To become a medical doctor, you’ll need what it takes to get into medical school. Augustana’s medical school placement rates are excellent, above the national average by about 50%.
Augustana’s pre-medicine major will prepare you to take the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) after your junior year, guided by your faculty advisor.
We also will prepare you to be the most versatile, ethical, excellent medical professional you can be, throughout your life in practice.
What you'll learn
Disciplinary knowledge
Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.
Critical thinking and information literacy
Judge and construct arguments, raise questions and define problems. Make a conclusion based on evidence.
Communication competence
Read and listen carefully. Express ideas (writing or speaking) suited to the audience.
Intercultural competence
Understand real and imaginary similarities and differences. Use more than one perspective to view issues.
Quantitative literacy
Interpret, represent and summarize information. Use math and statistics to solve problems.
You will have a strong foundation in the sciences, observing and practicing what you learn. Pre-med students gain clinical experience at local hospitals, private practice clinics, rehabilitation centers and/or geriatric care facilities.
You’ll also have opportunities outside, even far outside the Quad Cities, such as volunteering health care at remote clinics in Central America.
Beyond science curriculum requirements, medical schools can look more closely at applicants with a broader, well-rounded education. Taking courses in other areas of interest, you’ll learn more about the complexities of being human — developing greater empathy, cultural awareness and communication skills.
Distinctions
• Among the high-tech laboratories in Augustana’s recently expanded Hanson Hall of Science are individual labs for anatomy and physiology, cell biology, genetics, and hands-on experience working with human cadavers — a rare opportunity for undergraduates, giving our pre-med majors an edge for medical school.
• The outstanding faculty in Augustana’s Department of Pre-Medicine includes a pre-med advisor who works closely with students throughout all four years, helping them to compile the best portfolio for their medical school applications.
• Augustana pre-medicine majors can gain clinical experience through summer internships and research assistantships — including the prestigious summer research internship program at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, the largest medical complex in the world. Students conduct research with mentors who are leaders in areas ranging from cancer to molecular genetics.
Recent graduates
A few recent graduates and their paths so far:
Duy Nguyen '20 is enrolled in a Ph.D. program in biology and biomedical sciences at Harvard University.
Aditi Marella '20 is a first-year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine.
Thom Pham '19 is a master thesis student at the Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Essen University Hospital, Germany.
Wade Smith '17 is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria.
Hunter Winstead '15 practices medicine at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Samantha McGreer Winstead '15 is an internist in Kansas City, Mo.
Joshua Eisenberg '14 is a fourth-year resident at Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago.
Eric Pease '13 is a physician at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Manisha Kumar '13 specializes in family medicine in Davenport, Iowa for Genesis Health Group.
“Peak experience: Serving as an EMT during the summer of 2020.”Read More
“I heard great things about Augie. Its pre-medicine program seemed like one of the best.”Read More
“Dr. Harrington and Dr. Flaherty are two reasons why I was accepted into medical school with their letters of recommendation.”Read More