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The mission of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV (KSOM) is to prepare a diverse student body for the delivery of patient-centered care and the realization of meaningful careers in clinical practice, research, and community service. The program integrates foundational science and clinical experiences with community-based service learning that addresses population health and social disparities, incorporates independent research projects that contribute to the growth of scientific knowledge and community health resources, and develops strong commitments to public service and lifelong learning. The curriculum includes instruction in biomedical ethics, ethical decision-making, population health, as well as training in interprofessional collaboration, professionalism, cultural competence, bias recognition and reduction, and non-traditional medical needs.
The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program emphasizes the basics of medicine: communication, physical examination and diagnosis, clinical skills, advanced clinical reasoning and interpretation, professionalism, and ethics using technologically advanced tools, including virtual anatomy, to foster medical student learning. Overall, the curriculum places great importance on relationships through faculty to student mentorship, extensive experience with health care professionals in the delivery of patient-centered care, in addition to immersion in community service projects and research. Students will directly apply their learning in the service of others, providing compassionate care in collaboration with many other health professionals including: physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, physical therapists, social workers, occupational therapists, and other community practitioners in the pursuit of providing the best patient outcomes and satisfaction.
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
Curriculum Overview:
Phase I - While memorization remains a key to building a solid foundation of medical knowledge and skills, in this century facts alone are necessary but not sufficient for competent medical practice. A solid curriculum is one that provides students the opportunity and impetus to learn how to think, how to act, and how to learn in a self-directed way. Central components of the first curricular phase include problem-based and team-based learning (PBL & TBL), where students undertake intensive exploration of patient cases that simulate the real-life processes of being a practicing physician. PBL and TBL are supplemented by didactic basic science instruction, taught by faculty who emphasizes clinically relevant information.
Students also take on the equally important tasks of developing new roots in the community through service learning, acquiring the basic practical skills of being a doctor and honing their analytic and reasoning skills. Students may choose to pursue a track of concentration or distinction, under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Phase 1 ends with the USLME Step One Examination.
Phase II –Clerkships
Clerkships are full immersion learning experiences. Students are placed in ambulatory and inpatient facilities as members of a healthcare team and engage in one-on-one patient interactions to practice clinical medicine under the supervision of an attending physician.
The School of Medicine’s clerkship curriculum consists of six core clerkships in family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery, as
well as rotations in neurology and other specialty-selective across the entire year. Summative exams in each core clerkship are administered at the end of each rotation. At the end of the year, students have acquired an enormous fund of knowledge which positions them for exceptional performance on the USMLE Step Two Clinical Knowledge (CK) Examination.
Phase III – Career Exploration and Preparation
When graduation appears on the horizon, medical students become focused on three essential goals: (1) settling on a specialty of choice, (2) assembling a competitive application for the residency match, and (3) preparing to take on a new level of responsibility as newly minted physicians.
The final phase of the curriculum balances core educational needs with the flexibility that students need at this stage. Three rotations are required: a sub-internship or intensive care month, Nevada Community Medicine, and Capstone. The remainder of the year consists of electives, with ample unscheduled weeks to permit residency interviews, research, additional educational experiences, and personal time.
Student Profile: Students attending the Kerkorian School of Medicine have completed four years of college and, in some cases, have earned graduate degrees from U.S. colleges/universities that are regionally accredited institutions. Prior to entering the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, students have demonstrated strong academic ability at the undergraduate level and an aptitude for medical science as reflected by their MCAT scores. Some have completed military service or have entered medical school from another field or profession. The school encourages applicants from all socio-economic, racial, religious and educational backgrounds, and genders. Applications from all members of society who meet residency and pre-requisite criteria are encouraged.
Faculty: Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine faculty are renowned scholars and physicians committed to delivering high-quality innovative education, research, and superb clinical care to meet the health care needs of the growing and diverse population of Nevada. Faculty work throughout Southern Nevada, and present research, innovative techniques and approaches to medicine and patient care in both national and international arenas. Even more notable, faculty have strong partnerships within the community to provide comprehensive quality care, research opportunities, community engagement, and student support focused on the care of the community.
Plan Admission Requirements:
Primary Application
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV only accepts primary applications via American Medical College Application System (AMCAS). The application and its materials must be submitted by October 1.
There are 8 required primary application components to apply to the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV:
- Conferred bachelor’s degree*
- MCAT of 499 or higher
- Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- BCPM GPA of 3.2 or higher
- Pre-requisite courses (see below)
- 3 to 5 Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Up to 15 Experiences
*A degree may be in progress during application but must be conferred prior to enrollment at the medical school.
1. Degree
A conferred Bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college/university that is regionally accredited is required for admission to the Kerkorian School of Medicine.
A graduate degree from a U.S college/university that is. regionally accredited can also be considered in lieu of an international Bachelor’s degree, however permanent residency or citizenship status must still be met for application.
2. MCAT
An MCAT score of 499 or higher is required and applicants must submit an MCAT score no later than the final application deadline. The most recent MCAT score will be used for the admissions screening process and MCAT scores cannot be more than 3 years old.
3. Cumulative GPA
An undergraduate (cumulative) GPA of 3.2 or higher is required. This is calculated by AMCAS.
4. BCPM GPA
A BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, math) GPA of 3.2 or higher is also required. This is calculated by AMCAS.
5. Pre-Requisites
Pre-requisite courses cannot be more than 10 years old and need to be graded from a U.S. college/university that is regionally accredited. Students cannot use “Advanced Placement (AP)” credits or courses with Pass/Fail grading for pre-requisites.
Required pre-requisites include the following:
Biology: three courses; one course must have laboratory experience
Biochemistry: one course
Social & Behavioral Science (Psychology or Sociology): one course
Social and Behavior Science classes in Economics and Communication will not be accepted to satisfy the behavioral sciences requirement. Although these courses deal with human behavior, the scope of information is narrowly confined. Students in medical school require a broader theoretical and scientific foundation as physicians in training and for MCAT preparation.
Medical school prerequisites are not selected for MCAT preparation and applicants may need additional coursework as part of their MCAT studies. Other recommended courses to help applicants in medical school include Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, Anatomy, Statistics, and Physics.
*The following semesters may have Pass/Fail grades for application prerequisites due to COVID-19: Spring, Summer, and Fall 2020, and Spring, Summer, and Fall 2021. This would also apply to quarter systems and would include Winter term, if applicable.
6. Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit a minimum of three letters of recommendation and up to a maximum of five letters. Letters can be submitted individually or in a school or committee-produced packet. All applicants must have at least one letter of recommendation to be considered for an interview.
Letters must be received no later than the application deadline. Letters received after the application deadline will not be considered. Applications who do not have at least three letters of recommendation by the application deadline will be considered incomplete and will not receive further consideration for admission.
Letters of recommendation must be on letterhead and signed and include contact information for the letter writer. Letters of recommendation can be written by an individual or a committee. Applicants should select letter writers who will reflect their major activities and who know them well. The Admissions Committee prefers letters that address the applicant’s suitability for a career in medicine and as a medical student. Letters of recommendation should provide new information in the application; not restate activities the applicant has already provided or course performance.
Letters only will be accepted through the AMCAS Letter Service. The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine will not accept letters of recommendation by any other process.
7. Personal Statement
Applicants will need to submit a personal statement. For more information on writing personal statements for medical school, please visit the AAMC website for applicants.
8. Experiences
Applicants need to list experiences that can include: community service, clinical experiences, employment, college clubs/organizations, research, and other extracurricular activities. For more information on completing this portion of the AMCAS application please visit the AAMC website for applicants.
Required experiences for UNLV include: community service and clinical experiences that are longitudinal in nature. Community service does not have to be medical in nature. Clinical experiences can be done through things like physician shadowing, hospital or clinic scribing, EMT work, LPN/RN, medical assistance, etc. Some hospital volunteering or clinic volunteering may qualify but needs to include being in a setting that provides experiences with physicians/healthcare teams and patients/patient families.
9. Additional Information
Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents of the US (green card holders). Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status may be assessed on a case-by-case basis and does require some key documentation in order to matriculate through required clinical training sites needed to complete the curriculum and earn the degree.
Applicants should also work with their campus’ pre-health/pre-professional advisors when preparing to apply to medical school. Applicants may also use school websites, AAMC guides, and the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) website.
Finally, applicants should know that the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine gives priority to Nevada Residents and applicants with significant ties to the state, along with those from our list of western region states. For more information, please review the Admissions Criteria for In-State and Out-of-State Status on the School of Medicine website at www.unlv.edu/medicine/admissions/applicants
Secondary Application
After review of the primary AMCAS application, select and competitive individuals will be asked to submit a Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Secondary Application.
This application is completed online in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine’s Office of Admissions portal and has a separate fee of $75. Students who qualify for the AMCAS fee assistance program will not be required to pay the $75 fee. The Secondary Application consists of several short essay questions.
Each applicant will also be required to submit a professional photograph, head and neck only, with his/her Secondary Application. This photo will be used throughout the admissions process by admissions committee members, staff, and faculty for all students who complete the secondary application. Professional photographs are strongly encouraged.
Interview: Significantly competitive individuals will be asked to participate in an interview process prior to being reviewed for admissions by the Kerkorian School of Medicine Admissions Committee.
Interviews are traditional in nature and occur virtually with both asynchronous and synchronous requirements.
More Information: Prospective applicants with questions regarding the School of Medicine’s programs should visit www.unlv.edu/medicine/admissions or contact the Office of Admissions in the School of Medicine at admissions@medicine.unlv.edu.
It is highly encouraged to attend a virtual information session from the Kerkorian School of Medicine’s Office of Admissions. These occur monthly and registration is at www.unlv.edu/medicine/events.
Prospective applicants are also encouraged to utilize pre-professional advising offices on their home campuses. UNLV students and alumni may access the PPAC by visiting www.unlv.edu/advising/ppac.
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