Honors Medical Education Program

Stetson University and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Bradentonare partners in a program that offers qualified students guaranteed admission to medical school.This Programis available for exceptional students admitted to Stetsonwith an interest in medicine. Once admitted to the program, if studentsmeet certain criteria, they will continue their education at theLECOM. For particularly well-prepared and motivated students, this program hasan accelerated track that grants the DO degree in 7 years, instead of the traditional 8. Details of this program are given below.Please contact the Chair of Stetson's Health Professions Advisory Committee with questions (mking@stetson.edu).

Mission of the Program

The mission of the Program is to provide Stetson undergraduate students interested in a career in medicine with a solid baccalaureate foundation acceptance into an osteopathic medical school through a special curriculum and mentoring. This should lead to a sound medical education with the appropriate technical and professional competencies for the training of future practitioners of Osteopathic Medicine.

Goals of the Program

The mission of the program will be accomplished through the following:

1.Providing a rigorous educational program at Stetson that combines an interdisciplinary Liberal Arts curriculum with the chemical and physical sciences, and math, as well as a broad preparation in the biological sciences, requirements for a major and a capstone research experience.

2.Offering appropriate mentoring by Stetson and LECOM faculty and staff, including early contact with LECOM Bradenton personnel.

3.Broadening the scope of personal and professional enrichment by providing appropriate resources, including a Pre-professional program, MCAT preparation, and pre-clinical experience.

4.Providing enrichment sessions for participants throughout the program (i.e., meeting with LECOM medical students on an annual basis or having participants attend one LECOM problem-based learning session per semester).

5.Stetson and LECOM jointly providing a timetable for participants with dates and requirements that must be attained.

Program Admission Process

Students admitted to Stetson who desire to pursue an osteopathic medical education will have an opportunity to apply for the Program. The application deadline is September 1 of each year. Students must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for the 4+4 program:

  • SAT score of 1200 or ACT of 25
  • High school unweighted GPA of 3.5 or in the top 10% of graduating class
  • US Citizen or permanent resident
  • either an entering freshman or have completed up to 59 credit hours at Stetson
  • GPA of 3.3 in all coursework at Stetson

To be considered for the accelerated 3+4 program students must meet the following requirements:

  • SAT score of 1260 or ACT of 27
  • High school unweighted GPA of 3.6
  • US Citizen or permanent resident
  • either an entering freshman or have completed up to 59 credit hours at Stetson
  • GPA of 3.5 in all coursework at Stetson

If a student meets all of these requirements, he/she will be required to: (1) make an application to the Program at Stetson, (2) submit one letter of recommendation, and (3) submit one letter demonstrating a desire for acceptance into the Program and becoming an osteopathic physician. Additionally, acceptance into the program includes an interview with a chosen representative from Stetson and at least one member of the LECOM Admission's Committee.

Program Tracks

There will be two tracks in the Program: (1) a 4+4 Track, and (2) an accelerated 3+4 Track.

4+4 Track

The 4+4 track is the preferred track to give students the opportunity to develop and mature academically and socially before entering medical school. This track also allows students to take more advanced coursework at Stetson and become involved in additional activities, such as undergraduate research and study abroad, prior to attending LECOM. Participants in this track will complete their first four years of study at Stetson following the traditional pattern of undergraduate coursework prior to receiving the Baccalaureate Degree, and then transfer to LECOM Bradenton. With careful planning and approval by Stetson, students in the 4+4 track may select from the wide range of majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students may elect to choose this option at any time until September 1 of the third year.

Accelerated 3+4 Track

The accelerated (3+4) track is available for exceptional students who will complete the first three years of study at Stetson, and the fourth year will be completed in residence at LECOM Bradenton as part of the first year of medical school. Upon successful completion of the first year of study at LECOM, program participants may transfer a maximum of 30 credit hours from LECOM Bradenton toward their Baccalaureate degree at Stetson. At that time, Stetson will confer a Baccalaureate Degree. Additionally, upon successful completion of their four years of study at LECOM, program participants will be granted a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from LECOM.

Students on the accelerated (3+4) track may select a major in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Health Sciences, or Molecular Biology. Students on the 3+4 track may elect to switch to the 4+4 track at any point prior to September1 of their third year.

Specifically, participants must meet the following:

4+4 Track

  • Stetson GPA of not less than 3.3 in the sciences and overall at the end of each of the four years at Stetson. No course will be accepted with a grade lower than "C."
  • Completion of all degree requirements for conferral of the Bachelor's degree at Stetson.
  • Completion of AACOMAS Application and LECOM Bradenton Supplemental Application including personal statement, and FERPA Waiver no later than September I of the year applying.
  • MCAT with a minimum score of 25 and with no individual score less than 7 in Verbal and Physical Science and 8 in Biological Science.
  • A detailed supportive letter of recommendation from the HPAC chair at Stetson.
  • A detailed supportive letter of recommendation from the liaison at LECOM.
  • Interview with a LECOM member of the LECOM Bradenton Admission's Committee.

Students will receive a preliminary notification of acceptance from LECOM by November 1 of their fourth year.

3+4 Track

  • Stetson GPA of not less than 3.5 in the sciences and overall at the end of each of the three years at Stetson. No course will be accepted with a grade lower than "C".
  • Completion of AACOMAS Application and LECOM Bradenton Supplemental Application including personal statement, and FERPA Waiver no later than September I of the year applying.
  • MCAT with a minimum score of 27 and with no individual score less than 8.
  • A detailed supportive letter of recommendation from the HPAC chair at Stetson.
  • A detailed supportive letter of recommendation from the liaison at LECOM.
  • Interview with a LECOM member of the LECOM Bradenton Admission's Committee.

Students will receive a preliminary notification of acceptance from LECOM by November 1 of their third year.

Course Requirements at Stetson

Participants in the Program must successfully complete the following courses at Stetson. However, because curricular revision is an ongoing process, the numbers or titles of courses listed below may change.

Required Courses:

Introductory Biology with lab

  • BIOL141: Introductory Biology I: Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics
  • BIOL 142: Introductory Biology II: Animal and Plant Physiology

General Chemistry with lab

  • CHEM 141: General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 142: General Chemistry II

Organic Chemistry with lab

  • CHEM 201: Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 301: Organic Chemistry II

Biochemistry with lab

  • CHEM 204: Biochemistry I
  • CHEM 304: Biochemistry II

Mathematics

Students must complete two courses in mathematics. These may include:

  • MATH 130: Calculus 1 with review Part 1 & MATH 131: Calculus 1 with Review Part 2 OR
  • MATH 141: Calculus1 with Analytic Geometry& MATH 142: Calculus 2 with Analytic Geometry

Physics with lab

Students must complete a year-long physics sequence, either College Physics(which is not calculus-based) or University Physicis (which is calculus-based).

  • PHYS 121: College Physics I & PHYS 122: College Physics II or
  • PHYS 141: University Physics I & PHYS 142: University Physics II

English/Writing Intensive Courses

  • ENGL 101:Writing and Rhetoric
  • FSEM 100:First Year Seminar

Behavioral Science

  • to include 2 courses selected from psychology, sociology, anthropology, ethics, or philosophy.

AP and IB credits will be evaluated and awarded in accordance with Stetson policies.

Recommendations

  • It is recommended that students in this Program take General Psychology as a general education social science elective.
  • It is recommended that students in this Program gain clinical experience/exposure with osteopathic medicine mentors. This should be completed during the second or the third year at Stetson.