Case Study: AT Still University and the Elson S. Floyd School of Medicine and the Native American Health Sciences at Washington State University
| At AT Still University (ATSU), the Hometown Scholars program encourages community members and community health leaders to endorse and nominate prospective medical, dental, and physician assistant students who will then have a unique, fast-tracked admission process. In essence, the Hometown Scholars endorsement allows ATSU admission committee members to know and prioritize applicants who exemplify the community-minded affinity that ATSU aims to employ. Endorsed applicants will be considered for: (1) School of Osteopathic Medicine, (2) Arizona School of Dental and Oral Health, or (3) Arizona School of Health Sciences. |
| The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University (WSU) was created to “fill critical health care gaps across the state” and has a mission to “solve problems in challenging health care environments across the state of Washington.” It intentionally recruits students with ties to Washington to train there and increase the probability they will become a part of the Washington health workforce. |
| Student Support Services: |
| WSU provides wrap-around support to students throughout all 4 years of their medical education including holistic onboarding, financial education, career advising, coaching, and residency application and match support. Students have access to a dedicated financial advisor who provides financial literacy education, helping to minimize their debt. For the residency application process, students are situated into match teams to prepare for interviews and receive coaching from faculty. |
| Students also receive support through the Native American Health Sciences program at WSU Spokane via access to the Center for Native American Health, which features study rooms, a kitchen, collaborative spaces for activities with other students, and the first-ever indigenous clinical simulation center. They partner with local indigenous communities so students have access to instruction by indigenous experts and healers, providing a curriculum that honors the Native students’ heritage, perspective, and health needs. It also provides an opportunity for both Native and non-Native students to gain important knowledge and skills. |
ATSU = AT Still University; WSU = Washington State University.