Download

Download Full Text (474 KB)

Presentation date

Summer 8-22-2026

College

College of Medicine

Abstract

Background: The goal of UNMC’s Long-term Enhanced Advising and Preparation (LEAP) for Medical School program is to provide sustained advising and mentorship for students who participate in the UNMC Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP). This six-week academic enrichment program for first- and second-year, first-generation and/or underserved undergraduate students provides foundational exposure to health careers. Many participants, however, lack the sustained mentorship and guidance needed to navigate the medical school application process after completing SHPEP.

Methods: Since 2021, LEAP has evolved into a team of medical student coordinators, two faculty mentors, and undergraduate liaisons from past SHPEP cohorts. Programming has expanded from quarterly to monthly virtual sessions covering MCAT preparation, application strategies, professional development, and wellness. Sessions include a large-group didactic and medical student led small-group portion. Expanded interactive workshops for select topics (e.g., interview practice, personal statement development) are also offered. Post-session surveys assess perceived usefulness and engagement, along with review of participation trends and feedback. Given the longitudinal nature of the medical school application process and frequent gap years, evaluation has focused on early indicators of engagement rather than matriculation outcomes.

Results: LEAP delivers 10 sessions each school year between July and April. About 20 students consistently register for sessions each month, and all respondents reported sessions as helpful. Response rates to post-session surveys, however, remain low. Additionally, recurring requests for previously covered topics suggest opportunities to improve content accessibility beyond currently available recorded sessions.

Conclusion: The UNMC LEAP program demonstrates the feasibility of a student-led, low-cost, longitudinal advising model to support premedical students from underrepresented backgrounds. Early findings highlight strengths in program growth and perceived usefulness as well as opportunities to enhance engagement and access to resources. Ongoing efforts will focus on optimizing program delivery and evaluating longer-term outcomes, including medical school matriculation success.

Rights

The author holds the copyright to this work and any reuse or permissions must be obtained from the author directly.

    1. “The author holds the copyright to this work and any reuse or permissions must be obtained from the author directly.”

Keywords

near-peer, longitudinal, mentorship

Development and Early Engagement of the UNMC LEAP Program: A Medical Student-Led Advising Initiative for Premedical Students

Share

COinS