Hippocrates Fellowship Mission

Cohort based pre-medical honors program within Sewanee’s Office of Medical and Health Programs (OMHP) that enhances our already strong support for pre-health students by specifically focusing on elevating stellar pre-medical students to be successful competitive medical school applicants. The Hippocrates Fellows Program aims to create an atmosphere that enhances each Fellow's potential and personal development path during their time at Sewanee. This is a holistic program that focuses on the whole person to create medical professionals ready to be leaders in the ever-changing healthcare arena.

About the Program?

The Hippocrates Fellows program started in 2016 with the selection of  5 students from an applicant list of 75! The application process has changed throughout the years but remains highly competitive. We are looking for dedicated pre-medical students who are ready to explore self-discovery of not only themselves as leaders but also expand their knowledge and perspective about medicine and healthcare. We are currently expanding the program to a cohort of 10 students starting in the academic year of 2025-2026. The first cohort is eligible to apply once accepted to Sewanee and should ask our Admissions Department for more information. For more details about applying see the Hippocrates Fellowship Application webpage.

The program has evolved and grown with feedback from Fellows and medical alumni since 2016 and we are excited to bring broader and more expansive opportunities to our newest cohorts of Fellows. In 2024 we signed an agreement with Quillen College of Medicine that allows our top Fellows to directly enroll in this amazing medical school located in Johnson City, TN. We have expanded programming to support Fellows from the time they arrive on campus to the time they are accepted to medical school. 

Hippocrates Fellows are expected to be proactive members of the program and maintain a good standing, not only academically, but in upholding the values of the University. Fellows are expected to practice their leadership skills in all aspects of their lives on campus and beyond. 

First Year Expectations
Hippocrates Fellows

  • Complete pre-medical course work in Biology and Chemistry (BIOL133 and CHEM120 or CHEM150). These are foundational pre-medical courses. 

  • Recommended coursework (depending on incoming placements) CHEM210, BIOL233.

  • Complete at least one session in leadership development - only open to Fellows meets once a week in the fall and spring semesters (alpha cohort is required to do fall session).

  • Encouraged to attend medical humanities events - book club, visiting speakers, dinner with medical alumni, etc. 

  • Encouraged to attend experiential trips - visiting medical schools, healthcare conferences, healthcare businesses, etc. 

  • Encouraged to explore research opportunities 

  • Maintain a 3.4 GPA (each semester)

  • Set personal growth goals related to medical school competencies

Second Year Expectations
Hippocrates Fellows

  • Complete pre-medical course work in Biology and Chemistry (BIOL233 and CHEM201 and CHEM202).

  • Recommended coursework (depending on incoming placements and first year courses) BIOL243 or BIOL223 or BIOL340 or BIOL270 or BIOL314 

  • Complete MHUM150 in the fall (2 credit course) only open to Fellows meets once a week 

  • Encouraged to attend medical humanities events - book club, visiting speakers, dinner with medical alumni, etc. 

  • Encouraged to attend experiential trips - visiting medical schools, healthcare conferences, healthcare businesses, etc. 

  • Encouraged to explore research opportunities 

  • Maintain a 3.4 GPA (each semester)

  • Evaluate personal growth goals set previous year related to medical school competencies

  • Begin to consider application timeline

  • Complete a medical experiential internship in the summer

Third Year Expectations
Hippocrates Fellows

  • Complete pre-medical course work in Biochemistry and/or Physics (BIOL316 or BIOL317, and PHYS101 and PHYS102).

  • Recommended coursework (depending on incoming placements and first year courses) BIOL243 or BIOL223 or BIOL340 or BIOL270 or BIOL314 

  • Complete MHUM150 in the fall (2 credit course) only open to Fellows meets once a week 

  • Attend at least 2 medical humanities events - book club, visiting speakers, dinner with medical alumni, etc. 

  • Attend experiential trip to Quillen College of Medicine and/or Global Health & Innovation Conference 

  • Maintain a 3.4 GPA (each semester) should be aiming for 3.6 and above to be competitive

  • Evaluate personal growth goals set previous year related to medical school competencies

  • Execute application timeline and apply for HPA committee letter review (apply to Quillen College of Medicine if applicable)

  • Complete a second medical experiential internship in the summer

Fourth Year Expectations
Hippocrates Fellows

  • Complete remaining pre-medical course work (double check your school’s courses requirements)

  • Plan a medical humanities event - book club, visiting speakers, dinner with medical alumni, etc. 

  • Attend experiential trip to Quillen College of Medicine and/or Global Health & Innovation Conference 

  • Maintain a 3.4 GPA (each semester) should be aiming for 3.6 and above to be competitive

  • Evaluate personal growth goals set previous year related to medical school competencies

  • Execute application timeline and apply for HPA committee letter review (apply to Quillen College of Medicine, last available application cycle of eligibility)

Programmatic Events and Coursework

Medical Humanities Seminar and Leadership Coursework

Medical Humanities is the study of the human experience in medicine.  It explores the practice of medicine through the lens of individual stories from both patient and caregiver perspectives, ethical case studies, business and access to care considerations, and more. We often use novels, short stories, poems, graphic novels, plays, and film to examine the practice of medicine and what it means to the patient and/or the practitioner in our society.  Within this context we also explore leadership and the roles leaders play in both their personal narrative in becoming a caregiver as well as a societal role in becoming a leader in the healthcare industry.

 

Cohorts 6 and 7 during MHUM150 Seminar - practicing their “Why I want to be a doctor” pitch and the winners of group for best pitch (Cohort 7 - Mya Lopez, Cohort 6 - Elle Woodard, Cohort 7 Abigail French and Niles Harvey, and Cohort 6 Joey Pascarella.

 

Cohort 3 During a Leadership Competition with the Carey Fellows (Sewanee’s Business Honors Program).  Teamwork is important! The Hippocrates Fellows Won! (Cohort 3 - Lily Stephens, Olivia Durfee, Austin Young, Jack Whelchel, Forrest Collins, and Ian Kusher)

 

Multiple Hippocrates Fellow Cohorts and Sewanee Pre-Medical students learning from Pre-Health Advisory Board Member Dr. Campbell about pulmonary embolisms in a case study.  After reviewing the case at Sewanee using our Anatomage Table, students visited Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga to talk with the patient and their doctors about the case.

 

Multiple Hippocrates Fellow Cohorts and Sewanee Pre-Medical students attending a leadership in medicine talk from visiting speaker Dr. Jeff Thompson who discussed his book “Lead True”.

Experiential Activities and Trips

These activities vary each year; however, all aim to expose Fellows to new places to experience medicine, to develop their professional skills, and to connect with each other and alumni. 

 

Cohort 1 Visit to NYC and DC 

   

Cohort 2 DC Trip to NIH and Adventis Hospital

Cohorts 2 and 3 Dinner at the Sewanee Inn

   

All Cohorts are invited to visit with our Pre-Health Advisory Board each year to develop their professional skills and connect with alumni mentors.  

   

Cohorts 5, 6, 7, and 8 visiting Quillen College of Medicine 

Cohorts 7 and 8 visiting Vanderbilt’s CELA Lab