Second Look 2023
Welcome to the UConn School of Medicine!
Congratulations on your admission to the UConn School of Medicine, we hope you are very proud of this accomplishment! We are excited to welcome you in person on March 24th and we also have a number of virtual events planned for the week of March 20th where you can learn about our programs, students, and campus culture. We have also created this website as a gathering of resources that you may find helpful as you make your enrollment decision. We hope it will help you learn more about UConn and what we have to offer.
Welcome from Assistant Dean of Admissions, Dr. Regan
Get to know the UConn School of Medicine
Second Look Student Leaders
Hi everyone! My name is Helen, and I'm from Cheshire, CT. I graduated from UConn in 2021 with a double major in Molecular and Cell Biology and Spanish. I love salsa/bachata dancing, thrifting, and learning different languages! Excited to meet all of you.
Hello! My name is Heather and I grew up in a small town in northern Rhode Island. I studied Neuroscience at Yale University and took two gap years to research before coming here. I love to cook and bake, hike and dance, do crossword puzzles and watch a ton of TV. I'm excited to introduce you to our school and meet you all!
Hello everyone! My name is Ryan and I am from Avon, CT, and I recently graduated this past year from the University of Richmond. I am excited to meet you all and give you a glimpse into the life of a medical student at UConn to help you all see if this is the school for you!
Virtual “Live” Sessions
The Second Look team wants to provide all accepted students an opportunity to talk to us and get any questions answered. Please join us for any or all of our “live” virtual sessions on WebEx. Links for the virtual sessions will be sent to you via email. If you can't make it to any of the virutal sessions, check back here for the recordings!
Tuesday, March 21st: Curriculum 6:00 pm EST Play recording
Tuesday March 21st: Heath Careers Opportunity Programs/Urban Service Track 7:00 pm EST Play recording
Wednesday, March 22nd: Student Groups 7:00 pm EST Play recording
Wednesday March, 22nd: Student Life 8:00 pm EST Play recording
Curriculum
To deliver curricular content, the UConn School of Medicine uses a collaborative team-based learning strategy that enhances both student engagement and promotes quality learning. In addition, the curriculum promotes advanced hands-on clinical skills training and utilizes advanced technical lab simulators to help students master all elements of the curriculum content.
Team Based Learning (TBL) and Case Oriented Essentials (COrE)
Our M-Delta curriculum has team-based learning as its core teaching method. Learning is done in a collaborative and supportive environment with students working together to achieve their educational goals. By applying knowledge in an active learning environment, students have longer retention and a deeper understanding of the information presented. In COrE, students will learn and apply foundational biomedical knowledge to patient-centered cases in a team setting.
Fabric of Anatomy & Biology Lab (FAB)
In addition to our traditional Human Anatomy Lab (HAL), UConn employs innovative technology in our Virtual Anatomy Lab (VAL) allowing students to connect gross anatomy knowledge directly to state-of-the-art imaging. Students can directly correlate what they are learning in traditional cadaveric dissection with a multitude of instantly available radiologic imaging (x-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound).
Vertically Integrated Teams Aligned in Learning (VITAL)
Vertically Integrated Teams Aligned in Learning (VITAL)
Longitudinal teams of students from across the four years join dental students to learn together and teach each other critical, timely material across the spectrum. In the VITAL course, students will explore topics such as bioethics in the news, emerging diseases, health care policy and social determinants of health. These sessions support students’ future roles as scholarly physicians, life-long teachers, and learners.
Clinical Foundation Courses: DOCC, CLIC, and PACTS
These three courses comprise the Clinical Suite that students will experience in their first two years. In Delivery of Clinical Care (DOCC), students will learn how to interact with patients and conduct physical exams. In Clinical Longitudinal Immersion in the Community (CLIC), students will apply their clinical skills and biomedical knowledge with real patients under the supervision of a physician mentor. In Patient Advocacy in Communities, Teams and Health Systems (PACTS), students will explore the complexities of the patient experience and the health systems with which patients engage to become better patient advocates.
Certificate in Social Determinants of Health and Disparities
Certificate in Social Determinants of Health and Disparities
The Certificate in the Social Determinants of Health and Disparities (CSDH&D) is an innovative curricular offering which makes every UConn medical student eligible to earn the equivalent of 4 graduate school courses in the Public Health Program (12 credits) as they work towards their MD degree. The basic course content related to this certificate is delivered over the first two years of the medical curriculum. The CSHD&D complements the medical curriculum, providing every student with basic knowledge of the distribution and determinants of health and health care services among populations, and practical skills needed to overcome conditions and barriers that perpetuate social inequity and foster health disparities.
Simulation Center
Our Clinical Simulation Center allows students the opportunity to practice challenging, immersive simulation training within a safe, hands-on, and supportive learning environment. This is a cutting edge educational experience that is both learner-centric and individualized for each student.
Ultrasound Training
UConn School of Medicine is the first to receive and implement into their curriculum a new hand-held ultrasound device (Butterfly-iQ) which plugs into any cell phone. Ultrasound is proving to be as indispensable to physicians as the stethoscope, and our students are on the front-line of mastering this skill for their future medical practice.
Individual Learning Opportunities
Individual Learning Opportunities
During each of the 5 LEAP sessions, students either engage in reinforcement material to support content or participate in an Individual Learning Opportunities (ILO), thus individualizing their experience. This five-day period allows total immersion in specialized topics designed by faculty to promote a deeper dive into a curricular area, support skill building, and/or career exploration. It also allows students the opportunity to have a valuable experience and learn outside of the curriculum, including options in the humanities.
Below are examples of some ILOs that have been offered in the past, however ILO options change each LEAP session.
3D Printing Technology
Advanced Spanish for Healthcare Providers
Art, Medicine & Visual Perception
Austere, Disaster and Wilderness Medicine
Basics of Hand Surgery Evaluation & Care
Bio-Entrepreneurship
Clinical Simulation Experience
Community Service as a Healthcare Professional
Contemporary Legal Issues in Healthcare Practice
Coronary & Peripheral Vascular Imaging
Dermatology Enhancement Experience
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology
Ethical Issues in Reproductive Health Care
Exercise is Medicine
Exploration of Obesity
Gender & Sex and the Intersection with Healthcare
GMO Crops: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
Graphic Medicine
Health and Human Rights
Health Education for Older Adults
How to use SPSS (and write-up your results)
Immune Metabolism
Introduction to Emergency Medicine
Introduction to Ergonomics
Introduction to Gynecologic Surgery
Introduction to Immigrant Health
Introduction to Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Introduction to Mindfulness-Based Practices
Introduction to Neonatology
Introduction to Plastic Surgery
Introduction to Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine
Legal Ramifications of Personal Decision Making
Living With Disability
Mind, Body, Spirit Medicine
Navigating the Pediatric Encounter
NeuroImaging & Brain Function
Non-invasive Cardiac Imaging
Opioid Use Disorder
Opthalmology
Pathobiology of Neurodegenerative Disease
Pathology & Pathophysiology of the Human Placenta
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Contracted from Animals
Physics and Dance
Point-of-Care Ultrasound
Proposal Writing Bootcamp
Public Health Ethics
Reflection & Reflective Writing, For Resilience
REIKI I and II Healing Techniques
Research Training in Nephrology
Scholarship & Career Exploration for Physician Scientists
Skeletal Muscle Biology and Pathobiology
Social Determinants of Health
Sports Medicine Clinical Immersion
Story Time: An Introduction to Literature & Medicine
Students and their Self-Care
The Art of Healing
The Basic Pathological Processes
The Functional Foot
The Impacts of Microaggressions on Patient Care
The Psychology of Gender & Sexuality
The Psychology of Substance Abuse
Treatment of Mood Disorders
UConn Migrant Farm Workers Training
Understanding Role of Registered Dietitian
Weight Management: Obesity Prevention & Treatment
ZIKA Virus: The Epidemic of Microcephaly
Urban Service Track
Urban Service Track
Medical students interested in working with underserved communities, especially in urban settings, have the opportunity to apply to the Urban Service Track program (UST). UST students gain valuable exposure to the complex and challenging issues of health care in the inner city. A strong mentorship component supports learners as they navigate their own personal and professional development.
Clinical Rotations
Clinical Rotations
UConn School of Medicine is known for its stellar clinical education. Being centrally located in Connecticut, students will have opportunities to learn from clinicians across specialties at several hospitals, which are mentioned in the link below. The document below summarizes the clinical rotations for all UConn medical students during Stage 2.
Dual Degrees
Dual Degrees
Dual Degree Programs are those that allow students to share credits between two separate degree programs provided that the degrees are completed and conferred together. The programs described below have been formally approved to allow credits to be shared; the final award of shared credit is contingent upon completion of both programs. Students who wish to complete multiple degrees not listed below must complete the requirements of each degree as described elsewhere in the University of Connecticut catalogs.
Life at UConn School of Medicine
First Year Schedule
Students will be assigned to one of three Learning Communities, which will determine their weekly schedule. The document below displays the three possible schedules for first year of medical school. These schedules may vary to some extent depending upon the block and are subject to change.
School – Life Balance
Medical school marks an important but stressful period in the life of a physician. It is a time of personal and professional growth, immense learning, and a significant lifestyle change. UConn School of Medicine is committed to helping students navigate the personal challenges, maintaining physical health and psychological resilience, and finding not only survival, but joy in their medical student training.
Clubs & Organizations
At UConn School of Medicine, we pride ourselves on our diverse array of student clubs and organizations. Students have limitless opportunities to begin making connections with students and medical faculty early in their medical school careers. Below is a list of various organizations, student government, and social outreach programs (e.g. Migrant Farm Workers Clinic, South Park Free Clinic, etc.) all run by our students.
Housing / Living Arrangements
There are many housing options for students at UConn School of Medicine. The document below was developed by current students to help you find the best option for you!
Financial Aid
The Office of Financial Aid Services serves both medical and dental students as they work toward completing their degree programs. The staff ensure students are awarded their aid in a timely fashion, work to make sure students receive what they are eligible for and provide financial guidance regarding student aid and debt management. Students are assisted in making critical decisions regarding the best aid for them and how to manage their student loan debt through financial fitness classes, seminars and workshops. The Office of Financial Aid Services stands ready to assist all students, and help them navigate the waters of loans, grants and scholarships as they become new doctors and dentists.
Health Career Opportunity Office
The Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) actively recruits underrepresented medical and dental students and supports those who are enrolled. The continuous pipeline of programs has been successful in helping participants realize their dreams of becoming health care providers.
Connect on Social Media
Our Second Look Weekend co-chairs developed this Facebook page to keep in touch with all accepted students. Join this group and stay connected with them and other accepted students for updates, housing, roommate searching and more!
Match Statistics
One critical measure of the success of a medical school is the placement of its students into excellent residency programs. UConn medical students have had great success matching into the most competitive specialties at top programs. UConn’s Match Day program from March 18, 2022 includes detailed information on the Class of 2022, while excluding student names for privacy purposes. We are also excited to share our 2023 Match Day program from March 17, 2023!
Student National Medical Association
The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is the nation's oldest and largest student organization focused on the needs and concerns of medical students of color. Membership includes more than 8,000 medical students, pre-medical students, residents and physicians. The SNMA boasts over 40 years of service and is committed to addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent, and socially conscious physicians. Our UConn chapter is involved in mentorship, community outreach, and service.