Goals
The primary goal of the MECO program is to introduce rising second-year medical students to the role of hospitals in the health care delivery system. Students work with health care teams in a variety of settings including family medicine, surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, radiology, laboratory, pathology, and hospital leadership. Through hands-on experiences, students are better prepared for the clinical work they will face in their second year of medical school.
“(I) really enjoyed the small town setting and how much the physicians seemed to enjoy their jobs and work together! This really made me want to practice in a small town.”
“I was able to see many patients and practice history taking especially in the ER… I vastly improved my ability to take a accurate concise history. I also feel much more comfortable interacting with the patients.”
MECO Logistics and Details
- Information will be distributed to all M1 students early in the calendar year.
- Students will have an opportunity to learn about participating hospitals and communities before the application due date.
- In 2024, 21 students participated at 14 hospitals
- Stipends are available at select locations, ranging from $350-500/week.
- Most participating hospitals provide students with housing and meals.
- Hospital-sponsored housing options may be within the hospital or in hospital-owned housing.
“I learned a lot about how my personality fits into certain specialties and I got a better idea of what specialty I would be a good fit for.”