INMED – Reimagine Indians into Medicine (RISE) Pathway Program
Focus
- Cultural Engagement and Community Building: This will include learning, activities, and gatherings with Washington State University’s Native American Health Sciences office and clinical faculty at the WSU Spokane campus. During the in-person visit, scholars will visit local clinics that receive IHS funding to serve Native American patients.
- Medical School Admissions: This component will include a deep dive into the medical school admissions process with guidance on how to develop a competitive application, mock interviews, personal statement editing/feedback, and presentations by medical school admissions deans from multiple medical schools.
- Supplemental Basic Science Refresher: This coursework will focus on helping RISE Summer Academy students be better prepared to enter medical school. The coursework will be taught by WSU College of Medicine faculty. The subjects included are anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, and endocrinology.
- Medical Student Mentors: RISE Summer Academy scholars will have access to medical students to help guide them through the program, answer their questions, and provide support and encouragement.
- MCAT Prep: The program will provide a full MCAT course through Kaplan with access following the program.
Timeline
RISE Summer Academy will be conducted in a hybrid model.
- Participants will begin the program on Zoom and other virtual platforms. Introductions to RISE staff, faculty, and other scholars will be made. Zoom sessions will also include discussion and presentations regarding medical school admissions, beginning sessions on science refreshers, and time for culturally engaging dialogue with individuals involved in health care.
- Participants will travel to the WSU Spokane campus for the second half of the program. Travel and lodging in Spokane, WA, will be paid for by RISE. Thoughtful activities, gathering, and program celebrations will be included.
Virtual sessions are tentatively scheduled 8 a.m.–1 p.m. PST Monday through Friday. In-person sessions are tentatively scheduled 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. while scholars are in Spokane. The finalized and detailed schedule will be distributed to accepted participants before the start of the program.
Eligibility Requirements
- MCAT
- Have taken the MCAT but not scored well or
- Plan to take for the first time within 1–6 months following the Summer Academy
- Plan to apply to medical school in 2025 or 2026 for an Entering Year of 2026 or 2027, respectively
- Enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.
- Transcripts for all college coursework taken. If applying, please send documentation to the Office for Health Equity at diversity.medicine@wsu.edu.
Benefits
- Cost of attendance is free and includes:
- Coursework including the Kaplan MCAT Prep course and Science Enhancements are covered by the program
- Travel to/from the WSU Spokane campus
- Room and board during in-person days of the program
- Access to and exposure with medical school faculty, leadership, and students
- Development of Native Cultural identity in medicine and network of Native Physicians
- Coursework and exposure to become a more competitive applicant to medical school
- Direct access to medical school admissions deans and faculty with individual feedback on personal statements and mock interviews