SMDEP 2008 @ DUKE UNIVERSITY

Justin NashHBCU-UP

READING/WRITING

What is SMDEP?

• Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) is a FREE (full tuition, housing, and meals) six-week summer academic enrichment program that offers freshman and sophomore college students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation.

• Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in association with the American Association of Medical Colleges and The American Dental Education Association.

A Day in The Life

A Research Experience

• The Scholars of all 11 SMDEP sites participated in the research of Dr. Joshua Aronson of NYUs Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Aronson says “The overarching subject of my research is all of the psychological reasons that underlie the gap between minorities and whites in terms of academic achievement and enjoyment of school and schooling.”

What can SMDEP do for you?

Dr. Brenda ArmstrongDean of Admissions,SMDEP Director, Associate Professor of Pediatric Cardiology

Dr. Maureen CullinsDirector of the Multicultural Resource Center at Duke Univ.SMDEP Administrator

What can SMDEP do for you?The 11 SMDEP sites:• Case Western Reserve University• Columbia University • Duke University• Howard University• University of California-Los Angeles• University of Louisville• University of Nebraska • University of Virginia • University of Washington • University of Texas-Houston • Yale University

Who is YOU? (Look at US)

Minorities are the Rule, not the exception.

• Other factors considered in the admissions process include whether an applicant:

1. identifies with a group that is racially/ethnically underrepresented in medicine and dentistry (as defined independently by each program site);

2. comes from an economically or educationally disadvantaged background;

3. submits a compelling personal statement and strong letters of recommendation.

The Break Down

• Of 615 applicants to the Duke University site, 80 were chosen (2 from Alcorn).

• We represented approximately 40 institutions, approximately 30 states, approximately 10 ethnic groups, and some 9 countries.

References

• www.smdep.org• www.duke.edu• www.aamc.org• www.nyu.edu