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College of Medicine students commit to accelerated MD pathways

Eight medical students from Penn State College of Medicine signed official agreements to accept their positions in five different accelerated pathways during virtual signing ceremonies on Aug. 12. The ceremonies were a celebration of the students formally entering into the 3+ accelerated pathway of their choice.

The 3+ accelerated pathways at the College of Medicine began in 1994 in an effort to reduce student debt and address the national shortage of physicians. The program allows students to complete their MD degree in three years followed by a Penn State College of Medicine residency training program in their specialty of interest.

College of Medicine faculty developed the first accelerated pathway in family medicine in 1994 and since then have added pathways in emergency medicine, neurosurgery, orthopaedics and internal medicine. Pathway options are also available for students enrolled in the MD/PhD program to accelerate their clinical training after completion of their PhD graduate studies.

Students from the Class of 2022 who have committed to 3+ accelerated pathways are:

“We continue to recruit mature, stellar students with outstanding life experiences and impressive academic achievement,” said Dr. Shou Ling Leong, assistant dean for pathways innovation at the College of Medicine. “For students who know their calling in medicine and are ready to accelerate, these pathways allow students to save a year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier than the traditional four-year program.”

A screenshot from a Zoom videoconference shows six smaller images, each with a person's face on video.

Those participating in the August 2020 signing ceremony for Penn State College of Medicine’s accelerated pathway in emergency medicine included, top row from left, Interim Dean Dr. Kevin Black; EM-APPS student Alexander Lee, Class of 2022; and Dr. Shou Ling Leong, Associate Dean for Pathway Innovation. Bottom row from left are Dr. Lawrence Kass, director of EM-APPS; Dr. Terry Wolpaw, Vice Dean for Educational Affairs; and EM-APPS student David Locke, Class of 2022.

A screenshot from a Zoom videoconference shows five smaller images, each with a person's face on video.

Those participating in the August 2020 signing ceremony for the College of Medicine’s internal medicine accelerated pathway included, top row from left, Interim Dean Dr. Kevin Black; IM-APPS student Elizabeth Ko, Class of 2022; and Dr. Terry Wolpaw, Vice Dean for Educational Affairs. Bottom row from left are Dr. Thomas Ma, chair of the Department Medicine; and Dr. Shou Ling Leong, Associate Dean for Pathway Innovation.

A screenshot from a Zoom videoconference shows six smaller images, each with a person's face on video.

Those participating in the August 2020 signing ceremony for Penn State College of Medicine’s neurosurgery accereated pathway included, top row from left, Interim Dean Dr. Kevin Black; NS-APPS student Kyle Tuohy, Class of 2022; and Dr. Robert E. Harbaugh, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery. Bottom row from left are Dr. Mark Dias, NS-APPS director; Dr. Terry Wolpaw, Vice Dean for Educational Affairs; and Dr. Shou Ling Leong, Associate Dean for Pathway Innovation.

A screenshot from a Zoom videoconference shows seven smaller images, each with a person's face on video.

Those participating in Penn State College of Medicine’s August 2020 signing ceremony for the orthopaedics accelerated pathway included, top row from left, Interim Dean Dr. Kevin Black; O-APPS student Christopher Stauch, Class of 2022; and Dr. Shou Ling Leong, Associate Dean for Pathway Innovation. Second row from left are Dr. Terry Wolpaw, Vice Dean for Educational Affairs; Dr. April Armstrong, chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation; and Sue Sarrafian, O-APPS coordinator. At bottom center is Dr. Paul Juliano, O-APPS director.

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