Early Assurance Applications for 2024 Post Bacc & Undergrad cohort  Are now Closed

*Applications for Fall 2025 will open October 7, 2024

Want to become a physician?

• Are you from Ohio?
• Do you come from a disadvantaged background or whose school district tested in the lower 50th percentile on state standardized testing? 
• While in school, were you eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program for two or more years? 
• Do you come from an underserved background or from a low-income household?
• Are you the first to attend college in your family, veteran or graduate of the foster care system?

If you answered ‘YES’ to at least 2 or more of these questions and have an interest in practicing in a medically underserved community, then you may be eligible for the Pathways to Practice program.

COMING IN 2025 AND 2026: INTRODUCING THE NEOMED TRANSFORMATIONAL YEAR

Beginning with early assurance students matriculating to NEOMED in 2025 and fully adopted for 2026, early assurance students joining NEOMED from cooperating undergraduate schools will complete a one-year master’s degree program of study at NEOMED prior to entry into the NEOMED M.D. program. The undergraduate early assurance plan will consist of a combined five-year master’s plus M.D. experience distinctively designed to prepare future physicians to meet the challenges facing the practice of medicine in the 21st Century. Students demonstrating complete mastery of pre-medical curriculum along with corresponding MCAT results will have an exciting set of one-year master’s degree choices from which to select prior to starting the M.D. program. Each one-year master’s program will focus on creating transformational physician leaders in one of three areas. Students with early assurance privileges who are continuing to establish their medical school readiness will have the opportunity to complete a year in transition in a NEOMED medical school foundational master’s program prior to starting medical school at NEOMED.

Watch for details about the new transformational year for early assurance undergraduate students starting at NEOMED in 2025 and 2026 as they roll out this fall!

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* Applications for Berkman/ Jackson Fellow are accepted on a rolling basis.

Regardless of pathway, students in the program will complete medical school prerequisites while also participating in or having access to the following: 

• Urban Health certificate (completion of an 18-20 credit hour certificate) 
• Mentoring from physicians, advisors and program tutors 
• MCAT preparation resource 
• Job shadowing opportunities 

In addition to specific program resources, students are also encouraged to take advantage of other Cleveland State University pre professional advising services provided by the Career Development and Exploration Department. 

 

 

Staff 

Our experienced staff is dedicated to helping students navigate the path to medical school. 

Dr. Timothy McKnight, MD, MSHM
Executive Director 
t.j.mcknight78@csuohio.edu

 

Toni Speed, M.Ed.
Program Manager & Advisor
a.l.speed@csuohio.edu

 

Mrs. Martha Flowers, M.Ed.
Student Success Advisor
m.a.flowers@csuohio.edu

 

Prof Todd Fennimore, MA, MPA, MA, ABD & C-CHW
Urban Health Engagement Manager
t.fennimore@csuohio.edu 

 

Prof. Robert Banks, MS
Program Tutor 
r.c.banks06@csuohio.edu

 

Shermelle Schaffer, MSM & MSCM 
Community Outreach Coordinator 
s.schaffer@csuohio.edu