Catalyst Program for Pre-Meds
Welcome to the official University of Oklahoma Catalyst webpage!
Catalyst is a program designed to equip and to empower pre-meds on their journey to medical school. We offer one-on-one mentoring, MCAT preparation assistance, workshops with hands-on simulations and activities, and so much more to students across Oklahoma. We strive to recruit, retain, and graduate medical students from tribal, rural, and/or medically underserved communities who are interested in practicing in these areas following residency training.
Mentorship is the heart of Catalyst. Each pre-medical student who applies and is accepted to Catalyst is matched with a medical student. Mentors and mentees are matched in September, and the relationship is expected to continue through August of the following year. However, mentorships may last well beyond this. The mentorship can be whatever each mentor-mentee pair wants it to be! The expectation is that medical students will reach out to their mentees once a month to offer advice on applying to medical school, including preparing for the MCAT, completing the AMCAS application, and practicing for interviews.
Application opens September 2024.
Catalyst workshops are monthly Zoom meetings that any pre-med can attend! They are hosted by current medical students along with guest speakers. These workshops aim to be informative sessions about a variety of topics (MCAT, application cycle, stress management), as well as a place for pre-meds to ask questions to current medical students. A link is typically sent out at the start of the month to register for the workshop and obtain access to the zoom link.
Pre-med Day debuted on February 24, 2024. This day entails multiple components. An engaging keynote speaker kicks off the day by exploring the state of medicine in the United States and, more specifically, Oklahoma. Students learn about how socioeconomic factors impact health and how physicians ought to be attentive to these elements in treating patients. Pre-medical students get a sneak peek into medical school with guest lectures on subjects in anatomy and physiology, as well as numerous hands-on simulation activities, such as suturing, delivery, and ear exams. It should be noted that free breakfast and lunch are included. On pre-med day, students also receive resources on additional assistance for the MCAT.
