Jupiter, FL (February 28, 2011) – Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine has teamed up with the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College to offer an exciting new opportunity for students with an interest in medicine. The Wilkes Medical Scholars program will enable students to receive provisional admission to FAU’s new medical school at the same time that they begin their first year in college and to complete both a B.A. and M.D. in seven years.
           The faculty of the Honors College expect this program to attract talented, motivated students. Dr. Mark Tunick, associate dean of the Wilkes Honors College, says that the collaboration with the Schmidt College of Medicine will greatly benefit students who have a wide variety of academic interests. While many Wilkes Medical Scholars will pursue concentrations in biology or other sciences, the program will also allow students to complete their bachelors degree in the humanities or social sciences while still receiving all the prerequisite courses needed for medical school. Dr. Tunick expects that the program “will appeal to students who are serious about becoming doctors, but who also have interests in philosophy, history, economics, psychology, and other disciplines in the liberal arts.” And there are also other benefits to the Medical Scholars program. Dr. Tunick feels that early admission to medical school will make the years leading to medical school less stressful for students.  “They’ll know that they already have provisional admission waiting for them, so the pressure many students feel while applying to graduate programs and waiting to learn the results should be reduced.” At the same time, the accelerated program should alleviate financial pressures on families. “Medical school is expensive,” Dr. Tunick says, “and with this program, students can complete their undergraduate and medical schooling in just seven years.” Financially, saving that one year can make a great difference. 
           Dr. Paul Kirchman, associate professor of biology and the chair of the natural sciences at the Honors College, feels that the Medical Scholars program is a great opportunity for extremely motivated students. He says that in creating the program, “We wanted to attract exceptional students to both the Wilkes Honors College and FAU’s brand new Schmidt College of Medicine.  Students who have worked hard and done well in high school will have the security of knowing that they will have a spot waiting for them in medical school as long as they continue to do well at the Honors College.” The faculty of the college is prepared to go the extra mile to help students succeed in this new program. Participants in the Medical Scholars program will be carefully advised by the faculty to ensure that they are able to complete their concentrations of interest as well as their medical prerequisites.
            The Medical Scholars program is open to high school seniors who will begin college in the fall semester of the 2011-2012 academic year. The Honors College has high expectations for the success of this new initiative. Dr. Kirchman says, “I expect that the Medical Scholars program will bring additional highly qualified students to the Wilkes Honors College and to Florida Atlantic University.  We’re conducting this program as a pilot, and other FAU colleges are interested in providing similar opportunities in future years.  So, this new program should attract great students to the medical school and help establish the Schmidt College of Medicine as a leading choice for great students in Florida.  It’s also a wonderful advance for FAU as a whole.”
           Further information about the Wilkes Medical Scholars Program is available online at www.honorscollege.edu.

byline: WHC Student Intern Megan Geiger