Yes, UIPHP is open only to applicants who meet the program’s Iowa residency requirements. However, you do not need to attend the University of Iowa or another Iowa institution. Iowa residents attending colleges outside the state may apply. 

Review the Iowa Board of Regents resident classification information linked under Eligibility Requirements, specifically the College of Medicine residency provisions used by UIPHP. Contact the program team if you are unsure whether you qualify. 

The University of Iowa Pathways to Health Professions (UIPHP) is a free, four-week summer enrichment program for undergraduate Iowa residents interested in becoming physicians or physician associates. 

Participants engage in academic enrichment, hands-on clinical workshops, clinical observation, community engagement, mentorship, and admissions preparation. Individualized advising helps participants develop a roadmap toward medical or physician associate schools. 

Applicants must: 

Community college students are encouraged to apply if they meet these requirements. High school students are not eligible solely because they have earned college credits. 

UIPHP focuses on students at the sophomore or junior stage so they have time to use the program’s guidance to plan coursework, gain meaningful experiences, build mentoring relationships, and prepare for professional school applications. 

If credits earned in high school put you above the 90-credit maximum, we encourage you to apply and explain your circumstances. The admissions committee may consider exceptions to the credit-hour requirement on a case-by-case basis through holistic review. Exceptions are not guaranteed, and applicants must still meet the Iowa residency requirement. 

The admissions committee reviews each completed application individually, considering academic preparation alongside the applicant’s experiences, background, goals, and opportunities available to them. This includes GPA, the personal statement, the letter of recommendation, and interest in medicine or the physician associate profession. 

The committee also considers economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and an interest in social determinants of health. Holistic review helps the committee understand each applicant’s circumstances and how UIPHP could support their preparation. Meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission. 

Previous clinical, volunteer, or research experience is not an eligibility requirement. You should have an interest in becoming a physician or physician associate, but you do not need to have made a final decision between these careers. 

Your application should explain your interests, the experiences that have shaped your goals, and how UIPHP could support your preparation.