Doctor of Medicine

Introduction

The School of Medicine has gained national and international recognition for its constantly evolving curricular innovations which have aimed at adapting adult learning theory to medical education. Educational emphasis has shifted from the learning of facts to teaching students the skills they will need to be effective lifelong learners. Current educational initiatives are aimed at improving the integration of the basic sciences and clinical medicine, shifting teaching and learning through ambulatory and community settings, integrating problem-based learning throughout the curriculum and emphasizing computer literacy and information management skills.

The four-year curriculum, incorporates successful aspects of conventional (lecture-based) medical school curricula with innovative aspects of small group learning found in problem-based curricula. These aspects include problem-based and student-centered learning; early clinical skills learning coupled with sustained, community-based learning; the incorporation of a population and behavioral perspective into the clinical years; peer teaching; computer-assisted instruction; and biweekly seminars on professional responsibility. The new curriculum also addresses the historically unmet as well as changing health care needs of our population and changing learning needs of future physicians.

Admissions

See the School of Medicine Web site for additional information regarding the application and admission process.

General Information

Early Decision Program (EDP)

The School of Medicine will again participate in the Early Decision Program for the 2012 application year.  Applicants who apply through the Early Decision Program can only apply to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM SOM). Current New Mexico residents who desire to apply only to the UNM SOM may apply through the Early Decision Program. WICHE and non-resident applicants MUST apply through the EDP to receive consideration. All out-of-state residents must have at least the average MCAT/GPA threshold as the last year's entering class to be given consideration for admission.  The 2011 entering class average MCAT composite score was 27 and the average GPA composite was 3.60. EDP applicants must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) no later than June 21, 2012, so that scores will be available before the application deadline of August 1.  Notifications of acceptance to the EDP are sent on October 1. Applicants who are not accepted under EDP will automatically be placed in the Regular Decision applicant pool, and may then apply to additional schools. EPD regulations apply to both AMCAS and non-AMCAS participating schools. Additional information on the Early Decision Program is included in the AMCAS application.

M.D./Ph.D. Program

The M.D./Ph.D. program is designed to provide comprehensive training in both clinical sciences and a basic biomedical science discipline. The intent of the program is to provide students with an integrated and cohesive training experience while obtaining the M.D./Ph.D. dual degree. Students participate in activities common to both programs while involved in the medical school curriculum or engaged in Ph.D. dissertation research.

M.D./M.P.H. Program

The M.D./M.P.H. program is designed to provide integrated learning and to enhance opportunities for medical students to acquire public health knowledge and skills. The program provides students an opportunity to increase their awareness, skills and knowledge in population-based health strategies and interventions with the goals of reducing disparities in health status within New Mexican populations, strengthening physician advocacy and leadership skills in health policy development, fostering evidence-based interventions and using assessment skills to better determine population needs and interventions.

Combined B.A./M.D. Degree Program

The Combined B.A./M.D. Degree Program is designed to help address the physician shortage in New Mexico. Students accepted into this program will first earn a baccalaureate degree through the College of Arts and Sciences specifically designed to prepare them for medical school. Upon successful completion of the academic and eligibility requirements of the program, students then enter into the School of Medicine to complete their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.

Prerequisite Coursework Requirements

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM SOM) encourages application from all interested students, regardless of their area of academic study. To receive consideration for the admissions process, applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater. The minimum prerequisites course requirements to apply to the UNM School of Medicine are:

*The biochemistry course should be at the 400 level. Students taking biochemistry at UNM may take ONE of the following class combinations to meet the biochemistry prerequisite requirement:

• Biochemistry *423 ONLY
• Both Biochemistry 445 and 446
• Both Chemistry 421 and 425

All prerequisites, except the organic chemistry labs (both I and II) and biochemistry, must be completed prior to the submission of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application. The organic chemistry labs and biochemistry prerequisites must be completed prior to matriculation.

All prerequisites must be completed with a letter grade of C or better (C- is not acceptable). Pass/Fail (CR/NC) grading is not accepted. Advance Placement (AP) Credit will be accepted for introductory Biology, Chemistry, or Physics ONLY if college credit was granted by the institution. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit will be accepted provided the applicant has the sufficient number of semester hours to fulfill the required prerequisites.

Online Coursework

It is NOT recommended that any of the required prerequisites be taken through an online course. Any courses taken online to fulfill the required prerequisites MUST be pre-approved by the Assistant Dean for Admissions. Students must also demonstrate a compelling need to take an online course as opposed to an in-class course. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Medical College Admissions Test

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required for admission to the UNM SOM. This exam assesses mastery of basic concepts in biology, chemistry (general and organic), and physics, facility with scientific problem solving, critical thinking, and writing skills. The skills and concepts tested by the MCAT are those identified by physicians and medical educators as prerequisite for the practice of medicine. The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) will transmit the scores to the UNM School of Medicine with your application. To receive consideration for the admissions process, applicants must have a minimum total numerical MCAT score of 22.

Information about the exam is provided in MCAT Essentials (published by the Association of American Medical Colleges). This information includes detailed descriptions of the content and cognitive skills assessed by the exam. It also provides examples of question formats used on the test and incorporates sample items with response explanations. Full-length practice exams are available for purchase ($35.00 each) at your convenience.

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine will NOT accept MCAT exam scores that are more than four years old at the time of application. The Committee on Admissions will not reconsider an application based on the release of the subsequent MCAT scores after the interview has taken place. Additional questions about the MCAT should be directed to the UNM SOM Office of Admissions by phone (505) 272-4766 or email.

Residency

To receive consideration for the admissions process, an applicant must be a resident of New Mexico for at least one year at the time of application or have strong ties to New Mexico. Strong ties include graduating from a New Mexico high school in which you attended for at least one year, or being financially dependent on a New Mexico resident.

Consideration is also given to enrolled members of the Navajo Tribe who reside on the Navajo Reservation, as certified by the Navajo Department of Higher Education. For more specific information regarding UNM's Residency Policies, visit the Office of the Registrar’s page on Residency Information.

The University is also a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Therefore, consideration is given to residents of participating states that at present do not have medical schools (Montana and Wyoming). WICHE applicants must apply through the Early Decision Program and must also have at least the average MCAT/GPA as the last year's entering class in order to receive consideration. The 2011 entering class average MCAT composite score was 27 and the average cumulative GPA was 3.6.

Foreign national applicants who would like to be considered for admission to the UNM School of Medicine are expected to have the equivalent of at least two years of full-time undergraduate or graduate studies at an accredited college or university in the United States, and to have all the same required course prerequisites. Foreign national applicants must also reside in New Mexico for a least one year prior to application in order to fulfill the residency requirement.

Clinical Experience

The Committee on Admissions carefully reviews each type of clinical experience in which every individual applicant to medical school has participated.  The Committee believes that every applicant should reflect a vibrant interest in medicine demonstrated by clinical experiences with direct patient contact and knowledge of New Mexico's health care issues.  The intent is to provide the applicant with the opportunity to prove to himself or herself and to the Committee on Admissions that medicine is the profession in which the individual whole-heartedly wishes to study and work. This volunteer or possible work experience may be in a hospital or clinic setting, perhaps in a nursing home or hospice environment. It is up to each student to take initiative to locate their clinical experiences through interactions with the various volunteer offices of the local hospitals or through interactions with their professors, friends, family members, etc.  There is a plethora of summer clinical experience programs around the country; however, application to those programs begins during the winter months, long before the summer starts.

The Committee also examines the type of community volunteer activities in which applicants have been involved. The Committee believes that individuals who have participated in such activities are more likely to relate well to other people, an essential aspect of the physician-patient interaction.

Pre-Med Advisement

The UNM SOM Office of Admissions offers pre-med advisement to any students interested in applying to medical school. The Office of Admissions holds monthly advisement workshops to provide students with the basic information on applying to medical school. All students interested in setting up a one-on-one advisement appointment with one of the UNM SOM Office of Admissions staff persons must first attend an advisement workshop.

UNM Students can also receive pre-med advisement from The University of New Mexico's University College or the College of Arts and Sciences.

Be very careful of any outside advice you receive from physicians and/or current medical students as information on the application process may change from year-to-year.

Applications and Deadlines

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM SOM) uses the centralized American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) that is supported by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The AMCAS application of those applicants who wish to apply to the UNM SOM will be electronically forwarded to our school.

Applicants will be notified by email if they have been approved to complete the Secondary Application and a residency form.