University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Introduction

This public, state-sponsored medical school is located on the university’s 1200 acre campus in the Springhill section of Mobile. It occupies 13 buildings, including a 400-bed Medical Center, which contains a Level I trauma center. The first class was admitted in 1973 and 64 applicants are enrolled annually. A 150-acre park containing recreational facilities lies adjacent to the campus. The first 2 years are taught in the main campus in the Medical Sciences Building; the last 2 clinical years are spent the University of South Alabama hospitals and clinics.

Academics

4-year semimodern. First and second years: The student is primarily concerned with the basic biomedical sciences. To give these studies more meaning, provision is made for student contact with patients during these preclinical years. Third year: Clerkships provide training in most of the basic problems with which patients present themselves. Students learn to apply scientific principles to the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease. Seminars, conferences, and clinical rounds with members of the teaching staff are important in giving the student a rounded perspective of human illness. Fourth year: Mostly elective in order to provide each student the opportunity to choose a program best suited to his or her individual needs. Each department makes available to the student a spectrum of general and special courses from which the student selects a minimum of 36 weeks of study, with the advice and approval of a faculty advisor. Research may be carried as an elective. Off-campus studies (local, elsewhere in the United States, and in other countries) may be elected with the prior approval of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, a departmental chair, and faculty advisor. Elective work need not be confined to the senior year, but may be carried out for no credit whenever possible during prior academic years.

Unique Programs

Minority admissions:An active recruitment program is coordinated by the Office of Student Affairs. Other degree programs: Combined MD-PhD degree programs are offered in the basic medical sciences.

Admissions

Required courses include the basic premedical sciences, English, 1 year of college mathematics, and 1 year of humanities. Highly recommended is a course in calculus. Three years of college is required, but a bachelor’s is preferred. Nonresidents should have competitive MCAT and grade point averages to be considered for an interview.Applicants are urged to take the MCAT in the spring of the year of the application and to have a basic science requirement completed when applying. This will facilitate prompt processing of the application. Transfer and advanced standing: None.

Students

Teaching: The basic sciences are housed in the Medical Sciences Building on the 1200-acre university campus in the western section of Mobile. Clinical teaching is conducted at the University of South Alabama Medical Center, USA Knollwood, and USA Doctors Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Other: Other facilities include the Moorer Clinical Sciences Building, University of SouthAlabama Cancer Center, Primate Research Laboratory, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Family Practice Center, Mastin Building, Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, and Psychiatric Building. Library: The Biomedical Library contains more than 65,000 volumes and receives about 2500 periodicals. Housing: Furnished residence halls on campus are available for unmarried students. A university-owned subdivision immediately adjacent to campus offers housing for both married and single students.

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