MU Medical School Agreement
This spring, Missouri Western joined a program with the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine in an effort to bring more doctors to serve in rural areas.
MU’s School of Medicine’s Bryant Scholars Pre-Admissions Program encourages future physicians to practice in underserved rural areas by allowing undergraduates interested in rural medicine to earn pre-admission to its medical school. The program had agreements with six higher education institutions in the state since it began 20 years ago, and Missouri Western joined six more colleges and universities in the agreement.
Now, Missouri Western students finishing their sophomore year have the option of applying for pre-admission to MU’s School of Medicine if they meet the criteria. Dr. Jason Baker, professor of biology, is Missouri Western’s program coordinator.
The effort to expand the MU program came from the Area Health Education Centers, and Dr. Baker credits the local group with helping Missouri Western be included in the new agreements.
One benefit to students, he said, was that they will be among a smaller pool of applicants for MU’s medical school. And, earning medical school admission at the end of their sophomore year takes a lot of pressure off them when they are ready to graduate.
The agreement also gives Missouri Western another recruiting tool for outstanding students.
With the addition of MU, Missouri Western now has pre-admission agreements with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and an early- matriculation and early-admission agreement with Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience.
Ensworth Medical Scholarship Fund 114
Missouri Western students who are interested in medical school have a better opportunity for scholarships, thanks to a change in the Ensworth Medical Scholarship Fund.
The fund had previously been set up through U.S. Bank in St. Joseph, Mo. to offer loan monies to students in medical school. A legal change for tax purposes has now placed the money in the Missouri Western State University Foundation and will now be offered as scholarships instead of loans. Additionally, only Missouri Western students are now eligible to apply.
“We will now be able reward some of our strongest students,” said Dr. Jason Baker, professor of biology and coordinator of the program. “It is a great benefit.”