PRE-MEDICAL CURRICULUM

The pre-medical program is designed to prepare students for admission to colleges of medicine.  Minimum science requirements include the following:

                                                                 four semesters of biology 

                                                                 five semesters of chemistry

                                                                 two semesters of physics

                                                                 one semester of calculus

The remainder of the four-year curriculum consists of courses which fulfill the requirements of the student’s major, general education courses and electives.

SUCCESS OF THE PRE-MEDICAL PROGRAM

The acceptance rate of Kentucky Wesleyan applicants to medical school is excellent. Approximately ninety percent of

students who successfully complete the pre-medical program gain admission to medical school. These graduates perform

very well in their medical programs and proceed on to successful medical careers. Included among the medical schools

attended by these alumni are the following:

QUOTES FROM MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

“My academic preparation for medical school at Kentucky Wesleyan College was outstanding. Not only were the professors of my pre-med courses knowledgeable and dedicated, they were always available and amicable. I believe I benefited almost as much from their mentoring as from their instruction.” Andrea Hardison, B.S. ’01 Medical Student University of Kentucky

 

“My graduation prepared me very well for medical school. I was so well prepared I finished fourth in class after my first year.” Robert S. Humble, M.D. ’84 Orthopedic Surgeon Charlotte, NC

“Three professors at Kentucky Wesleyan loved me, encouraged me and influenced me greatly in making the decision to go to medical school and I am forever grateful to these teachers and always commend them when I tell my life story.” Judy Mills, M.D. ’73 Pediatric Emergency Medicine Atlanta, GA

Graduates of the Pre-Medical Program

Dr. Ernest Abernathy ’55 Dr. Keith Applegate ’80 Dr. Debra L. Bunger ’79 Dr. Brent E. Cochran ’78 Dr. Robert Dalzell, Jr. ’68 Dr. James D. Duncan ’93 Dr. James Engleman, Jr. ’81 Dr. William T. Faith ’73 Dr. Barbara Mann Freeman ’70 Dr. John Herschell Freer ’60 Dr. Gregory Leon Fuqua ’88 Dr. Troy L. Haleman ’93 Dr. Amy Hayden ’97 Dr. Kristi Wright Horlander ’91 Dr. Paige Fenton Huls ’84 Dr. Robert Samuel Humble ’84 Dr. Robert T. Johnson ’59 Dr. Joel A. Johnston ’78 Dr. Ray Charles Kennedy ’82

Dr. Arba Kenner ’74 Dr. Bernie F. Kennetz ’75 Dr. Joseph William Lanese ’85 Dr. Abel L. Lau ’82 Dr. Jeffrey Thomas Lekson ’84 Dr. Jeff Link ’81 Dr. James Newton Luckett, Jr. ’92 Dr. Gwendolyn F. Ford Lynch ’86 Dr. Alex T. Makris ’67 Dr. Larry T. McClure ’71 Dr. Elgan Lee Miller ’67 Dr. J. Thomas Miller, Jr. ’56 Dr. Judy W. Mills ’73 Dr. Donna Nall ’76 Dr. Dennis Newberry ’79 Dr. C. Kenneth Peters ’57 Dr. T. Kevin Rice ’81 Dr. Katie Richardson ’97 Dr. Arthur Rivard ’80

Dr. Cheryl Rivard ’81 Dr. Kenneth Sample ’80 Dr. W. Chad Statton ’96 Dr. Steve Syler ’70 Dr. Cynthia Abbott Thomasson ’87 Dr. Ron Tyler ’80 Dr. Marc Ward ’95 Dr. Paige Ward ’95 Dr. David R. Watkins ’72 Dr. Patrice Webster ’80 Dr. Kenneth Westerfield ’65 Dr. Traci J. Westerfield ’88 Dr. Connie Gayle White ’76 Dr. John White ’84 Dr. David L. Wilkey ’76 Dr. Douglas Ray Wilson ’83 Dr. G. Edwin Wilson ’85 Dr. Mark A. Wyant ’81

“As I was preparing to apply to medical school, Kentucky Wesleyan and its faculty provided ongoing guidance and support. During medical school, the academic and interpersonal skills Wesleyan nurtured helped carry me through.” Jeffrey T. Lekson, M.D. ’84 Ambulatory Care -Internal Medicine, V. A. Medical Center Cincinnati, OH

 

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Each pre-medical student upon entry into Kentucky Wesleyan is assigned an academic advisor to assist in developing the academic schedule leading to the successful completion of the program. The Pre-Medical Advisory Committee complements the academic advisor and assists students in submitting applications for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and to the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). The Committee provides letters of recommendation to the medical schools to which the student applies.

“I was quite apprehensive entering medical school - could I compete with Yale, Harvard, Michigan and Johns Hopkins graduates? I did, I could and I surpassed most thanks to Kentucky Wesleyan College’s education.” Ernest Abernathy, M.D. ’55 Surgery Practice (Retired) Atlanta, GA

“My undergraduate education at Kentucky Wesleyan well prepared me for medical school, not only academically but also from humanitarian and ethical points of view.” Cheryl Reinhart Rivard, M.D. ’81 Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Danville, Lancaster and Stanford, KY

 

SCHOLARSHIPS AND ASSISTANTSHIPS

Kentucky Wesleyan has an extensive program of academic scholarships. Many pre-medical students received either the Presidents, Faculty or Trustee scholarships or the four-year full tuition James Graham Brown Scholarship. Advanced pre-medical students frequently serve as student assistants in the chemistry and biology departments. This service fulfills important roles in these departments and provides valuable learning experiences for students.

“The excellent dedicated faculty and small class size contributed immeasurably to my undergraduate education.” Arba Kenner, M.D. ’74 Obstetrics and Gynecology, White, Kenner and Scott, PSC Frankfort, KY

 

KENTUCKY WESLEYAN FACULTY

The faculty in the Division of Natural Science has many years of involvement in pre-medical education. All faculty members have Ph.D. degrees and have a diversity of expertise in such areas as organic and biochemistry, microbiology, inorganic chemistry, ecology and environmental science, mathematics, analytical chemistry, anatomy and neurobiology and physics. Although several science faculty members are actively involved in research activities, their primary interest is quality teaching in a liberal arts environment.

“Kentucky Wesleyan College’s education provided me with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in medical school. The focus on critical thinking skills and the coursework in histology, immunology and biochemistry has given me an edge in my studies.” Bernie Eskridge, B.S. ’00 Medical Student University of Louisville

 

“I would not trade my educational experience at Kentucky Wesleyan for any other, and it made a huge difference in my life’s work: medicine.” Gregory L. Fuqua, M.D. ’88 Family Practice Frankfort, KY

“My educational experience in the Department of Chemistry and other departments at Kentucky Wesleyan was the foundation upon which all of my subsequent accomplishments were based. The individual attention provided by the professors at KWC fostered an excitement about learning which has been sustained throughout my career.” G. Edwin Wilson, M.D. ’85 Partner,  JLR Medical Group Orlando, FL

 

“Training of such quality that I was the first student to be accepted into medical school at the end of three years.” C. Kenneth Peters, M.D.  ’57 Family Physician - Primary Care President of Kentucky Medical Association, 1998 Louisville, KY

 

VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND RESEARCH

Students are strongly encouraged to perform significant amounts of volunteer service, preferably in some health care environment. Shadowing of health care providers is extremely important and is coordinated through the Western Kentucky region of the Area Health Education Center. Many pre-medical students participate in undergraduate research projects on campus. Each year several students are accepted into summer undergraduate research programs at major universities. All of these activities lend support to the student’s application to medical school.

 

“Proud to have been instrumental with Dr. Magnuson in establishing the pre-professional curriculum and program.” Larry T. McClure, M.D. PLLC ’71 Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians Leitchfield, KY

 

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Last modified: Mar 17, 2003