Pathway to Med School
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SOWEGA-AHEC, in collaboration with Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC) and the Phoebe Family Medicine Residency Program, created the Pathway to Med School Program to address the critical need for primary care physicians in Southwest Georgia. Knowing that students from rural communities are more likely to return to a rural area to practice and understanding the need to increase the pipeline of rural students enrolled in Georgia medical schools, it was determined that students from the 38-county region needed to become more competitive in the application process.
To determine how to make the students more competitive, AHEC polled the admissions committees from each of the medical schools in Georgia to determine what beyond MCAT scores and GPA would increase their chances of being accepted. The overwhelming consensus was a much-needed and significant structured clinical shadowing and medical research experience. The Albany-based Pathway to Med School Program was structured accordingly as a 5-week residential experience to include 200 hours of clinical, research, and didactic experience.
Southwest Georgia is a medically underserved area (MUA) and by supporting the efforts of local aspiring medical students at the pre-med academic level we can improve access to healthcare in our communities.
Components of the program and its structure include:
Program runs May 18 – June 18, 2026.
- No cost to participate
- A reliable car is needed to get to the shadowing sites.
- Housing is provided at no cost, but not all meals are provided.
- Admissions Forum and Group Chats
- Roundtable discussions: Telehealth, Finances of Med School, and Personal Statements
- Medical School Campus visit: PCOM South Georgia, AU, or Mercer School of Medicine
180 hours of clinical, research, and didactic experience include:
Eligibility Requirements
- Minimum rising sophomore with pre-med courses
- 3.0 overall, 3.0 math/science
- Legal GA resident & US citizen
- Submit the online application, official transcript, & essay
- Have reliable transportation
- No other time commitments during May/June
*Please note: A copy of the student’s official transcript is required to complete the PTMS application. Official transcripts are only accepted directly from the college or university and must arrive for validation to SOWEGA-AHEC by the deadline date and time. The student is responsible for initiating and confirming the delivery. Be advised that this process can take up to 3 weeks for some schools.
Program Dates
May 18 – June 18
- February 1, 2026: Application deadline, including receipt of official transcript
- February 16 – 25: Interviews
- March 4, 2026: Notice of Acceptance
- March 6, 2026: Acknowledgement of Acceptance
- March 31, 2026: Credentialing Completed
- May 17, 2026: Students move into housing, if applicable
- May 18, 2026: Orientation
- TBD: Sim Lab Tour
- TBD: Mock Interviews
- TBD: Annual Admissions Forum
- TBD: Medical School Campus Tour
- June 18, 2026: Graduation & Move Out Day
- November 5 - 8, 2026: GAFP Annual Conference
What is Primary Care?
Primary Care is the delivery of healthcare by physicians who have broad training in medical issues for treatment for populations across the entire human lifespan, from pre-conception to natural death of the elderly. The Primary Care physician is the “first-degree” access to medical care for the average person. One could say that it operates on the “front lines” of the delivery of healthcare. The Primary Care approach to the delivery of medical services allows for the familiarity between a doctor and a patient to exist as a continuous basis.