Program Overview
2009 Applications Due February 10, 2009
Overview
Minnesota's Future Doctors seeks college students who have successfully completed their first year at a college or university and are interested in becoming a doctor, to serve Minnesota's diverse urban and rural communities. Individuals apply during their freshman year of college.
College sophomores who have three years left of studies after their second year of college (Example: Those who are currently sophomores - but have a junior year, senior year, and a fifth year of college remaining) may also apply for the 2009 Elk Cohort. Students who complete a bachelor's degree in five years are often enrolled as sophomores within community colleges the College of Liberal Arts within the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and other colleges within the U of M system.
Those selected immerse themselves in exploring the lives of doctors during a six-week summer experience on campus. They learn about medical school, college enrichment, service projects, and patient interactions. They meet new friends, encounter mentors, and use electronic portfolios to reflect and record what happens during a very rich program. Housing, meals and stipends are provided to Minnesota's Future Doctors. After that first summer, they will have the opportunity to spend two more summers preparing to apply to and preparing to succeed in medical school.
Background
A plan to recruit and prepare highly talented, committed, and hardworking minority, immigrant, rural, and disadvantaged students for careers within the Minnesota medical community was conceived in 2005 by two medical students at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Gareth Forde and Matthew Fitzpatrick. They looked around their classroom and realized their classmates did not reflect the diversity of Minnesota.
They proposed the program that has become Minnesota's Future Doctors. It has received strong support from the University of Minnesota Medical School and the Mayo Clinic Medical School. Minnesota's Future Doctors launched in November 2006 with Director Jo Peterson, Ph.D.
More information for:
Prospective students
Advisors and professors
Currently enrolled Future Doctors
Podcast for aspiring medical students: The American Association of Medical Colleges has created a podcast for aspiring medical students and future physicians. The aim of the pod-cast it to increase diversity in medicine and within medical schools. Visit the AspiringDocs.org site and podcast.
Questions or concerns?
Contact Director Jo Peterson, Ph.D., at (612) 625-7951 or jopete@umn.edu
