UM-Flint and MSU announce Early Assurance Program for Premed Students

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and the University of Michigan-Flint entered into an agreement today that provides a link between premedical students at the UM-Flint and MSU's medical school.

Officials from both universities, including Vahid Lotfi, UM-Flint's interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Marsha D. Rappley, MD, dean, MSU College of Human Medicine,finalized the Early Assurance Program for admission which will help both disadvantaged students and underserved areas of medicine.

The Early Assurance Program provides an enhanced opportunity for admission to medical school to qualified premedical students who wish to practice in the underserved areas. Preference for admission will be given to students who are the first generation to attend college, students who graduated from a low-income high school, those eligible for Pell grants, or those who express interest in a high need medical specialty area.

UM-Flint students interested in caring for underserved populations will complete a program for enriching clinical and service experiences, as well as academic advising directed toward admission to MSU College of Human Medicine. The emphasis on care for the underserved is at the core of the College's mission.

"Entering into this program with a world-class College of Human Medicine, will provide a unique and outstanding opportunity for those qualified students to give back to their communities,"said Lotfi. "Our Urban Health and Wellness Center reaches out to the medically underserved communities with various services, and perhaps the day will come when we can offer the services of a medical doctor, who is a product of this program."

"MSU is committed to ensuring a continuous pipeline of well-qualified students from the University of Michigan-Flint to the College of Human Medicine," said Rappley. "This is a continuation of our partnership between our institutions with a long-term vision for enhancing health care in Flint and Genesee County."

During their junior year, students who excel in the University of Michigan-Flint program may apply to the College of Human Medicine and selected students will be assured of admission and begin a relationship with MSU College of Human Medicine during their senior year of college. There will be up to three seats reserved for this program.

The University of Michigan-Flint joins Northern Michigan University, Michigan Technological University, and Grand Valley State University, as Michigan universities participating in the MSU College of Human Medicine Early Assurance Program.