Pathway Details
What is P-APPS exactly?
P-APPS is one of several accelerated curricula at Penn State College of Medicine that is designed to attract mature, dedicated learners who already have a strong personal commitment to pursue a career in a particular specialty. The P-APPS curriculum is focused to advance the student toward a Pathology residency at Penn State Health and subsequent career in Pathology.
The 3+ P-APPS pathway enables students to complete their medical degree in three years, followed by Pathology residency training at Penn State. The Penn State Pathology residency program is a 4 year combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency program.
Because the 3+ P-APPS pathway is an immersive experience in students’ Pathology professional development, it will contribute to advancing students' career paths in Pathology. Since students will receive longitudinal mentoring and guidance in their identity formation by dedicated faculty in the Department of Pathology, it is anticipated that students will possess strong readiness to enter their Pathology residency program.
How many students do you accept each year?
We accept up to two students per year.
Will I need to enter the National Resident Matching Program?
Yes. The Penn State Health Pathology 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 the Penn State Health Pathology Residency program through the National Resident Matching Program®. Should students choose to rank Penn State, they would match into a Pathology residency position at Penn State Health.
How can I finish medical school in only three years?
Students matriculate with the incoming medical school class in the summer. The 3+ course programming begins in the spring of the first year of medical school, with a career confirmation elective. Mentoring begins on selection into the program.
In order to complete the graduation requirements in a compressed time frame, students in the 3+ program do not get a full summer break after the first year. Students are enrolled in clinical electives for 6 weeks during this time, with 1 week vacation.
The curriculum utilizes several longitudinal experiences during which the student, once a week over several weeks, completes what traditionally would take place in a block clerkship experience, alongside concurrent Phase 1 coursework and traditional block clerkships.
In the 3+ tracks, career exploration electives in Phase II and certain electives are waived.
Students participate in commencement from medical school in May of their third year.
What deliverables are expected of the student?
Students in all 3+ tracks, including P-APPS, must meet the same educational objectives (the PSU COM Competencies and Sub-competencies) and graduation requirements as the four-year program. All students in 3+ tracks must complete a minimum of eight weeks of electives and a medical student research project (MSRP). The MSRP may, but does not have to be, with the Department of Pathology.
The methods of assessment in the P-APPS track will be identical to those of the main four-year program, including completion of a portfolio to provide documentation of meeting PSU COM Competencies and Sub-competencies.
When am I expected to take USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 exams?
You will be expected to take and pass USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 prior to graduation, which is a Penn State College of Medicine requirement. You will have preparation time during your third year to successfully complete these requirements.
Will my residency training be different?
Your three-year Pathology residency training at Penn State will not differ in curriculum from that of a non-P-APPS resident. However, you will have the benefit of relevant clinical experiences tailored for you by your mentoring team during medical school. You will have gotten to know faculty and staff in the Department of Pathology, easing your transition to residency.
What if I change my mind and no longer want to pursue Pathology, nor accelerate my training?
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 Pathology before you apply to the pathway. A career confirmation elective in the spring of your first year of medical school should help cement your career choice, or de-accelerate early if you decide this is not the path for you.
