GRADUATE PROGRAM IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

EARLY DECISION

Tulane participates in AMCAS’ Early Decision Program. Successful applicants to this program do not offer any different profile than the successful applicant during the general admission cycle. Those wishing to participate in the Early Decision Program must complete their application file prior to September 1 and be available for interview between September 14 and September 28. Notification of action on the file will be made as early as possible but no earlier than October 1.

EARLY ACCEPTANCE

Tulane School of Medicine has an Early Acceptance agreement with Tulane University, Loyola University New Orleans, Xavier University of New Orleans, Nicholls State University, and Louisiana College. While the programs vary from school to school, in general outstanding students may apply to a committee at their home institution for early acceptance into Tulane medical school after their sophomore year in college, if they have completed all required course work for medical school. If the undergraduate committee nominates a student for acceptance, that student's application goes before the Admission Committee at Tulane School of Medicine. If the medical school committee accepts the nomination, the student will receive a letter of acceptance into the medical school that will become valid only after the student has completed undergraduate studies. The intent of the program is to free the student from two years of worry about medical school acceptance and allow for more freedom in designing the undergraduate curriculum during the final two years. Students from these schools may obtain more information from their home institution.

TULANE RURAL MEDICAL EDUCATION (TRuMEd)

Tulane Rural Medical Education (TRuMEd) program, initiated in 2004 with support of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Federal Training Grant to the Department of Family and Community Medicine, will facilitate students' preparation for a career in rural primary care practice. TRuMEd will identify prospective and new medical students who are most likely to become practitioners that serve a rural and under-served populace and foster their interest in primary care residency training and future rural practice.

Educators and policymakers have long realized that medical education strategies were needed as a vital part of the solution to the rural health care needs of the country. As is widely recognized, Louisiana ranks low in overall health indicators compared to other states. Poor accessibility to and availability of primary care physicians contributes substantially to this poor performance, further exacerbated by the rural nature of Louisiana. Sixty-three percent (40 of 64) of our parishes (counties) are rural, with 32% of the state's population, well above the national average of 24%, living in rural areas.

TRuMEd will target the production of more rural practitioners by addressing key elements identified in similar and successful programs around the country. These elements include: an admissions process that assesses, then encourages the selection of several candidates who are most inclined to practice in rural areas; providing students with advisors and role models to support them during medical school; exploring means for student debt management, including scholarships and loan payback; provision of experiences in rural pre-matriculation preceptorships and pre-clinical experiences will be made available to qualified students.

For more information contact Tulane Rural Medical Education Program (504) 988-8821, Fax (504) 988-4701, rural@tulane.edu

COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Tulane University School of Medicine, in conjunction with the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, offers combined, or dual, degree programs. Medical students may earn either the MPH, MSPH, MPH&TM or PHD degree while studying for their medical degree.

MPH/MD MSPH/MD or MPH&TM/MD:The masters degree in public health or in tropical medicine requires a student to be enrolled in both the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. These combined degree programs are designed as four year programs, thus allowing medical students to complete both the public health and medical degrees in the same four years. While not required, students interested in studying in either of these combined degree programs are encouraged to begin their public health studies during the summer prior to entry into medical school. Additional information can be obtained from the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

PhD: Students interested in earning the PhD and MD degrees must enroll in both the Graduate Program in Biomedical Scienceand the School of Medicine. There are two programs leading towards the PhD degree: MD/PhD Dual Degree Program and the Physician/Scientist Program (PSP).

Entry into the PSP requires students to be accepted in both doctoral programs prior to beginning their medical studies. Two students, with exceptional academic credentials and prior research experience, will be accepted into this program each year. Accepted students receive a fellowship that covers medical and graduate school tuition costs. In addition, during the Graduate School portion of their studies, the students will receive a stipend. Accepted students should be prepared to begin their graduate studies during the summer prior to entry into medical school. It is mandatory that accepted students complete both the PhD and MD degree.

The MD/PhD Dual Degree Program can be entered into anytime after beginning medical school studies, but it is suggested that interested students apply for entry into the Graduate Program no later than prior to the beginning of their third year of medical studies.

MD/MBA: In 2004, Tulane initiated a 5-year combined MD/MBA program with cooperation from the School of Medicine and the Freeman School of Business.  The goals of the program are to train physicians with expertise in management practice and principles, expertise in marketing practice and principles, and expertise in financial management.  Students typically apply to the combined program during their 3^rd year of medical school after taking the GMAT exam.  Accepted students spend the fourth year of the program in the Freeman School.  The 5^th year of the program is divided between the medical school and the Freeman School.  Although not specific to the health care sector, students in the combined program are able to use their clinical experiences gained from their third year of medical school to effectively participate in teams formed as part of the business curriculum.

Students in the combined program complete 45 credit hours at the Freeman School. This includes required core classes including 9 credit hours focusing on the basic practice of management including Strategic Management, Enterprise Valuation, Marketing Planning and Implementation and New Venture Planning.  Students also complete a Global Leadership Module including 9 credit hours covering markets in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia.  An included component of the Global Leadership Modules are international trips where students get first hand experiences abroad.

Students also have the opportunity to take elective courses in the Freeman School to further their education in areas of finance, strategic management and leadership.

Students completing the MD/MBA program are expected to have the skills and experiences to function as physician leaders in healthcare with particular expertise in management, marketing and finance.

TULANE ACCELERATED PHYSICIAN TRAINING PROGRAM (TAP-TP, 6+1)

Tulane offers a 7-year program (TAP-TP, 6⁺¹) that includes an undergraduate and medical education in addition to a mandatory year of public service with AmeriCorps.Tulane has a long history of public and community service, requiring community service in the medical school curriculum for over 20 years.As New Orleans is an underserved community (especially following Hurricane Katrina) and Louisiana a low-income state, the marriage of an educational program and public service is a natural mix for Tulane.

Exceptional high school students will apply to the TAP-TP.Eligible students will be expected to have high levels of academic performance as judged by transcripts, SAT/ACT scores and AP scores. Students will be interviewed by a committee of undergraduate faculty, medical school faculty and administrators. Between 10 and 20 students would be accepted each year.

TAP-TP Students will complete an abbreviated undergraduate curriculum designed around a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology with emphasis on the application of scientific principles for the public good. Undergraduate performance would be a requisite for continuing in the program.  TAP-TP Students will have bi-monthly conference style workshops designed to both track the students and develop skills necessary for the practice of medicine. Following completion of 2 years towards the BS degree requirements, students will begin a one-year public service commitment with AmeriCorps. Students will then enter the 4-year medical school curriculum.

TULANE TIME OUT PROGRAM

The Tulane Time Out Program encourages applicants, once accepted to Tulane Medical School, to defer admission for 1, 2, or 3 years prior to medical school enrollment to volunteer for Teach for America, Americorps, Peace Corps,or finish a PhD program.  Applicants' places in the medical school class will be held during the deferment program.  We encourage applicants with an interest in public service to strongly consider this option.