The University of Georgia School of Medicine has welcomed 64 students to its inaugural class.
These 64 students come to the School of Medicine after more than 2,000 applications were submitted during a condensed two-week admissions cycle. School officials interviewed 235 prospective students before extending offers of admission.
The inaugural class reflects the School of Medicine’s mission to strengthen Georgia’s physician workforce, with 95% of students being Georgia residents. The class brings together students with strong connections to the state and a shared commitment to improving the health of Georgia’s communities.
Eighty percent of the class received their undergraduate degrees from in-state institutions, with 37.5% graduating from UGA. The class average MCAT score is 514, with an average GPA of 3.85. The class also includes seven first-generation students.
“We are extremely excited and honored to welcome these talented future physicians to join the inaugural class of the School of Medicine,” said Dean Shelley Nuss. “By pursuing their medical education at the University of Georgia, these students chose to be part of a mission to expand access to care and strengthen the physician workforce across our state. Their impact will be felt not only in the communities they serve today but also across Georgia for generations to come.”
The students began their medical school journey on Monday with a week of orientation that includes a tour of the state to learn more about health disparities and outcomes. The tour features visits to higher education institutions and hospitals in Macon, Thomaston, Warner Robins, Dublin and Sandersville where students will meet with hospital leaders, physicians and community partners.
Immersing students in the state’s health outlook during their first week aligns with the School of Medicine’s mission and values to make a healthier Georgia. The state is facing a lingering physician shortage and ranks 39th nationally in active patient care physicians per capita and 41st in public medical students per capita. UGA’s School of Medicine was founded with the mission to combat this shortage by expanding in-state medical education, increasing the number of doctors in the state, strengthening the physician workforce and improving access to care in medically underserved communities.
Looking ahead
The three-day tour is just the beginning of these students’ immersion in the state. Each student will be assigned to one of Georgia’s five regions: Appalachia, Metro Atlanta, Piedmont, Wiregrass and Coastal. Beyond community, these regional groups will also serve as the foundation for four-year capstone projects in which students will further explore their region, partner with the community to identify a real healthcare gap or need, and develop an interdisciplinary solution to be showcased at the end of their fourth year.
During the first year, foundational sciences paired with early clinical experiences are the cornerstone of student learning at the School of Medicine. Students will learn normal physiology through an organ-systems approach and foundational anatomy while also developing clinical skills for becoming a doctor. Six curricular threads run throughout the program at the School of Medicine: technology in medicine, systems-based practice, evidence-based medicine, team-based healthcare, serving Georgia and beyond, and ethics, professionalism and professional identity formation. Students will also gain clinical experience through work at the Athens Free Clinic.
Through the curriculum, research, service and clinical care, students will explore nine Georgia healthcare challenges: cardiovascular disease, diabetes and metabolic disease, cancer, maternal and infant mortality, mental and cognitive health, trauma, healthcare workforce shortage, infectious and zoonotic disease, and respiratory health.
The medical school celebrates its next milestone in August with the White Coat Ceremony, and December marks the opening of the new medical education and research building. The 93,000-square-foot building will serve as the school’s primary educational facility and will include large, active-learning classroom spaces, an anatomy lab, a simulation center, a clinical skills center, individual and group study options, a student lounge and well-being spaces.