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Students, along with Dr. Shou Ling Leong on the left and Dr. Kevin Black on the right, pose for a photo on courtyard steps during the Accelerated Pathway Signing Day in May 2022.

MD Program: Accelerated Pathways

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Flexible Options in Medical Education at Penn State College of Medicine

Option 1: Three-Year MD Accelerated Pathways

Penn State College of Medicine has a portfolio of 3+ pathways that allow students to select a concentration of study that will enhance/accelerate their professional development. Penn State College of Medicine is a member of the national Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs (CAMPP), initially funded by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation.

The three-year MD Accelerated Pathways provide students the opportunity to complete medical school in three years with directed pathway into one of Penn State's residency programs, pending successful completion of their medical school training. 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 be positioned to match at Penn State College of Medicine for residency.

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 one of these specialties: family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, neurology, psychiatry, radiology, orthopaedics, pathology and urology. There are also accelerated pathways that are designed to accommodate the timelines for MD/PhD students in dermatology, neurosurgery and otolaryngology.

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.

Option 2: Clinician Scientist and Clinician Educator Pathways

These pathways allow students to achieve school-wide competencies and complete the core graduation requirements in approximately three years while devoting the majority of the fourth year of medical school to either research (Clinician Scientist Pathway) or a Master of Education degree (Clinician Educator Pathway).

Three-Year MD Accelerated Pathways

Accelerated List - Diagnostic Radiology

Diagnostic Radiology Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (DR-APPS)

In the 3+ Diagnostic Radiology Accelerated Pathway sees students completing their medical school education in three years, followed by three years of diagnostic radiology residency training within Penn State Health. Students have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.

Students accepted into this pathway will receive mentoring and support throughout their medical education with the goal that graduates will be prepared to assume the responsibilities of residency in Diagnostic Radiology.

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Accelerated Pathways List - Emergency Medicine

Emergency Medicine Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (EM-APPS)

In the 3+3 Emergency Medicine Accelerated Pathway, students complete medical school education in three years followed by three years of emergency medicine residency training within Penn State Health. Students have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.

Graduates will be skilled emergency physicians who will be well trained to practice in a field noted for its flexible schedule, diagnostic challenges and variety of cases encountered.

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Accelerated Pathways List - FMAPPS

Family Medicine Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (FM-APPS)

In the 3+3 Family Medicine Accelerated Pathway, students complete medical school in three years followed by three years of family medicine residency within Penn State Health. Students will have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.

By blending a three-year pathway with the longitudinally integrated clerkship format, graduates are poised to become patient-centered, empathetic physicians who are well prepared to practice family medicine.

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Accelerated Pathways List - Internal Medicine

Internal Medicine Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (IM-APPS)

In the 3+3 Internal Medicine Accelerated Pathway, students complete medical school in three years followed by three years of internal medicine residency training within Penn State Health. Students have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.

Graduates will emerge as skilled internists, ready to integrate seamlessly into the ever-changing field of primary care delivery. Opportunities also exist for additional fellowship training in the Department of Medicine following residency.

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Accelerated Pathways List - Neurology

Neurology Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (N-APPS)

In the 3+4 Neurology Accelerated Pathway, students complete medical school in three years, followed by four years of neurology residency training at Penn State Health. Students will have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.

During their training, students learn from more than 30 dedicated neurology faculty who are nationally and internationally recognized for quality patient care, clinical teaching and research. The training curriculum is built around active patient-care experiences. These experiences are the intellectual backbone of neurology.

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Accelerated Pathways List - Orthopaedics

Orthopaedic Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (O-APPS)

In the 3+5 Orthopaedic Accelerated Pathway, students complete medical school in three years followed by five years of orthopaedics residency training at Penn State Health. Students have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.

With curricular innovation, early mentoring, and extensive exposure to the clinical and didactic experiences of orthopaedics, we will prepare graduates to be well-rounded physicians who also have the competencies necessary to enter this highly competitive surgical specialty.

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Pathology Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (P-APPS)

In the 3+ Pathology Accelerated Pathway, students complete medical school in three years followed by residency training in Pathology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Students have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.

Students accepted into this pathway will receive mentoring and support throughout their medical education with the goal that graduates of the P-APPS program will be well prepared to assume the responsibilities of residency and a subsequent career in Pathology.

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Accelerated Pathways List - Psychiatry

Psychiatry Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (Psy-APPS)

The Penn State College of Medicine 3+ Psychiatry Accelerated Pathway (Psy-APPS) is a three-year accelerated MD specialty pathway with direct progression to the Psychiatry Residency program at Penn State Health. Students will complete the medical degree in three years followed by four years of residency training in psychiatry.

Students accepted into this pathway will receive mentoring and support throughout their medical education with the goal that graduates of the Psy-APPS program will be prepared to assume the responsibilities of residency in psychiatry.

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Accelerated Pathways List Urology

Urology Accelerated Pathway at Penn State (URO-APPS)

The Penn State College of Medicine 3+ Urology Accelerated Pathway (URO-APPS) is a three-year accelerated MD pathway with direct transition to a five-year Urology Residency Program at Penn State Health. Students will have the opportunity to save one year of tuition and enter practice one year earlier.

Extensive mentoring, immersion in clinical practice, innovative curricular design, and engaging didactic experiences, will prepare graduates for a career in this highly competitive surgical specialty. Applicants will be trained by 16 urology faculty who are both dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care as well as fostering the personal and professional development of medical students.

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Clinician Scientist and Clinician Educator Pathways

Clinician Educator Pathway Accelerated

Clinician Educator Pathway at Penn State

In the Clinician Educator Pathway, students complete all requirements for both the MD and the Master of Education (MEd) degree in four years.

Students have the opportunity to work with leaders in educational research and theory in health systems science.

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Accelerated Pathways Clinician Scientist Overview

Clinician Scientist Pathway at Penn State

In the Clinician Scientist Pathway, students incorporate an extended period of research within the four years of medical school, facilitating their development as strong physician-scientists.

Students have the opportunity to work with nationally recognized investigators to advance the understanding of health sciences across a continuum of research types - basic science, clinical, translational and health services.

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