Doctor of Medicine

Plan Description

The mission of the UNLV School of Medicine is to prepare a diverse student body for the delivery of patient-centered care and meaningful careers in clinical practice, research, and community service. The program integrates foundational science and primary care 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 is community-based, and includes instruction in biomedical ethics, ethical decision-making, patient safety, population health, as well as training in interprofessionalism, professionalism, cultural competence, bias recognition and reduction, and non-traditional medical needs; such as, hospitality, legal, and business facets of medicine.

The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program emphasizes the basics of medicine: communication, physical exam and diagnosis, clinical skills, advanced clinical reasoning and interpretation, professionalism, and ethics using technologically advanced tools and genomic data to foster medical student learning. Overall, the curriculum is community-focused, but places great importance on relationships through faculty to student mentorship, extensive experience with health care professionals in the delivery of primary care and longitudinal patient-centered care, in addition to immersion in community service projects and initiatives. 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.

Plan Admission Requirements

1. A regionally accredited, conferred Bachelor’s degree is required for admission to the UNLV School of Medicine.

Required prerequisite courses are:

• Biology: three semesters; one course must include a lab
• Biochemistry: one semester
• Behavioral Science/Psychology or Sociology: one semester

Students cannot use “Advanced Placement” credits or online courses to satisfy the required
prerequisite coursework. Prerequisites cannot be more than 10 years old.

Other recommended courses for student success include: Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Physiology and Statistics. A basic understanding of the concepts taught in these courses is helpful to students seeking a M.D. degree.

2. MCAT: Applicants must submit a Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) score by the final application deadline. Only the new MCAT scores will be accepted (https://students- residents.aamc.org/video/new-mcat-exam/). The most recent exam score will be used during the admissions process.

3. Metric Requirements:

• A minimum score of 499 on the MCAT. The MCAT score cannot be more than 3 years old.
• An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 is required, along with a BCPM GPA of 3.2.

4. AMCAS Application: UNLV School of Medicine will only accept applications via AMCAS.

5. Secondary Application: The secondary application will be completed online. Selected applicants will be invited to complete the secondary. There is a $75 application fee. Students who qualify for the AMCAS fee assistance program will not be required to pay the $75 fee.

6. Applicant Photographs: Each applicant must submit a professional photograph (head shot only) with his/her secondary application. The photo will be used during the “Interview Day” and by the Admissions Committee.

7. Letters of Recommendation/Evaluation: Applicants are required to submit three to five letters of recommendation. Applications submitted with no letters of recommendation will be considered incomplete. Letter of recommendations can be written from 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. Letters only will be accepted through the AMCAS Letter Service. UNLV School of Medicine will not accept letters of recommendation by any other process.

8. Transcripts: Applicants submit all official transcripts to AMCAS during the application period. If any additional transcript verifications are required, the UNLV School of Medicine Office of Admissions will contact an applicant direct. Only applicants who are admitted will be required to submit official transcripts to the School.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 175

Foundations Phase - Total Credits: 85

Clerkship Phase - Total Credits: 50

Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship. Students must complete the required credits of each specialty by enrolling in the following courses.

Specialty requirements are:

• Emergency Medicine - Credits: 1
• Family Medicine - Credits: 7
• Internal Medicine - Credits: 10
• Neurology - Credits: 1
• OB/Gyn - Credits: 7
• Pediatrics - Credits: 7
• Psychiatry - Credits: 7
• Surgery - Credits: 10

• MED 901 - Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship 1
• MED 902 - Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship 2
• MED 903 - Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship 3
• MED 904 - Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship 4

• MED 905 Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship 5

Career Exploration & Scholarship Phase - Total Credits: 40

Graduation Requirements

The Medical Student Progress Committee is responsible for making final decisions regarding the progress, promotion, and qualification for graduation of students in the School of Medicine. A documented concern about a student’s performance, professional conduct, or personal behavior may result in a Committee determination of unsatisfactory progress when the record is reviewed by the Medical Student Progress Committee. The Medical Student Progress Committee will consider the completion of required courses and clerkships as well as documented professional conduct and personal behavior in making the final determination of whether the student has met the standards for promotion and for graduation.

The awarding of the Doctor in Medicine degree is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of all curricular and academic requirements, and the satisfactory practice of acceptable professional conduct and personal behavior.

In addition to the required course and clerkships listed under the Plan Requirements:

1. Successfully complete a scholarly research project;
2. Pass all components of the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations; and
3. Achieving a passing score on the United States Medical Licensing Examinations: USMLE Step 1, Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge, and Step 2 – Clinical Skills.

Students must complete all requirements for the M.D. degree within a period of time not to exceed six years from the date of initial matriculation. (For concurrent degree programs, e.g. M.D. MPH or M.D. Ph.D., the completion time will differ).

Students will receive a copy of the UNLV School of Medicine Student Handbook during orientation, which outlines policies and procedures pertaining to academic progress.  For more information about the Doctor of Medicine program please visit the UNLV School of Medicine website.