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 AIAN 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
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PDT on April 25, 2024 for consideration to the RISE Summer Academy.
RISE Summer Academy 2024 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 AIAN 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.
Summer Academy Dates: May 28 to June 13, 2024
- Virtual days: May 28–June 3, 2024
- Travel to Spokane: June 4, 2024
- In-person days: June 5–June 12, 2024
- Travel home: June 13, 2024
Virtual sessions are tentatively scheduled 8 a.m.–1 p.m. PST Monday through Friday, except for three evening sessions where participants will have the chance to meet Native physicians. The finalized and detailed schedule will be distributed to accepted participants before the start of the program.
Summer Academy 2024 is different from years 2022 and 2023 in that scholars will begin with virtual programming and end with in-person programming. However, to get a sense of program rigor and scheduling, you can reference the agendas for the past two years:
Please note that the Summer Academy 2024 format and schedule will be different from past years. Schedules for 2022 and 2023 are provided to give applicants an idea of activities and time commitment.
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 2024 or 2025 for an Entering Year of 2025 or 2026, respectively
- American Indian or Alaska Native (with membership card and/or letter from tribal leader)
- Transcripts for all college coursework taken. If applying, please send documentation to the Office of Diversity, Health Justice, and Belonging 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
The INMED – RISE program is held in collaboration with:
- Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
- Washington State University Native American Health Sciences
- Oregon Health and Sciences University School of Medicine
- Northwest Native American Center of Excellence
- Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
- University of California Davis School of Medicine
Application opens: January 29, 2024
Deadline to apply: April 25, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. PDT