MD Accelerated Programs
Pediatrics 3+3 MD Pathway
Peds-APPS
Penn State Pediatrics Accelerated Pathway (PEDS-APPS) is a 3+3 pathway where students complete medical school in three years, followed by a three-year .
Pathway Overview
To address the increased need for pediatricians, Penn State College of Medicine, partnering with the Department of Pediatrics, has developed a three-year accelerated pathway with the following goals:
Accelerate medical training so that students may earn the Doctor of Medicine degree in three years while maintaining high educational standards.
Support national healthcare priorities by fostering early and sustained student interest in pediatrics.
Prepare graduates who are patient centered, team oriented, and committed to delivering equitable and compassionate pediatric care.
Cultivate a durable pipeline of pediatric physicians who will advance child health through clinical excellence, advocacy, and lifelong learning.
We aim to train patient-centered, empathetic physicians who are well prepared to practice in the changing healthcare environment. Through curricular innovation and exceptional mentoring, we have developed a learning environment tailored to a career in pediatrics, hence addressing the shortage of primary care physicians. Students have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.
Prominent organizations including the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, Macy Foundation and the American Association of Medical Colleges have called for better alignment between medical training and the healthcare needs of our nation. Studies have established that the health of the population is improved when the nation's medical workforce consists of at least 50 percent primary care physicians.
Penn State College of Medicine is a member of the Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs, initially funded by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. With collaboration, members of the consortium have conducted numerous studies and disseminated the findings that validated the positive impact of the 3-year accelerated programs.
Application Process
Students may apply for entry into the PEDS-APPS pathway at two points – after acceptance into the at Penn State College of Medicine and before matriculation, or in the fall of their first year of medical school.
Once accepted, students may submit a secondary application to the specific pathway of interest to them.
Qualified students in good academic standing will be invited for interviews. A second call for applications, depending on the availability of positions, will occur in the fall of the first year of medical school.
The ideal candidate is a self-directed learner with a strong academic background who possesses good organizational skills, the ability to multitask, and a strong interest in pediatrics as a career.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis concurrent with the Penn State College of Medicine application process.
Once a commitment has been made to attend Penn State College of Medicine, a secondary application to PEDS-APPS will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The final selection will be made by the PEDS-APPS selection committee.
If you are a prospective Penn State College of Medicine medical student with an interest in the pediatrics accelerated pathway, email PEDSAPPS@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.
Curriculum
The Pediatrics Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (PEDS-APPS) curriculum is not just accelerated, it is designed to maximize efficiency through learning that is built on prior knowledge and skills.
As an PEDS-APPS student, you’ll be expected to meet all educational objectives and graduation requirements of the . The methods for assessment are the same as those for traditional medical students. However, because it is an accelerated pathway, electives and vacations are reduced.
How the Curriculum is Different
The PEDS-APPS curriculum differs from the "regular" four-year curriculum in the following areas:
Phase I: Foundations of Medicine (Pre-Clerkship)
Students in the Pediatrics Accelerated Pathway follow the standard pre-clerkship curriculum shared with the four-year track. Selected experiences are scheduled earlier to support the accelerated timeline without compromising educational quality.
In the spring of the first academic year, students participate in a Career Confirmation Elective (CCE), modeled after other successful 3+ pathways at Penn State College of Medicine. Offered during afternoon hours to avoid conflict with core coursework, this elective provides early clinical exposure, structured mentorship, and direct engagement with pediatric faculty.
During the summer between the first and second years, students fulfill their six-week elective requirement by selecting from a range of pediatric subspecialty experiences, such as Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Hematology/Oncology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, and Ophthalmology. This early immersion promotes exploration of pediatric career interests and supports the development of foundational clinical skills.
In the second year of Phase I, students complete the Longitudinal Family and Community Medicine Clerkship. Placement of this clerkship in Phase I aligns with other accelerated pathways and allows students to progress efficiently into their pediatric-focused clinical training.
Phase II: Core Clinical Clerkships
In Phase II, students complete the full set of required core clinical clerkships alongside their peers. To meet graduation requirements within the accelerated timeframe, students also complete two acting internships, the Systems-Conscious and Humanistic Medicine course, additional elective rotations, a Humanities selective, and the Transition to Internship course.
These components are intentionally sequenced to ensure readiness for residency, promote clinical maturity, and support the holistic competencies expected in pediatric training. The combination of core clerkships, advanced clinical responsibilities, and reflective coursework strengthens students’ ability to transition seamlessly into pediatric residency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students matriculate with the incoming medical school class in the summer. The 3+3 programming begins in the fall of the first year of medical school, with an early introduction of clinical rotations.
In order to complete the graduation requirements in a compressed time frame, students in the 3+3 program do not get a full summer break after the first year. Students are enrolled in a combination of rotations during this time and continue to work on their medical student research project.
Students will be expected to take and pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2, a Penn State College of Medicine requirement before graduation. Students will have preparation time to successfully complete these requirements.
Students will participate in commencement from medical school in May of their third year. Participating 3+3 students will begin three years of residency training in June, at what would be the start of their fourth year in a traditional MD pathway.
Yes. The Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital Pediatrics Residency can accept students through the match only. Therefore, you must enter the NRMP matching process.
Upon meeting the academic and professional standards for graduation from medical school, students are ranked to match into a Penn State Health residency program through the National Resident Matching Program. Should students choose to rank Penn State, they would match into a Pediatrics residency position at Penn State Health.
Your three-year pediatrics residency training at Penn State will not differ in curriculum from that of a non-PEDS-APPS student. However, you will have established a panel of patients in a continuity clinic that will continue to grow during your six years of training. You will have gotten to know faculty and staff in the practice site, easing your transition to residency.
You would revert back to the traditional four-year program and enter the match as usual. Any scholarship granted will convert to a loan. Credits for partial courses may not carry over to the four-year program. For this reason, it’s important that you are certain about pursuing a career in pediatrics before you apply to the pathway.
If you have academic difficulties or fail to progress as expected, you would revert to the traditional four-year program and enter the match as usual. Any scholarship granted will convert to a loan.
If you complete the PEDS-APPS pathway as designed, you will receive a scholarship equal to one year of tuition. Thus, you’ll pay the equivalent of three years’ tuition, saving on a full year tuition. If you revert out of the PEDS-APPS pathway for any reason, any scholarship funds provided as a part of the pathway would convert to a loan.
Pathway Leadership and Faculty
Director: Conrad Krawiec, MD
Director of PEDS-APPS
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Additional Faculty
Contact Us
Conrad Krawiec, MD, Director
Phone: 717-531-5337
Email: PEDSAPPS@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Sarah Miller, Program Coordinator
Phone: 717-531-5337
Email: PEDSAPPS@pennstatehealth.psu.edu