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Mission

PROMIS2U stands for Pre-Matriculation Readiness for Ongoing Medical Student Success at the University of Utah. The mission of PROMIS2U is to prepare more physicians to enter primary care and serve in rural, tribal, and medically underserved areas in Utah. We recognize that physician shortages in primary care, in Utah and in the Intermountain West, are even more acute in medically underserved, rural and remote areas, and tribal/indigenous communities. PROMIS2U aims to provide academic support to future physicians from rural, tribal, and medically underserved backgrounds, who research shows are more likely to practice in high-need underserved communities, care for patients who identify as marginalized and practice primary care.

Who We Are

Candace J. Chow, PhD

Co-Director

Juliana Simonetti, MD

Co-Director

Liz Groves

Program Coordinator

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Shawna M. Sisler, RN, NP, PhD

Advanced Wellness Practitioner

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Gillian Stanfield, PhD

Course Director

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How We Support Our Mission and Students

  1. Knowledge Building – PROMIS2U delivers a thoughtful science, population health, and wellness curriculum to help students develop the knowledge necessary to be successful in medical school. Additionally, students acquire a broad knowledge of on-campus and UUSOM resources, programs, services, and policies.
  2. Skills Building – PROMIS2U offers a robust set of clinical and patient exposure experiences for students to observe and develop the skills to be a successful physician. They also participate in various research opportunities where they fine-tune their analytical and critical-thinking skills.
  3. Cultural Humility Building – PROMIS2U exposes students routinely and intentionally to opportunities and challenges seen in rural, historically marginalized, and medically underserved settings. Students further grow into empathic members of the medical profession.
  4. Community Building – PROMIS2U fosters a sense of belonging through relationship building with faculty, administrators, staff, and medical students, as well as providing opportunities for community engagement.

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Program Expectations and Benefits

Program Expectations

PROMIS2U, along with collaborators in the School of Medicine, have thoughtfully designed a year-long post-baccalaureate experience to help students achieve their dream of becoming a physician. As such, PROMIS2U students are expected to:

  • Attend a six-week summer intensive science preparation experience
  • Register for graduate coursework in Fall and Spring (see curriculum page)
  • Participate in bi-weekly academic success meetings and monthly wellness curricular activities
  • Act in accordance with the academic expectations outlined in the acceptance letter
  • Adhere to the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Code of Conduct

Program Benefits

As part of PROMIS2U, students will benefit from a wrap-around support system designed to prepare them to transition to medical school. Students will have the opportunity to enhance their academic knowledge, clinical experience, and critical-thinking and research skills. Students benefit from a robust network of faculty, staff, and peer mentors throughout their time with PROMIS2U. Students who meet PROMIS2U performance standards will be presented to the Admissions Committee in February of their PROMIS2U year and considered for admission after their PROMIS2U year. We anticipate that candidates who successfully matriculate to the UUSOM will be leaders among their peers and will have the opportunity to serve as role models (and mentors) to future PROMIS2U participants. Lastly, PROMIS2U alumni will continue to benefit from program resources throughout their four years of medical school at University of Utah.

Admissions

Basic Eligibility Criteria

Priority consideration for PROMIS2U will be given to applicants who:

  • Are Utah residents and/or enrolled members in one of the American Indian tribes whose reservation or trust lands lie partly or wholly within Utah
  • Faced socioeconomic hardships growing up
  • Grew up in a rural and/or medically underserved community
  • Demonstrate a commitment to practice medicine in rural, tribal/indigenous areas, and/or medically underserved communities
  • Are first-generation college students

Academic Requirements

Applicants must meet the admissions criteria established by the School of Medicine Admissions Office including:

  •  Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or Canada 
  •  GPA and MCAT score that fit within this matrix model:
    • An MCAT Total of 494-497 and an undergraduate GPA of 3.80 or higher
    • An MCAT total of 498-499 and an undergraduate GPA of 3.60 or higher
    • An MCAT total of 500 and an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher

For more information about academic requirements, please visit the School of Medicine Admissions Office website.

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Curriculum

Students are required to enroll in full course load all semesters with the exception of Summer. Below is a tentative list of courses PROMIS2U students take.

Summer Semester

  • MD ID 5000: Introduction to Medical Sciences

Fall Semester

  • MD ID 6400: PROMIS2U Foundations of Medicine
  • MD ID 6920-002: SCoPE for PROMIS2U

Spring Semester

  • MD ID 6410: PROMIS2U Foundations of Medicine 2
  • MD ID 6430: PROMIS2U Longitudinal Clinical/Patient Experience
  • MD ID 6450: PROMIS2U Foundations of Medicine 3

Fall OR Spring

  • MD ID 6920-001: Health Humanism
  • MD ID 6460: PROMIS2U Tribal, Rural, and Underserved Health Care Systems, Delivery, and Resources

Important Dates

Below are some important dates for students to keep in mind. Additionally, students are expected to attend monthly wellness and community building events. Dates and times are to be determined. 

Event

Date

Program Notifies Candidates of Opportunity to Apply

April

Summer Preparation Course

Early July to Mid-August

Orientation to Medical School

See MS1 Academic calendar

Fall Semester

See MS1 Academic calendar

Spring Semester

See University of Utah Academic Calendar

SOM Conditional Admissions notification

March

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I apply to PROMIS2U directly?

The School of Medicine Admissions Committee makes recommendations to PROMIS2U after thoroughly reviewing the application materials of prospective students and ensuring they meet the minimum criteria for admissions. All PROMIS2U students are vetted through the formal Admissions Committee first, and thus cannot apply directly to PROMIS2U. A secondary application may be requested of the PROMIS2U program at a later date.

How are students recommended to PROMIS2U for admissions?

In selecting medical students for matriculation, medical school admissions authorities must assess various factors. The School of Medicine Admissions Committee, thus, follows a holistic review process. Promising students who meet most criteria, but who may benefit from a year of rigorous academic preparation, are referred to the PROMIS2U Selection & Recommendations Committee. For more information about admissions criteria, please visit the School of Medicine Admissions Office website.

What criteria does PROMIS2U use to determine acceptance into the program?

The PROMIS2U Selection & Recommendations Committee uses a similar holistic review process as the School of Medicine Admissions Committee, as well as the rural, tribal/indigenous, socioeconomic, and medically underserved backgrounds of potential candidates.

Do students receive any form of financial assistance to cover the program costs?

Yes, grant (Health Resources and Services Administration) funds are used to cover tuition and fees and a monthly living stipend to assist with expenses (e.g., room & board, health insurance through Student Health Insurance Plan, transportation, etc.) for the duration of the program. Students also receive approximately $850 towards the purchase of a laptop/tablet.

Do students have the option to work while they are part of PROMIS2U?

PROMIS2U students receive a monthly stipend for living expenses so that students can focus on their education. We understand students have different financial responsibilities and may need to seek employment. Students, however, are expected to balance their work commitments and to prioritize their academics.

Are students required to live on campus?

Students have the option to live in the University Student Apartments, but are not required to live on campus. 

Are PROMIS2U students automatically admitted to the School of Medicine?

The Selection and Recommendations committee will recommend those PROMIS2U students who successfully complete all portions of the program, including adherence to the Professionalism Behavior standards outlined in the Student Handbook, to the School of Medicine Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee will make final decisions on the admissions status of each individual student.

This document is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of two awards totaling $33 million with 10% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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Indigenous Land Acknowledgment

The University of Utah has both historical and contemporary relationships with Indigenous peoples. Given that the Salt Lake Valley has always been a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples, we acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes and is a crossroad for Indigenous peoples. The University of Utah recognizes the enduring relationships between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We are grateful for the territory upon which we gather today; we respect Utah’s Indigenous peoples, the original stewards of this land; and we value the sovereign relationships that exist between tribal governments, state governments, and the federal government. Today, approximately 60,000 American Indian and Alaska Native peoples live in Utah. As a state institution, the University of Utah is committed to serving Native communities throughout Utah in partnership with Native Nations and our Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.