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The UVM Pre-medical/Pre-health Enhancement Program (PEP) is an extracurricular enrichment program for UVM undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in medicine or other health profession. The program introduces students to the complex realities of health care delivery, including patient care and practice management while allowing them to witness the tremendous responsibility entrusted to physicians and healthcare professionals.

PEP is a combination of small group discussions, independent study and reflection, mentoring, and shadowing in clinical settings. PEP students will begin to appreciate the important role physicians and healthcare professionals have in advocating for the health of individuals, families, and our community. For more information, click here.

You should also plan to attend one of the four sessions of Prep for PEP at the Career Center (204 Davis Center):

  • Friday, September 1 at 2:30 or 3:30
  • Friday, September 15 at 2:30 or 3:30

Students apply in the fall of their second year in college.

Applications are due on the fourth Friday of September of each year.

The Committee reviews all complete applications and decides who to invite for interviews. Final decisions are based on which candidates best demonstrate:

  • an interest in pursuing a career in healthcare
  • maturity and professionalism
  • a passion for community service
  • a genuine desire to learn more about the US healthcare system

  • Application Steps

    The application consists of the following:

    • Resumé (click here for guides for writing these)
    • Transcript (get a copy from the Registrar's Office through myUVM)
    • A few short answers and a long essay (see Written Prompts below)
    • Application form containing basic personal information (found below APPLY NOW at the right; go there when you have other parts of the application ready)
    • One Reference (ask a recent faculty member, coach, or employer) on-line form submitted separately.

    Gather your documents and ask for your reference. Email your reference writer with a link to this webpage (they will find the form link in the right-hand column). Next, it is time to write; you will find the questions/prompts below.

    Once your paragraphs are written, resumé is ready, and you have a copy of your transcript(s), you are ready to fill out the form below "APPLY NOW" in the right-hand column; you will be taken to the Application form. At the end of that form is the place to upload your documents, and hit submit.

    DEADLINE EXTENDED:  Submit through the on-line portal no later than Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 5:00pm.

    If you have any questions or problems, feel free to contact Ann Kroll Lerner, PEP Committee.

All application answers should be your own work.

Three Short Answer Prompts

Please answer each of the three questions below (no more than 100 words for each answer):

1)  Why would you like to participate in the PEP Program?

2)  Please describe a time you have shown resiliency or adaptability.

3)  What does service mean to you and describe an example of this in your life.

Long Answer Prompt

Please answer the following essay prompt (no more than 500 words):

PEP is guided by the eight AHEC focus areas. Please describe your experience and thoughts of at least one of these areas AND include at least one example of how you have personally demonstrated that you value Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

  • Behavioral Health Integration: services that better address the needs of individuals with mental health and substance use conditions, including training for health professionals to address burnout and resiliency;
  • Interprofessional Education/Interprofessional Practice: team-based care delivery, patient-centered care, effective teamwork;
  • Connecting Communities and Supporting Health Professionals/Community Health Workers (CHWs): increase training and development of paraprofessionals who serve as connectors between health professionals and the community;
  • Virtual Learning and Telehealth: leverage technology to improve curricula and community-based experiential training;
  • Social Determinants of Health: economic stability, education, social and community context, health and health care, neighborhood and built environment;
  • Cultural Competency: recognize and address the unique culture, language and health literacy of diverse consumers and communities; diversity, equity, and inclusion;
  • Medical Practice Transformation: quality improvement, care coordination, cost containment, rural health care, primary care, care for underserved/disadvantaged populations, patient-centered care, term-based care;
  • Current and Emerging Health Issues: e.g., opioids and substance use disorders, oral health as part of overall health, oral health integration, COVID-19.

The PEP Committee will review applications and invite about 20 students to an interview in late October/early November. Once final grades are in for the fall semester, we will make our final decisions and invite up to twelve students to join PEP in the new year.

The Committee evaluates applicants based on all the materials, seeking to create a cohort of students who will benefit most from the program.

APPLY NOW

 

Reference Form