • Teamwork and leadership skills • Basic science research • Demonstrated excellence in an activity or area of interest (sports, research, or other endeavors) at a very high level
Application Deadlines
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) Application Completion Deadline
December 1
Supplemental Application Completion Deadline
January 15
Supplemental Application Fee
Supplemental Application Fee of $30 OR AMCAS Fee Assistance Program (FAP) Waiver Documents
International Applicants
Only U.S. citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens or Asylees with a Green Card in their possession may apply
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The AMCAS application period begins in late May and terminates on or before December 1 prior to the year in which the applicant anticipates enrollment. The AMCAS application deadline is the date when students must submit the application, all fees, and associated data to AMCAS.
Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
LOR Receipt and Processing—AMCAS Only The M.D. Admissions Office will ONLY accept LORs that have been received via AMCAS. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the appropriate letters are provided to AMCAS. Refer to AMCAS for detailed instructions for the LOR process. It is important that you coordinate with your own pre-med advising office, since many send the letter packages for you. IMPORTANT: Any LORs sent to the UCF M.D. Admissions Office will NOT BE CONSIDERED and will be destroyed. LOR Requirements Traditional Applicant—An applicant who will be entering the M.D. program directly from a bachelor’s degree program with less than a one-year break. • Three individual faculty letters; two letters from basic science faculty, and one from a non-science faculty member, OR one premed/pre-professional composite committee letter • Two character letters; these letters should be from those who can tell us about “who” you are. Authors may be your supervisor, friend, neighbor, someone you have volunteered with or shadowed, someone from an organization or club that you belong to, clergy, etc. One of these two letters may be from an academic peer Non-traditional Applicant—An applicant who has been out of college at least one year since obtaining the initial bachelor’s degree. This applicant may have completed additional academics possibly leading to another degree, or may have been away from academics for several years. • Three individual faculty letters from the most recent degree program, if feasible. If that applicant has been away from academics for a few years, they may substitute three upper-level supervisor letters for the three faculty letters • Two character letters—same as for traditional applicants
Completed File
It is the responsibility of each applicant to meet established deadlines and to monitor the status of their AMCAS and UCF COM supplemental applications. The admissions office will send an e-mail to each applicant upon completion of their file. Applicants will not be considered for an interview until all required information has been received and their file has been completed. Components of a completed application file are as follows: • Verified AMCAS Application • Designated LOR’s provided by AMCAS only • Submitted COM Supplemental Application Form • Paid application fee or AMCAS Fee Waiver Verification • Uploaded passport-style photo (requested, but not required) • Optional information provided by the applicant such as: – Letters providing updated or amplifying information – Recent grade sheets/unofficial transcript acceptable
A CCEPT A NCE ST A TUS When the Medical Student Admissions Committee (MSAC) makes a final decision regarding an interviewed applicant, the admissions office will contact that applicant by telephone to inform them of the committee’s decision as follows: • Accepted: An acceptance package is mailed to accepted applicants on the day following the MSAC decision. All offers of acceptance are provisional. An offer of acceptance may be rescinded if the applicant does not respond to the acceptance offer or maintain academic standards prior to enrollment, provides inaccuracies or misrepresentations on the application documents, has an unacceptable report based on the AAMC Criminal Background Check or AAMC Investigation Report, or any other reason deemed appropriate by the COM. • Not Accepted: A notification of non-admittance is sent to each applicant as necessary. Upon request, the admissions office will counsel the applicant to help them understand what they might do to increase their competitiveness for a future application. • Wait Listing: While on the wait list, prospective students will be contacted by the admissions office periodically to provide an update on their status and possible outcome. They will inform the applicant immediately upon change of admission status.
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I n t e r v i e w Pr o c e s s Initial Screening of Applicants
The UCF COM M.D. Program Admissions Office will begin to communicate with applicants upon receipt of a verified AMCAS application. The admissions office will briefly review the application to verify that it meets or exceeds the minimum GPA and MCAT scores, as well as citizenship requirements. Each qualified applicant will receive an e-mail inviting them to complete the supplemental application.
Acceptance Package
Interview Selection
The acceptance package will include the acceptance letter and a combined response form. We request that the combined response form and state residency affidavit be returned to the admissions office within two weeks from the date of the acceptance letter. The combined response form will include information regarding: • Acceptance/declination of the offered seat • Review of AMCAS-supported Criminal Background Check requirement • Review of technical standards and the chance to respond if an accommodation is needed • Review and print-out of state residency affidavit form • Information regarding final transcripts
Applicants selected for an interview, in addition to being academically talented, must demonstrate the desire to pursue medicine. Those selected for an interview are contacted by telephone and e-mail by the COM Admissions Office to schedule an interview.
If the response form is not received from the applicant, the admissions office will make every effort to contact the applicant to determine their intent. Non-receipt of the response form within a reasonable time will be grounds for cancellation of the offer of acceptance at the discretion of the Director of Admissions.
Interview Day
Transfer Admissions
Once the applicants have selected an interview date, the admissions office will confirm the date of the interview. This e-mail provides additional information that includes an agenda and information regarding overnight stay, local travel, parking, and other details to enhance the applicant’s visit.
The M.D. program does not plan to accept advanced standing (transfer) applicants for the first several years of the admission cycle.
For those applications that have been verified by AMCAS and meet minimum GPA and citizenship requirements, but do not yet include an MCAT score: we will send an invitation to complete the Supplemental Application, if the MCAT exam is scheduled for that application year. Completed applications that meet all requirements will be fully reviewed and considered for an interview.
The actual interview day is a seven-hour visit and includes: • A tour of the medical school facility • Multiple opportunities for applicants to interact with medical students. • A tour of one Clinical Medical Facility where M.D. students receive clinical experience • An overview of the curriculum, facilities, and student support • Two individual interviews with faculty • A visit with the COM Dean • A visit with COM Student Financial Services Director • The admissions committee decision process and timelines for making acceptance offers, wait listing, rejection, and future communication and assistance • Information regarding our commitment to a diverse class and working environment
State Residency Classification
The COM M.D. Program Admissions Office evaluates completed applications from both residents and non-residents of the State of Florida. Qualified applicants will be considered for an interview regardless of their state of residency.
Criminal Background Checks
A Criminal Background Check (CBC) is initiated via AMCAS when an applicant is admitted to a program (beginning in January of the year that the applicant plans to enroll). As additional institutions offer acceptance to that applicant, those schools are also provided access to the result of the original CBC. Each M.D. program will develop its own criteria for continuing an offer of acceptance based on information received. While the COM CBC policy has not yet been completed, we anticipate that each response will be viewed on a case-by-case basis within the scope of the entire application.
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Standards for Admission, Progression, & Graduation T
he COM educates physicians who are capable of entering residency
training (graduate medical education)
and meet all requirements for medical licensure. All candidates are evaluated according to the same standards and
criteria. Delineation of technical standards is required for the accreditation of U.S. medical schools by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The technical standards describe the essential abilities required of all candidates. Reasonable accommodation in achievement of the standards is defined under federal statutes applied to individuals with disabilities. Such accommodations are intended to support the successful completion of all components of the M.D. degree. The technical standards for the M.D. degree are applied in concert with other policies of the university, including academic policies, academic standards established by the faculty, and student conduct policies. The technical standards include the following principles and understandings: • The M.D. program at the COM supports a broad, undifferentiated degree attesting to the acquisition of general knowledge in all fields of medicine and the basic skills requisite for the practice of medicine. • The guidelines for admission as set forth by LCME must continue to govern the decisions of medical school faculties. • The medical education process, which focuses on the safety and well-being of patients, differs markedly from postsecondary education in fields outside the health sciences. • The primary responsibility for the selection of students and the content of the curriculum rests with the medical school and its faculty.
• All candidates in the M.D. program must possess physical, cognitive, and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the faculty. • Candidates who meet the academic criteria and who demonstrate the ability to meet the technical standards listed in this document are eligible for consideration for admission, progression, and graduation. Admission to the COM is conditional based on the ability to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates are asked to certify that they are able to meet the technical standards of the program. Individuals with questions regarding technical standards are encouraged to contact the COM Associate Dean for Students. UCF Student Disability Services (SDS) provides strategies to candidates with disabilities. Case-bycase consideration of alternate styles of achievement are applied to candidates in advanced stages of screening for admission and those who are enrolled.
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COLLEGE OF MEDICINE STUDENT VIEWBOOK
Standards in Five Areas Must Be Met by All Candidates: Observation, Communication, Motor Function, Cognitive, and Professional.
1. Observation
4 . Co g n i t i v e
Candidates are reasonably expected to:
Candidates must have sufficient cognitive abilities and effective learning techniques to assimilate the detailed and complex information presented in the medical curriculum.
• Observe demonstrations and participate in experiments in the basic sciences • Observe patients at a distance and close-at-hand • Demonstrate sufficient use of the senses of vision and hearing and the somatic sensation necessary to perform a physical examination • Integrate findings based on these observations and to develop an appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan
Candidates are reasonably expected to: • Measure, calculate, analyze, synthesize, extrapolate, and reach diagnostic and therapeutic judgments • Recognize and draw conclusions about three-dimensional spatial relationships and logical sequential relationships among events • Formulate and test hypotheses that enable effective and timely problem-solving in diagnosis and treatment of patients in a variety of clinical modalities • Understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine
2 . Co m m u n i c a t i o n
• Remain fully alert and attentive at all times in clinical settings
Candidates are reasonably expected to:
Problem-solving, the critical skill demanded of physicians, requires all of these intellectual abilities.
• Communicate in verbal and written form with health care professionals and patients, including eliciting a complete medical history and recording information regarding patients’ conditions • Perceive relevant non-verbal communications such as changes in mood, activity, and posture as part of a physical examination of a patient • Establish therapeutic relationships with patients • Demonstrate reading skills at a level sufficient to individually accomplish curricular requirements and provide clinical care for patients using written information Accommodation through use of a trained intermediary or other communications aide may be appropriate when this intermediary functions as an information conduit.
5 . P r of e s s i o n a l Candidates are expected to demonstrate behavior and social attributes that enable the effective practice of medicine. Candidates are reasonably expected to: • Demonstrate the judgment and emotional stability required for full use of their intellectual abilities • Possess the perseverance, diligence, and consistency to complete the medical school curriculum and prepare to enter the independent practice of medicine • Exercise good judgment in the diagnosis and treatment of patients • Complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients within established timelines • Function within the law and ethical standards of the medical profession
3 . Mo t o r F u n c t i o n Candidates’ motor and sensory functions must be sufficient to diagnose and deliver effective patient care by consistently, quickly and accurately integrating all data gathered through whatever sense(s) employed. Candidates are reasonably expected to: • Perform physical examinations and diagnostic procedures, using such techniques as palpation, auscultation and percussion • Complete routine invasive procedures as part of training, using universal precautions without substantial risk of infection to patients • Perform basic laboratory tests and evaluate routine diagnostic tools such as EKGs and X-rays • Respond in emergency situations to provide the level of care reasonably required of physicians
• Work effectively and professionally as part of the health care team • Relate to patients, their families, and health care personnel in a sensitive and professional manner • Participate effectively in physically taxing duties over long work hours, function effectively under stress, and display flexibility and adaptability to changing and uncertain environments • Maintain regular, reliable and punctual attendance for classes and clinical responsibilities • Contribute to collaborative and constructive learning environments, accept constructive feedback from others, and respond with appropriate modification Compassion, integrity, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are all personal qualities that are assessed during the admission and educational processes. All candidates are responsible for meeting acceptable standards for behavior and intellectual functioning. Only minimal accommodation is foreseen with regard to the professional section of the technical standards.
• Participate effectively in physically taxing duties over long hours and complete timed demonstrations of skills 17
Comprehensive Curriculum T
he M.D. program learning experience at UCF is a unique and exciting blend of state-of-the-art technology, virtual patients, clinical and laboratory
experiences, research, facilitator-directed small group sessions, and interactive didactic lectures. Classes will include live patient interaction early and often. We have developed innovative simulation and animation experiences explicitly for the study of medicine that integrate and reinforce the curriculum. From basic science concepts to clinical diagnoses and treatment, the human patient simulators and online interactive virtual patients enhance and complement learning. The M.D. program curriculum at UCF fully integrates basic and clinical sciences across all four years. The first two years of the curriculum are structured into modules, with the first year focusing on a fundamental understanding of how the various basic science disciplines relate to the normal human body. The second year takes an organ system-based approach and applies the basic knowledge of the first year to the study of clinical disease, pathological processes and treatment. In concert with these aspects of medicine, the curriculum presents psychosocial issues, cultural differences, communication skills, and physical diagnosis skills as they relate to the different topics in medicine. Educational experiences throughout the curriculum are designed to enhance the learning environment, emphasize student-centered learning, apply and synthesize information, and foster an appreciation of life-long learning. All modalities of learning are incorporated into the curriculum, including simulation,
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Web-based activities and clinical cases, team-based learning, problem-based learning, and standardized patient encounters. Traditional didactic lectures comprise approximately 30 percent of the academic curriculum. Many of these lectures are also interactive and include the use of the latest in educational technology, including audience response systems. Clinical experiences occur throughout the first two years in the Community of Practice. At least twice a month, students will work with community preceptors in a variety of settings, including primary care, specialty practices and hospitalbased practices. These clinical experiences provide students the opportunity to observe the application of their studies to real patients, as they gain experience in communication, history taking, physical exam skills, and cultural competency.
C U rriculum Year One – 39 Weeks of Instruction Practice of Medicine and Community of Practice (P-1) – 38 Weeks throughout Year 1 Focused Individualized Research Experience (I-1) – 37 Weeks throughtout Year 1 Human Body: From Molecules to Cells (HB-1) – 8 Weeks Human Body: Structure and Function (HB-2) – 17 Weeks Human Body: Health and Disease (HB-3) – 8 Weeks Psychosocial Issues in Health care (C-1) – 11 Weeks concurrent with HB-3 and S-1 Hematology and Oncology (S-1) – 3 Weeks
Year Two – 34 Weeks of Instruction Practice of Medicine and Community of Practice (P-2) – 31 Weeks throughout Year 2 Focused Individualized Research Experience (I-2) – 31 Weeks throughout Year 2 Endocrine, Reproductive and Genitourinary Systems (S-2) – 6 Weeks Gastrointestinal, Hepatic and Renal Systems (S-3) – 6 Weeks Cardiovascular and Pulmonary (S-4) – 6 Weeks An exciting component of the curriculum at UCF is best described by the dean as “Keep the Dream Alive!” This Focused Individualized Research Experience (FIRE) module continues throughout the first two years. The scope of these projects is limited only by the student’s imagination, and may include every aspect from bench to clinical research, quality of care, hospitality in medicine, quality of life, disease prevention, legal aspects of medicine, and more. Each student will work with a mentor to develop an individualized project or area of study that focuses on the student’s unique interest and career plan in the fields of health and medicine.
Skin and Musculoskeletal Systems (S-5) – 4 Weeks Neurologic Systems (S-6) – 7 Weeks
Year Three – 50 Weeks Following a one-week orientation to the third year, students rotate through a set of required core clerkships in Internal and Family Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry and Neurology. In addition to these core rotations, students participate in three two-week selectives where they have an opportunity to choose from a selection of surgical and other specialty areas. In September, a one-week joint conference with fourth-year students is held to discuss and explore the roles of professionalism, ethics and communication in the health care setting. The third year finishes with a one-week capstone experience. Core Clerkships • Internal and Family Medicine (12 Weeks)
The third and fourth years of the curriculum are devoted to clinical experience through clerkships, selectives, and electives. Fundamental knowledge from the first two years is reinforced through lectures, simulations, journal clubs, and conferences during the six core clerkships.
• Surgery (6 Weeks)
Overall, the four-year medical curriculum at UCF is designed to fully integrate basic science and clinical medicine, give students an appreciation of cultural diversity and the need for sensitivity in treating patients, foster professionalism in all interactions, and ignite a passion for life-long learning.
Year Four – 40 Weeks
• Obstetrics and Gynecology (6 Weeks) • Pediatrics (6 Weeks) • Neurology (6 Weeks) • Psychiatry (6 Weeks) • Selectives (6 Weeks)
The fourth year is divided into 10 one-month blocks. All students rotate through four weeks each of emergency medicine, critical care, and two acting internships. Of the remaining six months of the year, four are devoted to electives where students can gain additional clinical experiences locally or nationally. The remaining two months can be used for another elective, study, and further research or residency interviews. Students finish the fourth year with a three-week capstone experience that provides preparation for internship, leadership training and teaching experience. For more detailed curricular information, visit www.med.ucf.edu/academics and click on the “M.D. Program” link.
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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Early Decision Program
Financial Services
The Early Decision Program (EDP) is for very highly
The COM Office of Student Financial Services assists M.D. students in obtaining resources to fund their educational expenses while attending the medical school. The office provides financial aid process and program counseling as well as budgeting and money management counseling.
motivated, capable, and passionate applicants who have demonstrated excellence in academics. The admissions committee reviews applicants to the program in mid-August of the application year. The COM admissions office contacts each EDP applicant to advise them of the committee’s decision about an interview. EDP Deadlines AMCAS verified by August 1 All supplemental materials to the COM Admissions Office by August 15
Financial aid programs for 2010-2011 consist of: institutional scholarships; institutional need-based grants; Stafford loans; outside/private scholarships; and GradPLUS loans. To apply for financial aid, please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon after January 1st as possible. The Title IV code for UCFCOM is 003954. For more detailed information regarding financial aid and counseling, please call 407.823.4043, e-mail medfinaid@mail.ucf.edu or visit www.med.ucf.edu/ academics/financial_aid.
EDP Guidelines
1.
Applicants must be currently enrolled as seniors or graduates of an accredited regional university or college in the U.S. Students must receive a bachelors degree before August of the year they are to enter medical school.
2.
Applicants should have an undergraduate cumulative overall and science grade point average of 3.8 or better. Science and English requirements for entrance to the college should be completed.
3.
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) must be taken no later than the spring of the year students are applying. Students must have a score of at least 32 or better on the MCAT with no score below eight in any category.
4. 5. 6.
7.
8.
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Contact us: Admissions Office Contact Information E-mail:
mdadmissions@mail.ucf.edu
Transcripts must be on file with the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).
Web site:
www.med.ucf.edu/admissions
Telephone:
407-823-4244
ligible applicants for the EDP are interviewed during E the month of September.
Fax:
407-823-4048
Applicants should only be applying to this institution with full intentions of attending if accepted. Notification of acceptance or non-acceptance is no later than October 1 of the application year. An acceptance means a firm commitment to attend the COM. Applicants who are not accepted under this program are still given consideration for admission during the regular admission cycle. They are also eligible to apply to any other medical school of their choice. Applications from students under this program should be labeled as an EDP applicant through AMCAS.
Postal: UCF College of Medicine Admissions 12201 Research Parkway, Suite 326 P.O. Box 160116 Orlando, FL, 32816-0116
M.D. Program Admissions Office Staff Director:
REL Larkin
Coordinator: Wandy Cruz-VelĂĄzquez Specialist:
Ron Portervint
C ollege of M edicine
Prescription for Success Freshman Year
Junior Year
oin and actively participate in a student pre-med J organization while in college
Continue to participate in research and volunteer opportunities
Evaluate speed reading/comprehension and test-taking skills
Continue visits with your academic adviser and pre-med health advising office
Establish good study habits and begin to establish a strong GPA
Prepare for MCAT (spring/summer semester)
enerate a four-year academic program with your G academic advisor. Pay attention to scheduling courses needed for entry to medical school Visit your school’s pre-med health advising office to learn about applying to medical programs If available at your school, enroll in a course that provides you with information regarding application to medical school Start to build a consistent history of research, medical clinical-related volunteerism, community service volunteerism, and activities that you believe in and that satisfy your interests. Continue to participate throughout your undergraduate college years Get to know the faculty who are teaching you. Let them know that you may request a letter of recommendation for medical school from them in the future Make productive use of your winter, spring and summer breaks
Complete required course work for MCAT (spring/summer semester) Sign up for a mock interview session if available Work with Pre-Health Advising Office to construct your Faculty/Committee letter of recommendation package for medical school applications (spring semester) Complete medical school requirements review and organize hierarchy list of schools for application; attend an annual medical school forum if not done previously (spring semester) Register for MCAT; take initial MCAT no later than August of the summer between your junior/senior year If you have not done it yet, try to find a clinical shadowing/internship experience Start AMCAS application (summer between junior/senior year) Explore medical school scholarship resources Use late summer to address supplementary applications, possible MCAT retake, continue volunteerism
Sophomore Year Continue volunteer work, research, and clinical shadowing opportunities Investigate alternative career options ontinue to visit with your academic adviser and C pre-med health advising office Start planning to cover health professional school application costs Begin to research med school requirements; attend an annual medical school forum in your area Begin to consider MCAT preparation methods se the summer for volunteering, shadowing, research, U work, classes, study abroad, and summer programs; consider visiting medical schools of high interest Begin putting funds aside for interview expenses
Senior Year Complete supplemental applications (first semester) Final review and application for scholarships to finance medical school Continue to excel in research and extra-curricular involvement Prepare to travel to interviews (September–March of senior year) Keep the pre-med health advising office informed of the progress of your application to each medical program (interview/accept/wait list/not accepted) Provide significant updates and fall semester transcripts to medical schools of interest where an interview has not yet been offered Prepare for reapplication process if necessary (spring semester)
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U N I V E R S I T Y O F C E N T RA L F LO R I DA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS 1 2 2 0 1 R E S E A R C H PA R K WAY, S U I T E 3 4 5 P. O . B OX 1 6 0 1 1 6 O R L A N D O, F LO R I DA
32816-0116
T elep h one :
407 823 4244
FA X :
407 823 4048
E-MAIL:
M D A D M I S S I O N S @ mail . ucf. edu
0903COM057–0909
w w w. m e d . u c f. e d u
U C F S TA N D S F O R O P P O R T U N I T Y