University of Connecticut, School of Medicine

Academic building at UConn Health on October 18, 2017.

About UCONN Medical School

UConn Health is at the heart of Bioscience Connecticut, the major State program that the General Assembly has unanimously supported. With a capital investment of $864 million, the program aimed at catapulting the state as a pioneer in bioscience development, improving the state’s economy, creating new jobs and increasing access to world-class medicine for citizens.

History

The 1961 Connecticut General Assembly passed legislation authorizing $2 million for the planning and development of a Hartford County medical-dental school. A year later, a selection committee, having examined 40 different sites, settled in Farmington, seven miles west of Hartford, on 106 acres of orchard and farmland. In 1968 the first students started classes on campus in temporary buildings. Construction continued into 1972 on what was at that time one of Connecticut’s largest more than 1.2 million square feet homes. In 1975, their first patient was admitted to the John Dempsey Clinic, the clinic of the UConn Health Center named after the governor who signed the original legislation. In 1978, the late Governor Ella Grasso formally opened the UConn Health Centre. The dedication marked the end of the institution’s birth process and the beginning of its continuing growth. Connecticut Children’s was founded in April 1996 after their pediatric services were voluntarily closed by local hospitals in order to open a comprehensive hospital for children. It was created by state law and a $1 dollar annual 99-year land lease on Hartford Hospital’s campus. Uniquely, the law allowed the same person to serve as both UConn School of Medicine’s President of the Department of Pediatrics, and Chief Physician of Connecticut Children. In 2019 UConn School of Medicine welcomes the Class of 2023, with 110 medical students, the highest incoming class in its history. The class size increase of the school of medicine by 30% fulfills the pledge under Bioscience Connecticut to improve the potential healthcare workforce of the state.

Mission

UConn School of Medicine welcomes the Class of 2023, with 110 medical students, the highest incoming class in its history. The class size increase of the school of medicine by 30% fulfills the pledge under Bioscience Connecticut to improve the potential healthcare workforce of the state.

Advancing information through scientific, biomedical, clinical, translational, behavioral and social research.
Offering educational opportunities for patient employment, education, public health, biomedical and/or behavioral sciences citizens of Connecticut and the United States.
Developing, implementing, and providing health care services based on the efficacy, quality, and implementation of the latest developments in scientific, translational and health care research.
Supporting health care professionals in retaining their expertise through continuing education programs.

Vision

The School of Medicine’s vision is ” excellent care through research, education, and engagement”, education and participation.”

Research, the discovery of new knowledge, as we believe physicists are scientists, is a key component of our physicians. Doctors need to appreciate the art of medicinal practice.
Education, The student-and patient-centered educational experience within the SOM. Students meet their first patient on the first day of school and are involved in community practice in the longitudinal care of patients with a primary care physician having half-day sessions. The curriculum aims to produce doctors who are dedicated to superior patient care.
Engagement, Empathy, and understanding of people’s cultural background is important to doctors. Students are not only entitled to their academic standing but also their extracurricular activities and accomplishments. Medicine practice needs skilled, well-rounded doctors who can relate to their patients, not just as practitioners and caregivers but also as individuals.

Educational Philosophy

The medical school is committed to seeking performance while cultivating the graduates. Careful cultivation begins with admission, through the enrolment process, and continues through the whole experience of medical school. Faculty and residents as students, mentors, guides, counselors, and colleagues play vital roles. The goal of the New MDelta curriculum, which began in August 2016, is to inspire and prepare physicians who embrace scientific advances, provide patients and communities with exceptional clinical care, become outstanding teachers, contribute to new knowledge about health and disease, and participate throughout their lives in academic activities. The students must partner with others to educate, practice, and help to strengthen the processes of health and health care, all while making a difference in individual lives.

UConn School of Medicine Affiliated Institutes and Centers

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Hartford Hospital
UConn John Dempsey Hospital
The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Saint Francis and its Mount Sinai Hospital

Admission

Application Process:

The School of Medicine participates in the American Medical College Application Service, AMCAS, a branch of the American Medical Colleges Association. AMCAS handles the centralized process allowing students to apply to participating schools by sending one application directly to the Washington, D.C. program. AMCAS verifies the academic record of the applicant and then makes the application available through their database to the designated medical schools. Note that the school cannot make the application changes. For application verification status please do not contact the school. If you are selected to be interviewed, the school will contact you via telephone or by e-mail. The UConn School of Medicine AMCAS deadline is November 15.

Supplemental Statements and Fee of Application

Once AMCAS notifies UConn that a request is being processed, you will receive from the school an email acknowledgment along with relevant information to complete your application. To complete the application, the following items will be needed within four weeks of receiving the email:

Recommendation letters via AMCAS.
Completion of the supplemental application.
Online payment of the school application fee via our applicant site, or submission of AMCAS fee waiver or fee waiver request to the Admissions Office.

The Supplemental Statement from UConn calls for answers to various questions. The statement offers the applicant the opportunity to highlight training issues related to testing, teaching, and clinical experience. The statement also offers the opportunity to address more reasons for a medical career, and to discuss important issues facing medical and health professionals. The Supplemental Statement aims to provide an appropriate forum for the applicant to discuss and highlight relevant preparation and experience and their unique interest in attending the UConn School of Medicine.

Letter of Recommendation

Applicants are advised to send letters of recommendation to AMCAS as soon as it is informed that a submission has been received at the school. While those letters are due within four weeks of receiving the email, applicants are advised to immediately send the letters to AMCAS. It is recommended that the applicant send a composite recommendation from the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee at their undergrad school. The composite letter usually contains the Advisory Committee’s summary analysis and recommendation statement and either full-text letter attachments or quotes from statements made by several faculty and others that the applicant has selected to provide comments. For applicants from schools not providing a letter from a composite advisory committee, the applicant must provide a minimum of three letters from those familiar with their academic background. Letters are expected from either the advisory committee or individual faculty advisors for students who have pursued additional academic preparation through post-baccalaureate or advanced degree programs. A letter from the program advisor or faculty supervisor is normally expected from students who have done a study or special summer program activities.

Supplemental references verifying the perspectives of the applicant and including observations on personality and character traits are often quite useful in understanding the personal and professional dimensions of overall readiness for a nominee.

Process of Selection

The selection process at the School of Medicine is implemented by the faculty admissions committee, which consists of faculty of basic science and clinical science, medical students, and representatives from the community. The Committee considers the qualifications, skill, motivation, and character of the applicant and reviews the AMCAS application, the supplementary application, recommendation letters, and interviews. The committee is closely examining the entire academic record and ratings for MCAT about the academic program’s complexity. Besides routine course work, intellectual growth and development, extensive extracurricular activities, and the quality of the letters of recommendation, the committee finds evidence of academic achievement. Applicants are considered as the interview season continues, using a rolling admissions pattern. Decisions shall be made at the discretion of the committee to the candidates. With only 102 positions in first-year class available, the committee proceeds in the early months with caution and conservativeness. As the admission season progresses, more candidates are accepted as the committee develops a more comprehensive understanding of the pool of applicants for the current year. The committee shall establish an alternate list prioritized towards the end of the admission cycle. As the new entrant class appears to be taking shape, when vacancies become open, acceptances are given to alternates. Most operation on the alternative list takes place between May and July. For those who wish to discuss aspects of the application process or specific concerns related to individual circumstances, admission and re-application therapy is not given.

Interview

All applications submitted and completed shall be reviewed for interview consideration. Interviews with early decisions are given in late August and early September. Interviews with regular decision-making are conducted between September and March. An important part of the final choices of the admissions committee, the interview offers the opportunity to meet the applicant and obtain additional personal details. The interview day provides an opportunity for the applicant to meet with students and faculty and to evaluate the school. Interviewers provide personal impressions and insights on the applicant to the admissions committee by evaluating and putting all aspects of the applicant’s background, experiences, work, motivations and values into perspective. The interview day starts at 9 a.m. It usually closes at about 2:30 p.m. No more than nine students are scheduled for an interview day, in accordance with our plan to get to know the applicants well. Applicants usually have a faculty interview, a student interview, an information session on financial aid, a UConn Health tour and lunch with current students.

Acceptance

Most operation on the alternative list takes place between May and July. For those who wish to discuss aspects of the application process or specific concerns related to individual circumstances, admission and re-application therapy is not given. While it is not possible to provide a numerical ranking for those listed on the alternative list, every effort is made to inform alternative candidates where they are placed on the priority list and the likelihood that a position will be available at the beginning of classes.

Required Courses:

Chemistry (2 years of college credit with lab with at least 1 semester being Organic Chemistry)
Physics (1 year of college credit with lab)
Biology or Zoology (1 year of college credit with lab)
English (1 year of college credit – courses in composition and literature are strongly recommended)

University of Connecticut School of Medicine Departments

Anesthesiology
Cell Biology
Dermatology
Diagnostic Imaging
Emergency Medicine
Family Medicine
Genetics and Genome Sciences
Immunology
Medicine
Molecular Biology and Biophysics
Neurology
Neuroscience
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Orthopedic Surgery
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Public Health Sciences
Surgery

Centers and Institutes

Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center
Center for Vascular Biology
Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science
Connecticut Pain Consortium
Institute for Regenerative Engineering
Institute for Systems Genomics
Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center
Richard D. Berlin Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling
UConn Center on Aging
UConn Health Disparities Institute
UConn Musculoskeletal Institute

UCONN Medical School Housing Facilities

University of Connecticut School of Medicine draws people from across the country and around the world, bringing diverse minds together to create a unique community. Employees are dedicated to helping these residents find the perfect rental to call home.

Whether you’ve lived your entire life in the region, or just moved here to attend Connecticut University, University will want to help you feel welcome and comfortable at the university residence.

Transport

University of Connecticut School of Medicine mission is to provide the campus with safe, clean, and timely passenger services. For university students, faculty, staff, and tourists the university run a network of shuttle buses, open vans, and small vehicles. Schedules may change during the breaks, based on the academic year.

Schedule for Shuttle Service

	Open	Close
Monday	7:00 AM	12:00 AM (Midnight)
Tuesday	7:00 AM	12:00 AM (Midnight)
Wednesday	7:00 AM	12:00 AM (Midnight)
Thursday	7:00 AM	12:00 AM (Midnight)
Friday	7:00 AM	1:00 AM
Saturday	11:00 AM	1:00 AM
Sunday	11:00 AM	7:00 PM

University of Connecticut School of Medicine Dining Facilities

The staff of the Department of Dining Services aims to provide an outstanding, healthy and diverse environment for students and visitors, one meal at a time.

Bistro on Union Street
Earth, Wok & Fire
Food for Thought Food Truck
Freshens
Jitters
One Plate, Two Plates: Fast Food Served Healthy & Fresh
UC Cafes
UConn Dairy Bar
UConn Dairy Bar Too
UConn Dairy Bar Ice Cream Truck
Union Central Exchange C-Store
Union Street Market

University of Connecticut School of Medicine Student Life

Student Committees

The UConn School of Medicine offers a variety of opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom. You’ll be able to develop professional skills, build relationships, and enhance your medical school experience from the Medical / Dental Student Government to the Library Advisory Committee.

Student Events

Orientation
White Coat Ceremony
Convocation
Winter Formal
Ski Trip
Culture Shock
South Park 5k Road Race
Wellness Retreat
Commencement
Coast to Coast Bike Trip
Gold Humanism Honor Society (Ghhs)

Challenges and Opportunities

Curriculum

Our students at UConn School of Medicine have the opportunity to participate in a cutting-edge, team-based learning program with specialized functional clinical skills training. The at UConn medical school, a robust academic medical center that houses the state-of-the-art UConn John Dempsey Hospital, outpatient care services and a vast research company that offers students access to enhance their knowledge of medicine, science, and patient care.

Research

The School of Medicine faculty is actively involved in several creative and state-of-the-art basic science, epidemiological, biobehavioral, and clinical/translational research. The transformation of our findings into advancements in patient care and the licensing of new technologies and tools to the private sector is a major focus of this initiative.

UCONN Medical School Educational Opportunities

Graduate School
D. in Biomedical Sciences
D. in Public Health
Medical Education
D. Program
D./Ph.D. Program
D./M.B.A.
D./M.P.H.
A./B.S. and M.D.
Continuing Medical Education
Graduate Medical Education
Library
Health Career Opportunity Programs
Masters in Clinical and Translational Research
Masters in Public Health
Postdoctoral Affairs
Student Research Opportunities
Summer Research Fellowships
UConn-Canaan Fellowship Program
Young Innovative Investigator Program

Research Resources

Animal Research
Body Donation Program
Clinical Research
Core Facilities (COR2E) at UConn and UConn Health
Grant Science Writer: Christopher ‘Kit’ Bonin, Ph.D.
Faculty Handbook
Faculty Research Expertise
Health Center Research Advisory Council (HCRAC)

University of Connecticut School of Medicine Community Engagement

A signature feature of the experience of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine is the degree and intensity of community involvement of the students. The students are immersed in supporting the communities they will represent as junior and senior medical students, whether through regular curricular offerings or various community service programs. In the course Principles of Clinical Medicine (PCM), first-year students gain an appreciation for the different patient communities. As part of the introduction to PCM, students get a hands-on introduction to the communities through guided tours. Tour guides brief students on the history and evolution of the diverse communities of Greater Hartford. Students receive their first community involvement through the Student Continuity Practice Placement, where they are assigned one afternoon a week for three years to work with physician preceptors in their practices. As part of their training and exposure in their program, the students gain significant exposure to various community agencies. To meet the elective requirement, students may choose a Community Service Improvement Program, a two-month experience in the fourth-year curriculum. Students come to better appreciate the communities they serve and to appreciate the need for cultural sensitivity and competence in serving the varied populations through these required and elective courses. A multitude of volunteer opportunities is offered to students throughout the medical school to give time, care and service to the local communities. A brief description of many of these offers is given here to capture the strong sense of service which defines the student body’s culture and character.

Habits for prospering in University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Take Full Advantage of the University Library

There are plenty of students who graduate with bookshops and Google Scholar alone boasting about how little they have visited the library, managing to get through their read list. For others, the library is their last resort location to capture a few key texts ahead of a panicked all-night, usually including a period of shouting at the photocopier when it claims that they do not have sufficient credit to copy notes. It should be clear it need not be like this. If you make full use of your university library, it can be one of the most useful and enjoyable places you put your foot in at university throughout your entire period. Going to the library is a pleasure for the best students, not a chore, even when the essay deadlines are approaching. So, it is best to utilize the available resource and gain free knowledge.

Use Colorful Sticky Notes for Better Memorization

Sticky notes are easy to use and are cost-effective. Their design makes them great as they contrast standard documents and books to highlight important information. While there are no set criteria on how to best use sticky notes, there are certain aspects that can help optimize the experience. It’s worth considering, for example, the number of notes that you use. The number of sticky notes is, of course, based on the reason for which you use it, but as a general guideline, the less is better. Using sticky notes to incorporate ideas and observations when reading course books helps to develop reading skills faster. This skill empowers you to handle difficult texts and help you understand what’s being said.

Dr. Najeeb’s Lectures

The load of hard work increases to a considerable extent after entering medical college. At school, students receive guidance from notes and books, as the course outline is well defined and for years remains unchanged. School students have to follow the course strictly by book and review the course through past papers but the course content continues to be revised for medical college students. Some additions or modifications to the course are made each year. Students, therefore, need help with no prior material, or a specific book can be of help. One cannot always go to the class, because there are occasions when there is no teacher present. In such a dire situation where you need help understanding difficult concepts and you are short of time. You do have the best choice to save your precious time and access the most authentic source of medical knowledge Dr. Najeeb’s Lectures. Dr. Najeeb’s Lectures are the world’s most popular medical Lectures, covering all the topics of Gross Anatomy, Neuro-anatomy, Embryology, Histology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology. They are video lectures that cover almost all the topics in the current medical curriculum of most medical colleges. They contain visualization of what you study in your books. The hand-drawn illustrations in these lectures make it very easy to grasp the concepts. Furthermore, one can get lifetime access to these lectures and even download the app to avail them anytime, anywhere.

Identify your Correct Path:

First of all, you have to identify what your correct direction is. For choosing the correct direction you should always emulate the people who are successful in the field you are pursuing. By taking advice from the successful people and following their footsteps you will be able to start from the basics of how accomplished people started their journey and then you can introduce new ideas and innovations. The more you will interact with successful people more likely it will get for you to find the correct direction.

In the end, we would like to assure you that there are always ups and downs in life. Don’t lose hope, keep up with the hard work and Good Luck!