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Open House gives students a sneak peek

Note that this article references an open house event held in 2011; there are currently no additional events planned for the fall of 2012.

CMSRU leadership gives insight to prospective students

A photo of attendees at an open house about CMSRU in 2011.On a hot and humid Saturday in late July of 2011, 180 prospective students, parents, and health professions advisors set aside their flip-flops and beach chairs, and gathered on the tenth floor of Cooper University Hospital to learn about Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU). This was the first of several open house events that CMSRU plans in order to introduce its mission, curriculum, and leadership.

It was standing room only in the large conference room with a fabulous view of the Philadelphia skyline. But all eyes were focused on Founding Dean Paul Katz, M.D., as he told the group of participants about the history of the City of Camden, the birth of the new medical school, and CMSRU’s innovative curriculum. And in that room may have been some of the fifty students in CMSRU’s charter class.

After the formal presentation by Dr. Katz, participants had the opportunity to meet in small, informal groups with CMSRU’s leadership. Questions ranged from whether CMSRU has a library (yes, two), whether students will have to take gross anatomy (yes), and how soon students will have clinical exposure (week 3 of the first year).

For prospective students, it was the first chance they had to see the medical education building under construction across the street, see the hospital where they would spend most of their clinical clerkships, and meet the academic leaders that designed the new curriculum. In addition, they had a chance to see the city in which they might live, learn, and serve – a city with a reputation which precedes it, but which offers such tremendous promise for the future.

For CMSRU’s leadership, it was the first time they had a chance to meet potential students in person – and to begin to see what that critical charter class might look like. "The charter class of a new medical school sets the stage for the future – you only have one chance to do it right," said Dr. Katz. "The charter class has a tremendous responsibility to our school – not only to work hard to develop themselves as outstanding physicians, but also to lay the groundwork for an ongoing commitment to community that is such a critical part of our mission."

Now well into the admissions process, CMSRU is accepting applications through AMCAS, reviewing secondary applications, and getting set for the first round of interviews to begin in the fall. "We are thrilled at both the quantity and quality of applicants that we are seeing so far," said John McGeehan, M.D., Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions. "We are seeing such enthusiasm and interest in our mission – we can’t wait to meet all of these folks in person."

CMSRU will hold another open house on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 9am to noon at Cooper University Hospital. To find out more, please visit our admissions website.