USDSM Alumni Student Scholars Program: successes of the first decade

The Alumni Student Scholars Program (ASSP) was developed as a concerted effort by the School of Medicine to more effectively identify, train, and retain those top-notch South Dakota high school graduates who had a stated interest in pursuing a career in medicine, especially family practice, and for whom there was a high likelihood of return to practice in South Dakota. Relative to the USD undergraduate graduating classes of 1996-2003, 42 high school seniors from all corners of the state were selected as ASSP scholars. Of these, 28 successfully completed all ASSP undergraduate requirements and 25 ASSP scholars have entered medical school at USDSM. As of May 2003, USDSM has conferred the MD degree on 11 ASSP scholars, with five of those physicians (45%) electing to enter family practice residency programs.