Why FIRST?

Benefits of Participating in the FIRST Track:

Financial

For those accelerated, students would receive one less year of medical school which means there is one less year of paying for medical school.  Students can save thousands of dollars with an accelerated program.  In addition, once FIRST scholars enter the practice phase of the program after residency in a rural or underserved community, they can be matched up with loan repayment programs.

For those committed to North Carolina, rural practice, and primary care, there are opportunities to apply for dedicated scholarships, further reducing the cost of medical school tuition. These scholarships are available for both accelerated and non-accelerated FIRST track students.

Community

With a handful of scholars in each class of the program, students can form a community of like-minded individuals.  Scholars also get the opportunity to work closely with the program director, faculty from various primary case specialties, and coordinator for more individualized attention and assistance.

Early and Longitudinal Clinical Experience

All FIRST scholars start spending regular time in clinics during the spirng of their MS1 year and will continue this throughout the foundation phase. Additionally, during the summer they will spend around 8 weeks in an depth community based clinical experience. These clinical experiences during foundation phase will be in various specialties which will allow students to explore their future specialty of choice, regardless of their degree of commitment to the specialty.

Dedicated Community Based Curriculum

All FIRST scholars will receive teaching throughout their foundation phase which will prepare them for early clinical exposure and sync with their current foundation phase teaching topics. Additionally, during their Application phase and during their summer between MS1 and MS2 years, they will received specialized didactics related to community medicine, rural and underserved health in North Carolina, leadership trainings, and specialized teachings regarding clinical tools, such as point of care ultrasound, in rural and underserved clinical settings. This longitudinal community based teaching will both help to create relationships within the cohort of students and connections to faculty with a passion and current practice in medically underserved communities.

Ongoing Support

While support from the FIRST Track’s leadership is more hands-on while a FIRST scholar is still in medical school, that support does not end with graduation, as opportunities will exist for connections with career possibilities in the future, National Health Service Corps, and the NC Rural Center, in addition to UNC based rural outpatient and inpatient clinical practice sites.

Specific Benefits for Accelerated Students:

Early Residency Exposure

For those FIRST scholars who are committed to specialties and are participating in the 3 year accelerated program, they will do most of their clinical experiences in their selected specialty and at the location of their directed pathway residency program.  This allows the students to form relationships with the doctors before they even become residents, as well as learn how that residency location operates.

Who Is a Good Fit for FIRST?  Someone Who:

Is Committed to Serving North Carolina

The FIRST Program’s goal is to serve the state of North Carolina and its residents and we want students who are committed to that as well.  Students who call North Carolina home, whether they were born here or they visited and fell in love, are motivated to provide top quality care to the state’s residents.

Cares About Underserved Populations

There is a physician shortage in North Carolina – particularly in rural and underserved communities.  FIRST is addressing this shortage by preparing its scholars to practice in these communities.  Students who are passionate about and dedicated to serving these underserved populations are a great fit for the program.

Has a Passion for Primary Care

The FIRST Track aims to build the primary care workforce in rural and medically underserved areas of North Carolina and thus aim to work with students who are interested in: family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, medicine-pediatrics, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and psychiatry.

For students who know exactly what type of medicine they want to practice, the program provides great opportunities to experience what this would look like early on and equips them to best serve the underserved populations in North Carolina.

Strives to Make a Difference

At its foundation, the FIRST Track strives to make a difference and reduce medical disparities in North Carolina. Data shows that medical students who are exposed to training and in depth and longitudinal clinical experiences during medical school and residency are more prepared and more likely to practice in these spaces. With this, the First Track aims to impact future physicians in NC, giving students the opportunity to explore their passions and goals early to confirm their commitment and future ideas of practice.

Our FIRST scholars want to serve people living in rural and medically underserved areas  of North Carolina by providing exemplary healthcare to areas that often have limited access and options for quality healthcare.

Who Is a Good Fit for an Accelerated Pathway?

All the above characteristics also apply for those who desire an accelerated pathways. We seek students who come into medical school or develop the following desires during their MS1 year:

Knows Their Specialty of Choice

The FIRST Track currently offers a directed pathway into affiliated NC residency programs for six specialties: family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, medicine-pediatrics, pediatrics, and psychiatry.  For students who know exactly what type of medicine they want to practice, the accelerated pathway provides great opportunities to experience what this would look like early on and equips them to best serve the underserved populations in North Carolina.

Wants to Reach Their Full Potential Earlier

The program attracts students who want to be personally developed and inspired to reach their full potential in three years instead of four.  Within a streamlined and efficient curriculum, students are able to get a world class education, an abundance of experience in their chosen specialty, and hands-on training to ensure they are well prepared to enter residency followed by practice one year early.