Office of Diversity and Cultural Competence Host Pre-Med Advisors Conference

From left: Dr. Samuel Strada, dean of the USA College of Medicine; Dr. Karen Mitchell, senior director of admissions testing services at AAMC; Dr. Geoffrey Young, senior director of student affairs and student programs at AAMC; Chante' Hendrix, diversity coordinator at USA; Dr. Johnson Haynes Jr., professor of internal medicine at USA; and Dr. Ronald Franks, vice president for health sciences at USA.

The University of South Alabama College of Medicine's Office of Diversity and Cultural Competence hosted its first Pre-Med Advisors Conference on April 11, 2014. The inaugural event was held in partnership with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

The conference theme, "Navigating a Successful Pathway to Medical School," reflects the university's commitment to strengthening communication, outreach, and access to the USA College of Medicine by way of colleges and universities across the state and region.

Conference highlights included an update on the new format of the 2015 Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) given by Dr. Karen J. Mitchell, senior director of admissions testing services at AAMC; and an update on the Holistic Review Project by Dr. Geoffrey H. Young, senior director of student affairs and student programs at AAMC. Conference participants engaged in dialog with USA College of Medicine faculty and staff on the changing trends in medical education ranging from team based learning to admission requirements, and funding a medical education.

Tours of the College of Medicine Clinical Skills Lab and the Health Sciences Simulation Lab were provided, and a medical student panel was assembled to allow pre-med advisors to gain insight from a student’s perspective on the journey and transition from undergraduate to medical school.