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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Florida

Medicine

*A physician is a general term for a doctor who has earned a medical degree. Physicians work to maintain, promote, and restore health by studying, diagnosing, and treating injuries and diseases.

Physicians generally have six core skills:

  1. Patient care. Physicians have to provide compassionate, appropriate, and effective care to promote health and treat health problems in their patients. Physicians diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses.
  2. Medical knowledge. Physicians must be experts in established and new biomedical, clinical, and cognate sciences and how to apply this knowledge to patient care.
  3. Practice-based learning and improvement. Physicians must always investigate and evaluate their own care and look for ways to improve.
  4. Interpersonal and communication skills. Physicians must be able to communicate effectively with patients, their families, and other health professionals.
  5. Professionalism. A commitment to professionalism includes carrying out professional responsibilities, sticking to ethical principles, and being sensitive to a diverse patient population.
  6. Systems-based practice. Physicians must be aware of and responsive to the larger context and system of health care. They must also be able to find and use resources to provide the best care possible.

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-physician

There are two types of practicing physicians in the U.S.:

  • The M.D. degree refers to allopathic physicians.
    • The D.O. degree refers to osteopathic physicians.
Academics
  • Suggested Timeline
  • Prerequisite Chart
  • General Chemistry: CHM2045/L and CHM2046/L or CHM2051; or CHM2047/L (CHM2054L may be substituted for CHM2045L and CHM2046L)
  • General Biology: BSC2010/L and BSC2011/L Organic Chemistry: CHM2210 or CHM2212 and CHM2211 or CHM2213 and CHM2211L (CHM3217, CHM3218, and CHM2211L may substitute)
  • Physics: PHY2053/L or PHY2048/L or PHY2060 and PHY2054/L or PHY2049/L or PHY2061
  • Biochemistry: BCH4024 or CHM3218
  • Math: MAC2311 or MAC3472 and STA2023
  • English: Two semesters of any English department course. Examples are ENC1101, ENC1102, ENC3254, LIT2110)
  • PSY2012 and SYG2000
  • Electives
  • BCP/BCPM GPA Information
    • Each medical school has a range and median for BCPM/BCP GPAs. These will change each year. Researching each school is strongly recommended.
    • M.D. schools – national BCPM median is: 3.67
Extracurriculars
Application
Additional Resources

Suggested Reading

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives
UF College of Medicine Diversity Office
Located on the first floor of the Medical Sciences Building, Room M-108, in the Health Science Center
Office Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday
University of Florida
College of Medicine, Office of Diversity & Health Equity
P.O. Box 100202
Gainesville, FL 32610
(352) 273-6656 (telephone)

>AAMC Inspiring Stories

AACOM

Summer Opportunities

Financial Assistance

Student Financial Affairs

Specialty Programs

The UF Medical Honors Program was discontinued after fall 2024 co-hort. Please see their website for more information.

UF College of Medicine
med-admissions@ufl.edu

Summer Program: https://www.shpep.org

Office of Diversity and Health Equity: (352) 273-6656