Program Overview

Special Master’s Program in Physiology

The Special Master’s Program (SMP) in Physiology is a unique 10-month program designed to help strengthen academic credentials in preparation for applying to U.S. medical schools. The curriculum is designed to provide students with an immersive experience with enrollment in three medical blocks taken alongside first-year (M1) UC medical students.

Program Benefits

• Overview: The program offers a comprehensive education in physiology, with a focus on providing students with a strong foundation for future medical studies.
• Success Rates and Comparisons: Since 2007, nearly 90% of each graduating class has gained acceptance to medical school.
• Faculty & Alumni Student Mentoring: Students have the opportunity to interact with SMP alumni and M1 peer mentors.
• Mark A Snowdon Memorial Award: Available to qualified students.
• Banks Endowed Scholarship Fund: Available to qualified students.

Curriculum

• Overview: The curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in physiology.
• Schedule and Grading: The program is 10 months long, with a focus on immersive learning.
• Scientific Foundations of Medicine: Students take courses alongside M1 medical students.
• Musculoskeletal & Integumentary: Students learn about the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems.
• Interprofessional Education: Students learn about the importance of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare.
• Graduate Medical Physiology: Students take advanced courses in medical physiology.
• Professional Development: Students learn about professional development and career opportunities.
• Statistics & Experimental Design: Students learn about statistical analysis and experimental design.
• Physiology Capstone: Students complete a capstone project in physiology.

Why Cincinnati SMP?

• Since 2007, nearly 90% of each graduating class has gained acceptance to medical school.
• As much as 50% of your time is spent alongside medical students, taking the same med blocks, interacting with SMP alumni and M1 peer mentors.
• UC College of Medicine is a highly ranked, well-respected medical school.
• Cincinnati is an affordable and fun city to live in, with numerous parks and diverse social offerings.

SMP Grads Elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS)

SMP graduates have been elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), a prestigious honor that recognizes excellence in humanism and compassion in healthcare.

SMP Alumnus and current UCCOM M2 student awarded the 2016 Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship

An SMP alumnus and current UCCOM M2 student was awarded the 2016 Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, a prestigious award that recognizes excellence in research and scholarship.