TOGETHER WE LEARN
Message from the Dean
Congratulations and thank you for choosing to enter the healthcare profession. Your career path will have a profound impact on the health of individuals and the communities where you live. It is time to choose where you will spend the next four years preparing to be a physician.
Established in 2012, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, known as WMed, is a collaboration involving Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo’s two teaching hospitals, Ascension Borgess and Bronson Healthcare. WMed is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. We have talented faculty and staff, state-of-the-art facilities, a rigorous curriculum, and clinical affiliates in a community with a long history of providing high-quality medical education and training to the communities we serve.
In our mission, WMed is committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality patient- and family-centered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. It is this commitment to excellence and health equity by our students, our graduates, the medical school, and the Kalamazoo community that positions us to achieve our vision: Health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.
Our faculty have developed a modern, integrated, competency-based four-year CLEAR curriculum. Taught in a team-based approach, which mirrors the way you will practice, our curriculum will prepare you to lead strong teams. We are learner centered and community focused. Our faculty are medical educators who have devoted themselves to the art of teaching. Our curriculum, and your experiences in student interest groups and organizations, will position you as a leader with the skills and abilities to impact health equity in both the local and global communities that we serve.
At WMed, you will be welcomed, supported, and valued. We recognize the success of our medical students is the number one indicator of our success as a medical school. We are here to ensure your success. Together, we learn, heal, innovate, and serve. Join us at WMed on our journey to excellence and health equity for all.
Robert G. Sawyer, MD
The Hal B. Jenson MD Dean
Points of Pride
The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus in downtown Kalamazoo boasts:
• a 350,000-square-foot, state-of-theart learning environment
• a 25,000-square-foot simulation center that is one of the largest in the nation
• gross anatomy and multipurpose labs
• two 90-seat team-based learning halls
• 14 classrooms
• a fitness center
• ample study space
Our small medical school class size of 86 allows for individual attention and a highly supportive environment that is committed to student success.
WMed provides many opportunities for support and mentorship, including four student learning communities as well as peer, faculty, and community physician mentors.
Get experience in our simulation center starting your very first month on campus during the Medical First Responder certification course, which sets the stage for the hands-on learning opportunities you will continue to engage in throughout our curriculum.
Our collaborative and team-oriented environment allows you to learn medicine in the same way you will practice it: working with others.
WMed cultivates a culture of community engagement. Our students, faculty, and staff live out our vision of health equity in Southwest Michigan by supporting and leading outreach and service initiatives in the greater Kalamazoo community.
Student Life and Kalamazoo
WMed is nestled in the heart of downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan, a vibrant city that offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, festivals, the arts, and awardwinning restaurants. The city has a rich history of excellence in education, healthcare, research, life-science exploration, and leadership in the pharmaceutical and medical sciences. Within walking distance of campus are a thriving farmers market, local library and museum, trails and parks, community theaters, locally-owned restaurants, and art studios. Our students become integrated in the Kalamazoo community in both medical and personal capacities.
At WMed, students have ample opportunities to develop their leadership skills while making a difference. WMed hosts over 100 student interest groups, ranging from national organization chapters to medical specialty or special topic interest groups.
WMed values your experience inside and outside the classroom, including your personal well-being. Our team provides a range of group and individual services, including academic support, career development, wellness activities, student engagement opportunities, and campus events.
to name a few…
American Medical Association – Medical Student Section · Arts in Medicine · Bioethics Interest Group · Cardiology Interest Group · Gaming Night Interest Group · Latino Medical Student Association · Medical Student Pride Alliance · Street Medicine Kalamazoo · Student National Medical Association · Surgery Interest Group · Volleyball Interest Group · Yoga and Wellness
Kalamazoo Listed in
TOP 3
Cities for College Graduates
According to a SmartAsset survey, the Kalamazoo-Portage area ranked third on the list of top cities for new college graduates. The survey attributed the top ranking to the high number of young people and restaurants in the area.
Kalamazoo Named One of the TOP 10
Most Affordable Cities with High Salaries and Low Cost of Living in the Midwest
The Ascent released its list of the 10 most affordable places to live in the Midwest based on the income to expense ratio, a measurement of how a city’s median income compares to its cost of living. Kalamazoo made the list because it is the cheapest city in the Midwest and the second-cheapest nationwide, with a cost of living 22.5% less than average expenses nationwide. Housing, in particular, is very inexpensive, beating the national average by a whopping 49% and having a low median home price.
Kalamazoo is a great city to live in. Moving from Arizona, I love being able to experience all of the seasons here. Kalamazoo is a good size while also having the feel of a close-knit community. On my green weeks, I love exploring Michigan and value being close to Grand Rapids, ski resorts, and multiple beaches. When I stay in Kalamazoo for my breaks, I spend my time trying new restaurants, breweries, and hiking trails. If there’s something you’re looking for, you can absolutely find it in Kalamazoo!”
Jake
Forstrom, MD Class of 2027, Avondale, AZ
Applying to WMed
The MD application process opens in May through AMCAS. Since WMed uses rolling admissions, prospective students are encouraged to apply early
Through our holistic admissions process, we are seeking well-rounded future physicians and leaders who have strengths in:
Experiences
Tell us your story. We are looking for leaders who bring pre-medical experience in:
• Healthcare
• Non-healthcare
• Teamwork
• Diversity
• Extracurricular Activities
Attributes
We are seeking students who:
• Are team players
• Can problem solve
• Show compassion and service
• Communicate well
• Make decisions with integrity
Metrics
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• Minimum MCAT: 499
As a private, nonprofit medical school, WMed enrolls bright and talented students from throughout the U.S.
Learn more about Admissions
Primary Application
Supplemental Application
Experiences Review
Telephone Interview
Virtual Interview (Includes a one-on-one Interview and group activity)
Admissions Committee Decision
Recommended Coursework
Specific prerequisite coursework is not required. To be well prepared, we recommend applicants complete a broad base of coursework in the humanities and social sciences, accompanied by coursework in: Biochemistry • Genetics • Human Anatomy • Human Physiology • Statistics
WMed has established preferred relationships with Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Grand Valley State University, and Albion College.
Questions? Please contact the WMed Office of Admissions at admissions @ wmed.edu or 269.337.6100.
Curriculum: Foundations of Medicine
• Our innovative, contemporary 18-month preclinical phase of the curriculum integrates biomedical sciences with clinical application.
• In biomedical sciences courses, dedicated teaching faculty use interactive lectures, asynchronous learning modules, and case-based learning to promote student understanding. These courses utilize a team-oriented environment that prepares students for a successful career in medicine. The application of basic science to clinical decisions is continuously emphasized.
• At WMed, clinical experiences start with a Medical First Responder training. In addition to the highly integrated curriculum, one-week electives during the first two years allow for additional clinical experiences and exploration. WMed students are fully immersed in the clinical environment after completing 18 months of basic science coursework.
• The Disease, Disparities, and Justice course provides a broad education in the social determinants of health and positions WMed students to be future advocates and leaders.
• WMed’s decompressed curriculum runs year-round, focusing on one biomedical science course at a time and offering a one-week break following most 5- to 6-week courses. These “green weeks” can be used for electives or to recharge and focus on wellness.
• Students can participate in clinical, community-based, laboratory, and medical education research
WMed offers MD-MBA and MD-PhD dual-degree options.
Academic Distinctions
Academic Distinctions give WMed students the opportunity to pursue and be recognized for areas of interest and scholarship. Each Academic Distinction requires 30–40 hours of curriculum, which could include electives, parallel co–curricular work, and scholarship in the form of publication or project.
• Advocacy and Leadership in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
• Clinical Informatics
• Global and Public Health
• Interprofessional Focus in Community Health
• Medical Ethics, Humanities, and Law
• Promoting Excellence in Medical Education
• Well-Being in Medicine
Sample curriculum maps on this and following pages. Dates and sequence subject to change.
Curriculum: Clinical Applications
Core Clinical
Core clerkships are traditionally considered to be one of the most clinically transformative periods in a physician’s career. Core clerkships begin in January of Year Two and are organized into seven blocks—six clinical rotations plus a block dedicated to clinical reasoning for USMLE Step preparations. Rotations occur in Southwest Michigan.
Core Clerkships
• Family and Community Medicine
• Medicine
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Surgery
Advanced Clinical
Advanced clerkships and selectives continue to build clinical skills and allow students to explore and finalize their desired area of practice. The transition into advanced clerkships and selectives begins with ACLS certification.
4-week Required Advanced Clerkships and Selectives
• Advanced Anesthesiology (1 week)
• Advanced Critical Care Medicine (4 weeks)
• Advanced Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
• Advanced Hospital-Centered Medicine (4 weeks)
• Advanced Neurology (2 weeks)
Students have the opportunity during advanced clerkships and selectives to explore specialty options with a variety of local elective offerings, flexible time to accommodate residency interviews, and vacation weeks that you build into your schedule.
Each student has the option to spend four to eight weeks at an international medical school to experience the health system in other parts of the world as part of our Engagement and Discovery course. WMed has an established relationship with the University of Minho in Portugal, with additional locations expected to be announced in the future.
Clinical Affiliates
Collaborating with nationally-recognized clinical partners Ascension Borgess and Bronson Healthcare, WMed and Kalamazoo have a long history of clinical education. Their award-winning commitment to quality-of-care standards translates into a level of training experience that rivals major university medical centers while providing the advantage of a community-based, diverse patient population. In addition to these two hospital systems, clinical rotations at WMed Health, Corewell Health Lakeland, a federally qualified health center, and almost 200 other training sites throughout Southwest Michigan allow our students to experience a variety of clinical settings and patient types. Together, these environments offer a full spectrum of diverse experiences.
WMed offers residency and fellowship programs in Emergency Medicine, EMS Fellowship, Family Medicine, Forensic Pathology Fellowship, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, Internal Medicine, Medicine-Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Simulation Fellowship, Sports Medicine Fellowship, and Surgery.
The Hal B. Jenson MD Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
The Hal B. Jenson MD Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MBS) Program is a one-year master’s program designed for students looking to strengthen their foundational knowledge in basic sciences before beginning medical school.
Program Features
• MBS students are automatically accepted to the MD program the following year, contingent upon successful completion of the MBS program.
• Each MBS student receives a full-tuition scholarship and may be offered a cost-of-living scholarship while completing the master’s degree, thanks to a generous gift from the Jon Stryker and Slobodan Randjelovic scholarship fund.
• A small cohort of up to eight students per year provides a highly supportive environment.
• The MBS curriculum runs alongside MD students, and instruction is provided by medical school faculty.
• Priority will be given to applicants who have overcome significant adversity, are first generation college graduates, are socio-economically disadvantaged, or who reside in or have strong ties to the Southwest Michigan area.
Metrics
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• Minimum MCAT: 497
Application Process
There are two ways to apply to the MBS program:
Be considered for the MBS program with a traditional MD application through AMCAS. This option enables you to be considered for both the MD and the MBS program. Applicants applying to the MD program who wish to be considered for the MBS program should inform admissions directly at admissions@wmed.edu.
Apply directly to the MBS program. Direct applications open on the program website each January.
Learn more about the application process
I loved the MBS program specifically because of the faculty. Every person involved in my education genuinely cared about my growth and had their doors open always to vent about struggles outside of school.”
Mfoniso Ekpo, MD, MBS Class of 2019, MD Class of 2023 Resident Physician, Neurology, Duke University Medical Center
The MBS program was honestly the opportunity I prayed for. It gave me the chance to prove myself. I entered my first year of medical school with not only the confidence to succeed, but the tools to hit the ground running. The professors, mentors, and friends I made during the program have been an integral component of my medical school experience. I will forever treasure the memories I made in the MBS program and how they helped shaped me into the aspiring leader I am today.”
Rosemary Vergara, MBS Class of 2021, MD Class of 2025
Capstone
Capstone
Class of 2024 Residency Placement
