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Symposium on Innovations in Holistic Admissions

Thank you for your interest in the upcoming Symposium on Innovations in Holistic Admissions.

Date: Friday, April 13, 2018
Time: 8 am–4 pm
Place: University of Utah School of Medicine, Health Science Education Building (HSEB)

The symposium, which we hope becomes a reoccurring event, will explore state-of-the-art practices to promote holistic review in admissions processes, especially newly implemented methods designed to assess non-cognitive characteristics assumed to compliment cognitive skills in expert professional performance, such as altruism, team work, and integrity.

Target Audience

Participants will represent a balanced diversity of health science programs--including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, etc.--at the graduate, undergraduate and pre-collegiate levels.

Symposium Format

Participants will be actively involved throughout the symposium. Invited experts (see below) will frame and guide discussions in both small and large groups. 

During the day, participants can choose to gain first-hand experience with two innovative methods recently implemented at the UUSOM:

    • Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) and/or
    • Situational Judgment Test (SJT)

There will also be a live demonstration of a Standardized Video Interview (SVI).

The day will begin with a plenary session designed to illustrate an increasingly popular pedagogical innovation—the Team-Based Learning (TBL) with flipped classroom. Participants will prepare in advance for the session by reading the seminal article about Holistic Review by Witzburg and Sondheimer (NEJM, April 25, 2013).

Please let us know of your interest to attend the Symposium by submitting an application.

We will select participants in order of application date within each stakeholder group. You should receive notification of selection within 2 weeks of submitting your application.

Invited Facilitators

Tara K. Cunningham, EdD, MS

Title: Associate Dean, Admissions & Diversity Officer

Texas Christian University / University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine
Fort Worth, Texas

Leila E. Harrison, MA, MEd

Title: Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment

Elon S. Floyd College of Medicine
Washington State University