The University of Houston Honors College has partnered with the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine to enroll top high school seniors in a joint program focused on improving health and health care for underserved communities. The HonorsMed program is a B.S./M.D. pathway combining the academic rigor of UH’s Honors College experience with the innovative and equity-focused approach of the Fertitta Family College of Medicine, collectively training tomorrow’s health care leaders.
Applicants with exemplary academic records and community service activities will be invited to interview for HonorsMed in February 2023. The University of Houston encourages service-minded students interested in health care related fields such as biomedical science, clinical science, behavioral science, and social science to apply.
HonorsMed students enter UH as freshmen, holding a conditional acceptance to the College of Medicine. Students must remain in good academic standing throughout enrollment and will participate in an eight-year career path interwoven between the colleges. The program also allows students to be paired with faculty and student mentors from the College of Medicine throughout their undergraduate years and participate in seminars, community service activities, and other special initiatives relevant to their career interests.
Preparing undergraduates academically, personally, and professionally for their medical school journey, HonorsMed offers early acceptance to medical school contingent on testing and academic performance. “The Honors College is both proud and excited to partner with the College of Medicine to offer this exceptional path through Honors to our medical school with its focus on underserved communities,” said Honors College Interim Dean Stuart A. Long.
The college’s unique approach to medical education encourages faculty and students from diverse educational and experiential backgrounds to empower one another to think about health care from a patient and community perspective to create new ways to bridge social and economic barriers to health care. “We are excited about the new HonorsMed program,” said Stephen Spann, M.D., Founding Dean, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. “It will allow us to attract outstanding pre-med students who are passionate about the mission of the college and interested in pursuing their bachelor’s and M.D. degrees at an outstanding university.”
Students accepted will be paired with faculty and student mentors from Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine throughout their undergraduate years, and they will participate in seminars, community service activities, and other special initiatives relevant to their career interests. HonorsMed participants enter UH as first-year students who already hold an acceptance letter to the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and can focus on their professional and personal development instead of worrying about the stress of applying to medical school during their undergraduate years.
HonorsMed advisors work in conjunction with admissions officers and faculty mentors from the College of Medicine to ensure that HonorsMed students meet all academic requirements for medical school eligibility, including completion of the Honors College curriculum, a bachelor’s degree in any major, the Medicine & Society minor, and College of Medicine prerequisites. HonorsMed students must also take the MCAT exam and complete the TMDSAS application the summer after their junior year.
Students interested in the program must apply to the University of Houston, the Honors College, and HonorsMed. Proof of acceptance from the University of Houston and UH Honors College, two letters of recommendation, and the completed FAFSA form (UH’s Federal School Code is 003652) is needed. The priority deadline is Nov. 1 at 5 p.m., and all material is needed for affirmation; the final deadline is Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.