Lakeland Community College and Cleveland State University (CSU) have joined forces to create a new Community College Pathway as part of CSU's Pathways to Practice (P2P) program, offering Lakeland students a direct route to medical school.

The innovative partnership is designed for transfer students passionate about serving urban communities. It features a comprehensive pre-med curriculum that aligns with medical school requirements, an Urban Health Certificate, and a range of support services designed to guide students through their journey to becoming physicians.

"Our collaboration with Cleveland State University will open up more avenues for our students aiming to pursue medical careers," said Erin Fekete, Ph.D., dean for arts & sciences at Lakeland Community College. "This partnership helps pave the way for our students to achieve their goals and make meaningful contributions to urban healthcare."

Timothy McKnight, MD, MSHM, executive director of Pathways to Practice at Cleveland State University, added, "Our collaboration with Lakeland Community College exemplifies our commitment to diversifying the medical field. By providing this pathway, we're empowering students from various backgrounds to pursue careers in medicine and address the critical healthcare needs of urban communities."

Key benefits of the program include:

• Pre-med curriculum aligned with medical school requirements

• Urban Health Certificate for a foundation in urban health

• Dedicated student success adviser

• MCAT® (Medical College Admission Test®) prep and tutoring services

• Access to physician mentorships at local academic health institutions such as Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth

• Job shadowing opportunities at federally qualified community health centers like Circle Health and Neighborhood Family Practice

• Nomination for early acceptance to Northeast Ohio Medical School (NEOMED), Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine at Morgan State University, and Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Lakeland students who meet program requirements and are in their final semester can apply for the P2P Community College Pathway from Jan. 1 to April 30, 2025.

An information session will be held virtually Monday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m., featuring a panel of medical school representatives who will discuss the partnership and answer questions about medical career pursuits.

Visit csuohio.us/P2PCommunityCollege or meet with an adviser to discuss eligibility and learn how you can transform your college credits into a path with purpose.

By: Levi Rex, Marketing Communications Specialist