Program curriculum
My passion for becoming a physician is fueled by my innate desire to have a tangible impact on the medical field. There is no better place than Detroit to examine and address health disparity and health inequity issues. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are two major medical conditions afflicting the residents of Detroit, many of who lack the financial capability and adequate access to maintain healthy lifestyles.
-Meyer Gershater-Wayne Med-Direct cohort 2017
Wayne Med-Direct curriculum
In addition to the individual academic curricula (major/minor/pre-medicine/honors) students pursue for Bachelor's degree completion at Wayne State University, Wayne Med-Direct undergraduate training curriculum is created to prepare students for the academic and professional rigor of the medical school and shape them by providing guidance, knowledge, training opportunities to become future leaders in medicine. All Wayne Med-Direct students must follow this training curriculum during the four years of their undergraduate term and routine evaluations will determine the students' success in pursuing the curriculum.
The Wayne Med-Direct Program is not an accelerated program.*
[Updated program curriculum will be published here by March 1, 2022]
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What does "pipeline" mean?
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) defines "pipeline" as a program is directed at students from selected level(s) of the educational continuum (middle school-level through college) and aims to support their becoming qualified applicants to a medical school or, depending at the level of the program, to another health professions program or a STEM/biomedical graduate program.
2. What majors can Wayne Med-Direct students pursue for their bachelor's degree?
Wayne Med-Direct students can select from over 40 different majors offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS).
3. Is it possible to pursue a second major? Can I pursue a minor?
Wayne Med-Direct students MUST pursue a minor (as their secondary discipline of study) from any department that offers a minor at Wayne State, as required by CLAS for degree completion.
Alternatively, in lieu of a minor, Wayne Med-Direct students can choose to pursue a double major or concurrent degrees given that they take the feasibility of completing all requirements in four years into consideration and outline the plan of work early on with the help of respective advisors.
4. Can I transfer the college credits I earned in high school to Wayne State?
Yes, you can transfer college credits earned in high school to Wayne State to be placed in advanced classes. Please visit transfer credit webpage for more information.
5. How many credits do I need to take as a Wayne Med-Direct scholar per semester?
Students must be enrolled as full-time students (minimum 12 credits) in both Fall and Winter semesters. Generally, most Wayne-Med Direct students will be enrolled as part-time students (minimum 6 credits) during the Spring/Summer semesters.
6. What extracurricular activities do Wayne Med-Direct students engage in? Do students get spare time to participate in them?
The WMD locked plan of work is a key component to ensuring that all students have the necessary balance in their schedules to achieve their goals.
Wayne Med-Direct students take part in a variety of extracurricular activities such as sports, health care, community service, student organizations and more. Please read current students' profiles on this website to get a feel for what they do. Amidst the rigorous curricula they follow, our students make time to engage in extracurricular activities to 1) follow their passion; 2) develop transferrable skills; and 3) build their resume and professional network.
7. Do all Wayne Med-Direct students take classes together?
Wayne Med-Direct students take classes pertaining to the curricula of their majors/minors, so they do not attend all of the same classes and have different class schedules. Our students take classes with other Wayne State students and there are no reserved classes offered to them.
The Wayne Med-Direct Seminar, HON 4950, is a learning community that each Wayne Med-Direct undergradate student will attend each semester during their time in the program.
8. Does Wayne Med-Direct provide a support system offering mentoring and guidance to students in order for them to complete degree requirements, fulfill scholarship requirements and meet program expectations? Are there regular check-ups on their progress?
Yes. Wayne Med-Direct provides a support system for all students to ensure that they meet expectations and ultimately become leaders in medicine. One way that the program offers support is through the Wayne Med-Direct Seminar, HON 4950. This learning community was created for peers support each other in academics and professional development. Students are exposed to leaders in academia, research and medicine to enhance professional development and leadership skills.
Another way Wayne Med-Direct students are supported is by their first-year Peer Mentors. Each incoming student is a assigned a peer mentor, who is an upperclassmen in the program. With weekly one-on-one meetings, students' academic progress, health, well-being, and professional growth are regularly assessed. Any concerns noticed are intervened early, and support is provided to help the student resolve the underlying issues.