Exploring Programs at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine

The University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center (HSC) stands as New Mexico’s only academic medical center and the home of the state’s largest teaching hospital. The UNM School of Medicine is dedicated to offering exceptional MD and health profession programs, playing a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare in the state and beyond. Student safety is an institutional priority at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (HSC).

Nationally Recognized Excellence

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine has garnered recognition for its commitment to excellence. In 2025, U.S. News and World Report acknowledged the school's strengths by awarding it high ratings/rankings. It was placed in Tier 3 for Best Medical Schools for Research and in Tier 1 for Best Medical Schools for Primary Care. These rankings highlight the school's dedication to both cutting-edge research and producing skilled primary care physicians.

A Mission Rooted in Community Health

Since welcoming its first class in 1964, the University of New Mexico School of Medicine has remained steadfast in its mission to improve access to healthcare throughout New Mexico. A significant percentage of accepted students, around 80 to 90 percent in recent years, are residents of New Mexico. Impressively, over 40% of currently practicing physicians in the state are graduates of the institution and its residency programs, demonstrating its profound impact on the state's healthcare workforce.

Degree Programs Offered

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine offers a diverse range of programs to cater to various interests and career goals within the medical field. The full list of degree offerings (including both MD-granting and other graduate-level health professions programs) is as follows:

BA/MD
MD
MD/PhD
MS in BSGP (Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program)
MS in Anesthesiology
MS in Pathology
MS Physician Assistant
DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
PhD in BSGP

Graduate Certificate Programs

Graduate certificate programs offer a focused approach to acquiring advanced skills in a specific subject or area of specialization. Typically lasting one year, these programs consist of 3-12 courses, totaling 9-21 credits of advanced coursework. UNM allows students to enroll in a graduate certificate program concurrently with a master's or doctoral program.

Consider a graduate certificate if you aim to:

Broaden your education by specializing in a particular field.
Acquire skills quickly to launch or advance your career.
Enhance your current graduate training program with additional knowledge and skills.

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs (BSGP)

The Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs are integrated departmental programs that provide students with a comprehensive, one-year core curriculum. This is followed by focused coursework and thesis/dissertation research. Research opportunities are available in faculty laboratories within the basic science departments of the School of Medicine. The BSGP is further enhanced by affiliated faculty from the UNM College of Pharmacy, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, who may also direct graduate student research.

MD/PhD Program

The MD/PhD program is meticulously designed to provide comprehensive training in both clinical sciences and a basic biomedical science discipline. The program aims to offer students an integrated and cohesive training experience, culminating in the attainment of both the MD and PhD degrees.

Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP)

The Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP) offers graduate students a unique opportunity to conduct all or part of their dissertation research within the resource-rich environment of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Students can participate in the GPP through formal institutional partnerships or individual agreements negotiated between their university mentor and an investigator at the NIH.

Curriculum Structure of the MD Program

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine's MD program follows a structured Three-Phase curriculum to ensure a balanced education in foundational science, research, and clinical experience.

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Phase 1: The first 21 months are dedicated to developing a broad knowledge base in the foundational sciences, organized by organ systems. Students are evaluated on their knowledge of these systems and their ability to apply this knowledge effectively in clinical settings, communicating with patients and colleagues.
Phase 2: The following year involves clinical clerkships across various specialties, including Obstetrics and Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Surgery, Neurology, and Psychiatry.
Phase 3: In the final year, students leverage their clerkship experiences to refine their interests and career goals through electives, a sub-internship, an ICU rotation, and diverse clinical experiences.

Admissions Criteria and Strategies

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine encourages applications from all qualified students, irrespective of their undergraduate major. While there is no preferred field of study, many applicants opt for majors in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry (approximately 50%).

Academic Prerequisites

GPA: To be considered for admission, applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater. Students who matriculated at UNM School of Medicine in fall 2024 had an average GPA of 3.76.
Coursework:
- Biology courses must be human-based and include a corresponding lab. Acceptable courses include Genetics, Cellular Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Anatomy & Physiology. Non-human biology courses are not accepted.
- The biochemistry course should be at the 400 level. It is recommended that the course(s) include the study of molecules and metabolic reactions within the cell and how these reactions are regulated by physiology. The coursework should emphasize fundamental biochemical principles that maintain normal homeostasis in humans, including cellular integration of biochemical pathways, regulatory mechanisms, and how physiologic signals determine pathway utilization. Molecular structures, enzyme kinetics, and bioenergetics are also fundamental.

Application Requirements

All degrees listed on the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application will be verified upon acceptance. Official transcripts confirming degrees earned are required prior to matriculation.
All prerequisites, except for organic chemistry labs (both I and II) and biochemistry, must be completed prior to the submission of the AMCAS application. The organic chemistry labs and biochemistry prerequisites must be completed prior to matriculation.
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credit will be accepted for introductory Biology, Chemistry, or Physics ONLY if college credit was granted by the institute.
Accepted applicants are required to complete all degree programs listed on the AMCAS application prior to medical school matriculation. This includes undergraduate bachelor degrees and advanced master and doctoral degrees. All degrees must be conferred on the official transcripts by June 30th, prior to medical school matriculation.
A minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours must be in upper-division (junior and senior level) coursework.

Online Coursework Policy

For upcoming admissions cycles, UNM will continue to accept online prerequisite lectures/labs completed during the pandemic from Spring 2020 semester/quarter through Spring 2023.
Starting with Summer 2023 semester/quarter, UNM will revert to its pre-pandemic online prerequisite coursework policy, allowing applicants to take a maximum of TWO required prerequisite lecture courses online. Online labs will no longer be accepted for any of the required prerequisite labs.

Holistic Review

Adcoms at UNM School of Medicine use a unique application review process to ensure that their incoming classes reflect their institutional mission and values. 50% of your application will be evaluated based on your academics (matriculants in the fall of 2024 had an average GPA of 3.73 and an average MCAT of 505), while the other half will be based on your AMCAS, clinical and community service experience, and other holistic factors-including the likelihood that you’ll practice medicine in New Mexico after graduating.

Strategies for Admission

Gaining admission to medical school requires extensive preparation, dedication, and patience. If you intend to apply to medical school in New Mexico, whether you’re opting for the MD or DO route, you’ll need to have a clear strategy as you approach the various components of the process-including secondary essays and interviews.

Crafting Compelling Secondary Essays: Each medical school has its own set of required secondary essays, and depending on the amount of them, you might need to spend up to several weeks drafting and revising them until they’re strong enough to submit to adcoms. After all, no matter how impressive your MCAT, GPA, and extracurriculars might be, your secondary essays can make or break your application. One of the most important factors in the writing process is research.
Mastering Interview Skills: If you’re selected for an interview with a medical school, you can be confident that they are very interested in your application and eager to learn more about you as an individual and a future doctor. As with your secondary essays, you should prepare for your interviews with each school by researching the types of questions they typically ask and learning all you can about their unique institutional mission. For example, if you’re interviewing with the UNM School of Medicine, you should keep in mind that they strongly favor NM residents and applicants who can demonstrate a genuine desire to practice medicine in New Mexico.

Commitment to Student Safety

Student safety is an institutional priority at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (HSC).

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