Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin Medical College of Wisconsin

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Medical School

Advocates in Medicine Pathway

Creating a Pathway for Rural and Hmong Students at MCW-Central Wisconsin

What is the Advocates in Medicine Pathway?

The Advocates in medicine Pathway (AMP) program will support the professional development of undergraduates from Wisconsin interested in attending medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin - Central Wisconsin to promote a diverse future healthcare workforce built around resilience, relationships and system-based knowledge. The program cohort runs from January through May, with students attending the 1-credit "Wicked Problems in Medicine: Opioids" course every other Wednesday evening. Community based experiential learning and advising sessions will be held on opposite Wednesday evenings. Students participate in a full-time paid community health internship in June and July.

Program Information

Benefits of the Program

Benefits of the Advocates in Medicine Program include:

  • Receive guidance and experience in building a competitive medical application
  • Paid summer community health internship
  • Participants will receive a FREE laptop

Qualifications

To qualify for the program, students must:

  • Have a high interest in attending medical school
  • Attend or plan to enroll for the "Wicked Problems in Medicine: Opioids" course at UW-Stevens Point in Wausau
  • Preference will be given to students underrepresented in medicine, particularly from Hmong and rural background

Contact Information

For more information on the program, contact Sheng Khang, Education and Outreach Coordinator
skhang@nahec-wi.org | (715) 301-3269

Virtual walk-in information sessions are held Thursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Contact Sheng Khang for information on how to access these sessions.

Apply for the Program

The AMP cohort application will open September 1, 2021, and the deadline to apply is November 7, 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Am I eligible even though I already have a bachelor's (or higher) degree?
The program is geared towards college undergraduate students, however, we may make an exception for student(s) who meet other criteria. 
Does the AMP Program provide tuition assistance?
Unfortunately, AMP is not a tuition assistance program. AMP is a pipeline program that provides professional development and medical-related experiences for students free of charge. In addition, students receive a free computer and a paid summer internship to help offset the cost of taking the 1-credit course.
Do I need to attend the spring course at UWSP at Wausau physically?
For the 2021 AMP Program, the spring course, and activities are going to be online based. It will be rare for the instructor and coordinator to request students to be on campus in person.
Do I need to be a Wisconsin resident?
Currently, as an applicant, students do not need to be a WI resident.  Preference is given to students who have ties to Central WI and who have an interest in rural medicine.  However, we may make an exception for out-of-state students that meet other criteria. Once accepted into the program, students must commit to registering for the online 1 credit “BIOL 498: Selected Topics in Biology - Wicked Problems in Medicine: Opioids” at the UWSP at Wausau for spring 2021, and be in the Wausau region for the months of June and July (a virtual summer internship option may be considered due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Tuition, lodging, and etc. are at the expense of the student. Students will receive $2400 for participating in an 8-week summer internship in June and July to help offset some of the expenses.
How will the summer internship be done (virtual or in-person)?
We are still uncertain how the internship will be done—whether it will be in person or virtual. Projects will likely be based on the comfort level of the students, the guidelines and regulations of the partner organization, and current health regulations. This component of the program still needs to be determined.
What types of community projects will be available?
The community project (internship) entails AMP students collaborating with MCW medical students as their co-investigator on projects they started either in fall 2020 or a year prior. All projects are focused on various areas of community health. Multiple project options are available, and students will have the opportunity to provide input on which internship they would like to be assigned to.
What happens after I submit my application?
The program coordinator and her supervisors will review all applications after Nov 8. After they have pre-selected a group of students, they will reach out to each of them to schedule a 1-on-1 interview via Zoom. Interviews will take place on November 11-20. Students will be able to select an interview time that works with their schedule. Our goal is to notify all students of their acceptance into AMP before Thanksgiving Day.