Ten incoming college freshmen will be chosen to participate in a seven-year program that guarantees acceptance into the University of Minnesota medical school.

School leaders started the new program to ensure that students work as physicians in the state after graduation, the Minnesota Daily reported.

A panel from the universitys liberal arts college and medical school conducted interviews with 20 applicants last week and are in the selection process.

Minnesota high school students who have been accepted in the liberal arts college and express an interest in medical careers are invited to apply after being reviewed for experience in leadership and medicine. Grades are also a factor.

Students in the program must declare undergraduate majors in biology, physiology or society and environment.

Our review team is looking for medically related experience, said Taisha Mikell, the medical schools director of pipeline programs, a program to help accelerate degree progress. We want to make sure that they are mature, because this is going to be an early and long-term commitment to the field of medicine.

The programs goals are to invest in future physicians earlier in their education and to create a diverse workforce, said Dimple Patel, the medical schools associate dean for admissions.

We want our students to be culturally aware, professional, she said. We want them to have a rigorous education that allows for creativity.

Patel said she hopes the program will encourage students to stay in the states workforce. The students will receive mentorship, exposure and encouragement to continue in the program.

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University of Minnesota encourages medical school path - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press