ABOUT THE GPPA
MEDICAL SCHOLARS
BA-MD PROGRAM The University of Illinois College of
Medicine Guaranteed Professional
Program Admissions (GPPA) Medical
Scholars Program (MSP) commenced in
1996 and is a combined BA-MD program.
Students admitted to this highly
selective program are guaranteed a seat
in the College of Medicine upon
successful completion of the
requirements. The GPPA Medical Scholars
Program focuses on the learners'
undergraduate studies and is dedicated
to enhancing skills characteristic of
scholarship, inquiry and life long learning
necessary for professional leadership in
medicine. The purpose of the Medical
Scholars Program is to educate leaders of
the future, capable of critical thinking
and analysis who are active participants
and solvers of medical and social problems.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the GPPA Medical Scholars program, a series of symposia with discussions of the evolution of medical education, both pre-medical and post-graduate, and our program over the last several years.
Symposium 1: The Scope of Medicine and the Social Contract
In this symposium, the history and development of medical education and the academic medical center will be discussed in the context of the evolution of the social contract.
Thursday, 10/14/21, 5pm-7:30pm, via Zoom
- Dr. Donald Chambers, Director, Medical Scholars BA-MD Program and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Physiology and Biophysics, Medical Education, University of Illinois College of Medicine
- Dr. Jordan Cohen, President Emeritus of the Association of American Medical Colleges and Chair Emeritus of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for Humanism and Professor Emeritus of Medicine
- Dr. Kenneth Ludmerer, Mabel Dorn Reeder Distinguished Professor in the History of Medicine and Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis
- Dr. Mark Rosenblatt, Executive Dean and Charles I. Young Chair in Ocular Research Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois College of Medicine
Symposium 2: Meeting the Challenges of Diversity and Excellence in Academic Medicine
This symposium will focus on the challenges of building a diverse medical community in the context of excellence and social justice.
Thursday, 11/18/21, 5pm-7:30pm, via Zoom
- Dr. Michael Amiridis, Chancellor and Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Dr. Philip Gruppuso, Associate Dean Emeritus of Medical Education and Past Director, BA-MD Program and Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University
- Dr. Kenneth Ludmerer, Mabel Dorn Reeder Distinguished Professor in the History of Medicine and Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis
- Dr. Alicia Monroe, Provost and Senior Vice President, Academic and Faculty Affairs, Baylor College of Medicine
- Dr. Donald Wilson, AAMP Founder/Executive Director, John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor, Dean Emeritus, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Vice President for Medical Affairs, Emeritus, University of Maryland
Symposium 3: Building Excellence in the Continuum of Medical Education
This symposium will discuss evolving core values, curriculum, themes, and strategies in the continuum of medical education.
Thursday, 1/20/22, 5pm-7:30pm, via Zoom
- Dr. Rita Charon, Chair, Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics and Professor of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
- Dr. Raymond Curry, Senior Associate Dean for Educational Affairs and Professor of Medicine and Medical Education, University of Illinois College of Medicine
- Dr. Jules Dienstag, Carl W. Walter Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
- Dr. Robert Perlman, Former Associate Dean, Biological Sciences Division, and Professor Emeritus, Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago
Symposium 4: The BA-MD Experience
This symposium will bring together a number of national leaders in BA-MD education to discuss integration of education and core values while meeting specific institutional missions and goals.
Thursday, 2/24/22, 5-7pm, via Zoom
- Dr. Donald Chambers, Director, Medical Scholars BA-MD Program and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Physiology and Biophysics, Medical Education, University of Illinois College of Medicine
- Dr. Aarati Didwania, Professor of Medicine and Medical Education, Director, STAR (Survivors Taking Action and Responsibility) Program, Director of Faculty Development and Mentoring - Clinical/Education, and Past Director, Honors Program in Medical Education, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- Dr. Philip Gruppuso, Associate Dean Emeritus of Medical Education and Past Director, BA-MD Program and Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University
- Dr. Brenda Rogers, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, UMKC School of Medicine
- Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, Vice President and Executive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, HSC Endowed Professorship for Equity in Health, Professor of Family & Community Medicine, and Executive Director, UNM SOM Combined BA/MD Degree Program, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Medical scholars homecoming weekend celebration - POSTPONED
Unfortunately, as a result of the increase in spread of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our in person celebration until we can all gather safely. While we make this decision with a heavy heart, the health and safety of our community is of utmost importance to us. We look forward to the future when we can safely celebrate the success of our program together.
The mission of the GPPA Medical Scholars BA-
MD Program (MSP) facilitates an excellent undergraduate
education in liberal arts and
sciences with specific attention
to the scope of medicine, social
justice and the evolution of the
social contract to a group of
students who have
demonstrated potential and interest in a life in medicine.