MD Program
Accelerated Pathways
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Three-Year MD Accelerated Pathways
A Unique Program
Penn State's accelerated MD Program is unique in that its pathways are designed to optimize the UME-GME continuum and allow students who already know their career path to progress into emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics (beginning in AY26-27), or psychiatry.
The benefits of the accelerated options include reduction of medical education costs and earlier career entry. The linkage of undergraduate and graduate medical education optimizes opportunities for continuity of patient care, mentoring and advising.
Positive Impact of Accelerated Programs
Penn State College of Medicine is a member of the national 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. See references.
A study that reviewed graduating medical student responses on the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire found that accelerated MD program graduates compared to four-year MD graduates:
Feel as satisfied with their medical education
Feel as prepared for residency
Have equivalent rates of burnout, with better ratings in some areas
Have lower student debt
Another study, in collaboration with the ACGME, reviewed the milestones evaluation of first-year residents who graduated from 4-year medical school versus those who graduated from a 3-year accelerated program. The results noted no significant differences in residency performance as measured by the ACGME milestones during the first year.
Explore MD Three-Year Pathways
Scientist and Educator Pathways
Clinician Educator Pathway
Students complete all requirements for both the MD degree and the Master of Education (MEd) degree in four years.
Clinician Scientist Pathway
Students incorporate an extended period of research within the four years of medical school.