ETSU Program Will Guarantee Admission At Quillen College Of Medicine

From East Tennessee State University:

January 19, 2022

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – When the fall 2022 semester begins, a handful
of East Tennessee State University freshmen will be part of a new early assurance
program that guarantees their eventual admission to the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine.

“This is an unbelievably exciting opportunity to partner on the creation of a premiere
program at ETSU,” said Dr. Christopher Keller, dean of the Honors College and senior international officer.

A collaboration between Quillen and the Honors College, the program will accept eight
freshmen for the fall. Of those students, five will be guaranteed admission at Quillen
after they earn a bachelor’s degree. The remaining three will be alternates, who will
receive the same educational opportunities and funding as the others and will be selected
if one of the five is unable to accept a seat at Quillen.

“This new program is a win-win for ETSU and for the students who will become a part
of it,” said Dr. Bill Block, vice president for clinical affairs and dean of Quillen
College of Medicine. “These students will have the opportunity to connect with the
university and its mission during their undergraduate studies. This experience will
give them a strong foundation for their next step at Quillen College of Medicine.”

Focused heavily on experiential learning, leadership and problem solving, the program
will also have a study abroad component. Job shadowing and internship opportunities
will also be available. Participating students are free to major in whatever they
like, though some science-based courses will be required, Keller said.

“Admission to Quillen is competitive. For example, last year we had more than 3,000
applicants for just 79 spots,” said Doug Taylor, associate dean for admissions and
records at Quillen. “Likewise, the ETSU Honors College draws top-notch students who
are motivated, dedicated and diverse in their backgrounds and interests, so this new
program is a great fit for us. We look forward to meeting the inaugural members of
the program this year and watching them progress in their education at ETSU.”

Applications for this cycle are due in late February, and Keller said the university
hopes to make formal offers to selected students in late March or early April. To
learn more about the program’s requirements and application process, etsu.edu/honors/early-assurance/default.php.

This press release was produced by East Tennessee State University. The views expressed are the author's own.