Accelerated Pathways at Pitt Med

Primary Care Accelerated Track (PCAT)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Primary Care Accelerated Track (PCAT) was created in 2023 during the development of the Three Rivers Curriculum as a joint program between the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) and UPMC Medical Education to meet the growing need for primary care physicians across the country. This program allows accepted students to finish medical school in just three years and be eligible to enter one of UPMC’s primary care residency programs if all requirements are met. 

To learn more about the program, check out this informational session run by PCAT program director, Amanda Casagrande, MD.

Program Highlights:

• Summer instruction tailored to Primary Care
  • Before your first year of medical school, you’ll participate in a four-week credited course focused on patient care, community medicine, and health systems science where you’ll have the opportunity for hands on learning from day one
  • Between your first and second year of medical school, you’ll engaged in a credited experience that expands on your knowledge of patient care, community medicine, and health systems science through a partnership with Bridging the Gaps Pittsburgh, research, and didactic instruction.
• Hands on experience with patients from the start of medical school
  • Students in the PCAT program participate in a longitudinal clinical experience at their future residency site from day one.
  • You will build your clinical skills quickly and meaningfully under the director of some of the best primary care physicians in the Pittsburgh area
• Excellent mentorship at both the med school and residency levels
  • Each PCAT student is under the mentorship of faculty at both the school of medicine and their future residency site.
  • All PCAT students work with a longitudinal coach and advisory dean for professional development and boards preparation.
• Built in community from the start
  • As a PCAT student, you are part of team. Upper classmen and faculty serve as mentors and colleagues as you navigate your accelerated journey.
• Pitt Med Magazine: A new accelerated MD program gets primary care physicians into the community faster, where they are sorely needed.

Residency Programs:

• UPMC St. Margaret Family Medicine Residency
• UPMC Shadyside Family Medicine Residency
• UPMC McKeesport Family Medicine Residency
• Pediatric Residency Program at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
• Internal Medicine Residency Program of UPMC 

How are students chosen?

To be accepted into this competitive program, learners will have to demonstrate not only the usual UPSOM prerequisites (academic excellence, service/extracurricular, commitment to medicine, teamwork, leadership ability, and resilience), but also special qualities that predict success in primary care:

• Commitment to the specialty
• Long-term career plans
• Maturity
• Compassion/empathy
• Reflective ability
• Ability to form ongoing relationships
• Interest in working with underserved communities
• Flexibility

How do I apply?

Admissions Process

• Students who wish to apply to PCAT should proceed with the usual application and interview process with UPSOM.
• If invited to interview at UPSOM, you can then access the secondary application to PCAT which will include a special essay and identification of the specialty track of interest (internal medicine, pediatrics, or family medicine). This application closes January 15^th!
• A selection committee at each residency program reviews the applications and invites appropriate candidates to interview virtually by specialty.
• Virtual Interview Days take place in February or March.
• Each program ranks candidates and offers are extended.

Matriculation

• Admitted students will be expected to commit in early May for a matriculation date of July 1st, to allow them to begin the summer curriculum before the start of the traditional first year. 

Financial Aid

• Financial aid awards would only be expected to cover three years of the MD curriculum; this could be extended if a student ends up needing a fourth year outside of PCAT.
• Click here for the application!

Our Students

 

What will the curriculum be like?

PCAT will allow enrolled students to complete the MD curriculum in three years before beginning residency.  This acceleration will be accomplished by altering some of the requirements, adding important content to earlier phases (especially health systems and clinical work), and enhancing advising and assessment to allow for appropriate academic progression and career development.  Key adaptations will include:

• One-month course on community health, clinical skills, and health care systems in July, preceding the start of the traditional first-year curriculum
• Flex week activities related to health systems science (teamwork, quality)
• Two-month course in the summer between first and second years, focusing on social medicine, longitudinal care, ethics, the EMR, and more
• Clinical continuity experiences running for all three years of the MD curriculum (weekly half-day experience at the site they will be doing their residency), with increasing responsibility starting with medical assistant functioning, moving towards interviewing, exams, and management
• Research experience, with a scholarly project focusing on health systems science, that could include summer research between first and second years
• Pre-clinical instruction at the same pace as your 4-year classmates
• Clerkship experiences at their future residency site, with modifications of clerkship time based on specialty

Students will not be required to complete an Integrated Life Science course but must do an acting internship prior to residency.

Students will NOT be able to participate in PCAT at the same time as any other accelerated/combined program (e.g., MSTP, PSTP, or CSTP).

What does successful progression through the program look like?

All learners must remain in good standing to stay in PCAT, including:

• No academic observation (i.e., no course failures)
• Passage of USMLE (Steps 1 and 2CK) on first attempt
• Appropriate competency progression based on residency requirements
• No major professionalism issues
• No leaves of absences (LOAs)

Students will be assessed regularly, with “off-ramps” annually for students who wish, or who fail to achieve these milestones.  Any exceptions must be approved by the steering committee.