First cohort of Rattler alumni begins FAMU/FAU Medical Scholars Program

L to R: Dr. Michael J.L. Smith, Medical Scholars Program Administrator, Ugoma C. Onubogo of Tallahassee, Fla., Michelle N. Wilson of Miami, Fla., Raphaelle A. Lazarre of Clermont, Fla., and Christoria H. Cowans of Lake Worth, Fla.

FAMU has partnered with the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to establish the FAMU/FAU Medical Scholars Program (MSP). Students admitted into the program will be offered a provisional acceptance to FAU’s College of Medicine provided that they successfully complete the MSP and satisfy requirements of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and FAU’s College of Medicine.

The first cohort of four freshmen students includes Christoria H. Cowans of Lake Worth, Fla.; Raphaelle A. Lazarre of Clermont, Fla.; Ugoma C. Onubogo of Tallahassee, Fla.; and Michelle N. Wilson of Miami, Fla.

Additionally, FAMU will offer a second pre-medical track (FAMU MSP Track-II) for students to receive similar training modeled after the FAMU-FAU MSP. The nine students in the FAMU MSP Track-II includes Nickyjeanna R. Aime of Wellington, Fla.; Charnee N. Davis of Stone Mountain, Ga.; Bernae A. Dorsett of Miramar, Fla.; Amani N. Jones of Ocoee, Fla.; Krista J. Labelle of Orlando, Fla.; Ellen S. Peterson of Tallahassee, Fla.; Miranda L. Reed of Fort Worth, Texas; Robert T. Seniors, III of Tallahassee, Fla.; and Nyeja S. Warner of Stone Mountain, Ga. These students will have the option to apply to any medical school in the United States.

“We are extremely excited for our students to have the opportunity to receive focused training to prepare them for medical school at such an early stage in their matriculation at FAMU,” said Maurice Edington, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Science and Technology. “This program will provide our students with a jump start on the competition as they hone their skills in the medical field.”

The goal of the program is to successfully equip students, starting as freshmen, with the tools and knowledge necessary to enter medical school. Academically successful high school students with a strong desire to pursue a career in medicine and who made a sound decision to attend FAMU were recruited for the program. The program will introduce undergraduate pre-medical students to professionalism and problem-based learning (PBL) in order to stimulate independent and self-directed learning as well as develop problem solving skills, team building, communication and leadership skills.

Michael J.L. Smith, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., FAMU’s coordinator of academic programs, Division of Academic Affairs and co-coordinator of the FAMU/FAU MSP, is confident that the program will raise the bar for excellence at FAMU.

“We expect this new program to return something significant to Florida A&M University in terms of an increase in the number of our students admitted to medical school,” said Smith. “We set high standards for the program, which are consistent with what it takes to be competitive for medical school.”

Students must maintain a 3.5 grade point average and must take an additional MSP course each semester for four years that will focus on professionalism, ethics, problem-based learning and inter-professional education. The program also requires students to satisfy extracurricular requirements, such as physician shadowing and community service.