Scholarly Pathways of Excellence for the M.D. Program
The Scholarly Pathways of Excellence are designed to provide M.D. students with opportunities for individualized academic enrichment and dedicated mentorship in areas aligned with their passions and career aspirations. These pathways support in-depth exploration over a four-year, longitudinal experience, helping students distinguish themselves in residency applications and in their future medical careers. By fostering intellectual curiosity, the pathways empower students to make meaningful contributions to the field of medicine both during their training and beyond.
Applications closed on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025
Pathways
Each Scholarly Pathway of Excellence is directed by dedicated faculty seeking highly motivated students with a strong interest in the focused area. These opportunities are intentionally selective to ensure a meaningful experience for both students and mentors.
There are 6 Pathways available to qualified students:
Highlights
- Elective, longitudinal 4-year experience
- Opportunity to engage in scholarly work beyond the standard curriculum
- Personalized faculty mentorship
- Limited capacity to ensure quality engagement
Eligibility
- Eligibility is limited to students who are currently enrolled in the M1 year for the first time. Students who previously failed, remediated, or are repeating any component of the M1 curriculum are not eligible
- M1 students must score a minimum of 75% in the first course of the M1 year, HMBP 780
Guidelines for Scholarly Pathways of Excellence Academic Standing
Scholarly Pathways of Excellence Academic Standing refers to a student’s satisfactory academic progress within the Scholarly Pathways of Excellence program and is evaluated independently from MD degree academic standing.
To maintain Scholarly Pathways of Excellence Academic Standing, students must:
Successfully pass or receive a satisfactory grade on the first attempt in all of the following while enrolled in the program:
- Threads
- Pre-clerkship electives
- Clerkships
- Clinical and non-clinical electives
- Transitional courses
- USMLE Step examinations
Foundational Science Phase
- A student who fails an individual System but ultimately passes the associated Thread will be considered to be in Scholarly Pathways of Excellence Academic Standing and may continue in the pathway.
- A student who fails a Thread or receives a DF grade, even if subsequently remediated to meet MD program requirements, will not be considered to be in Scholarly Pathways of Excellence Academic Standing and will be removed from the pathway.
Clerkship Phase
A student who receives a DF grade due to a missed requirement (e.g., clinical requirement, OSCE, or NBME subject examination) may remain in the pathway provided the requirement is successfully completed within the allowed timeframe.
Removal from a Scholarly Pathway of Excellence & Student Appeals Process
Students who fail to maintain Scholarly Pathways of Excellence academic standing will be removed from the program. Those students will receive credit for completed electives but will not receive formal recognition for completing the full Pathway.
Students may appeal their removal from the pathway. Appeals will be reviewed by the Pathway Review Committee (PRC), which will issue a final determination. The PRC consists of all pathway directors and co-directors.
Application Process
- Interested students were invited to apply during the designated application window (September 22-October 6, 2025)
- Students should only apply to Pathways that reflect their genuine interest and commitment.
- Applicants may submit an application for one preferred pathway, with the option to list an alternate pathway. They may only participate in one pathway.
A complete application to each pathway includes:
- Up-To-Date CV
- Responses to two questions:
- Why are you interested in this specific Pathway?
- What makes you uniquely suited for this Pathway?
- Each Pathway selection committee will review applications. In addition to submitting a complete application, some applicants may be invited to participate in an interview to assist in final selections.
- The application process is designed to be straightforward for students. A single, common application system will be used for all Pathways.
Applications closed on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025
Important Notes
- This is a new offering, and student interest may exceed available slots.
- Students should only apply to Pathways that reflect their genuine interest and commitment.
- Space is limited; not all applicants will be accepted.
- Students will be notified about pathway acceptance by mid-November.
When contemplating whether to apply to a pathway, please carefully consider the time commitment required to fully participate over the four years of medical school. While involvement in other opportunities — such as the CommunityCare Clinic, student organizations and other service or leadership roles can be enriching, it may be challenging to balance these commitments alongside the demands of the pathway. Also, while there is no restriction on taking other pre-clinical electives while in a pathway, we encourage you to thoughtfully assess your capacity to ensure you can meaningfully engage in the pathway without becoming overextended.
Questions?
For more information about the Scholarly Pathways of Excellence or the application process, please contact Kristin McKeown in the Department of Medical Education at Kristin.McKeown@UToledo.edu.