College of Medicine - Phoenix Early Assurance Program
The PHXMED Distinguished Learners Early Assurance Program (PHXMED LEAP-UA) allows for academically talented students to gain early admission to the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine-Phoenix.
2026-27 Applications Open October 30, 2026
Program Overview
The PHXMED Distinguished Learners Early Assurance Program (PHXMED LEAP-UA) allows students to apply for conditional admission to the College of Medicine-Phoenix during their junior year. PHXMED LEAP-UA seeks talented Franke Honors applicants who embody the academic rigor, intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence embracing compassion and servant leadership, and professionalism that are essential to developing successful physicians.
Eligibility Requirements
PHXMED LEAP-UA is open to all undergraduate Juniors from any major. The definition of “Junior Year” for the purposes of PHXMED LEAP-UA describes a student who has (1) completed at least two years of undergraduate study after high school; (2) is currently in their third consecutive year of undergraduate study; (3) is enrolled in and expected to graduate from the UA Franke Honors College; and (4) has a minimum of 48 credit hours completed by the time of PHXMED LEAP-UA application (credits from Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment are accepted).
Once accepted to the program, students will matriculate into the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix upon completion of program requirements, including satisfying all Franke Honors College graduation, bachelor’s degree, and COM-Phoenix pre-requisite requirements.
Applications will be considered through a holistic review process. To be eligible, applicants must:
Be an active W.A. Franke Honors College Student with a minimum 3.70 cumulative GPA (this is a true minimum and GPA cannot be rounded up).
Receive a minimum score of 510 on the MCAT.
The College of Medicine-Phoenix looks for the following attributes in applicants (this is not an exact list and meeting these attributes will not guarantee admission in any capacity):
Are highly motivated and committed to pursuing a career in medicine.
Have previous healthcare and clinical exposure.
Possess strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrate personal attributes aligned with the College of Medicine–Phoenix’s values, including the “5 C’s”: Compassion, Character, Collaboration, Commitment to Learn, and Cultivating Service.
Application Process & Timeline
Applications will remain open from October until February. Students apply during their junior year via a Qualtrics submission and a letter of recommendation request form. The PHXMED LEAP-UA application is separate from the traditional application to the College of Medicine-Phoenix. Please note that applications submitted through the traditional pathway will not be considered for PHXMED LEAP-UA admission, and PHXMED LEAP-UA applications will not be considered for the traditional admissions pathway.
Students are encouraged to submit the letter of request form as soon as they know they intend to apply; they do not need to, and should not, wait until their full application is ready for submission to request letters of recommendation.
Students who are selected for the PHXMED LEAP-UA cohort will need to complete the AMCAS process for the College of Medicine-Phoenix during the summer between their junior and senior year of undergraduate coursework; College of Medicine-Phoenix staff will assist in this process. Accepted PHXMED LEAP-UA students will be eligible for scholarships, if available.
Applicants who are invited to interview will participate in both College of Medicine-Phoenix (in-person) and Franke Honors College (virtual) interviews. Opportunities to tour the campus and meet with current medical students and administrators will also be available.
The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix reviews applicants with a holistic approach when selecting incoming students. The holistic review guarantees a fair and equitable consideration of your entire application, including your experiences, attributes, and metrics. This means that one portion of an application does not carry weight over another portion. College of Medicine-Phoenix looks at applicants beyond minimum metrics to ensure that each student is a good fit for the mission and values of the College of Medicine-Phoenix and has a passion for medicine.
At the time of application submission, applicants are not required to have their MCAT score. However, applicants must take their MCAT by early January of their application cycle to ensure that they have an eligible score prior to the commencement of cycle interview processes. MCAT exam dates fill quickly so it is recommended that students schedule their exams early to ensure they can get a date to complete the exam. Exam scores are typically released one month after the testing date. Only eligible applicants who reach the minimum MCAT score of 510 will be invited to interview. Reaching the required MCAT score minimum does not guarantee that an applicant will be invited to interview for the program.
Timeline
| Fall semester of Junior year (4 semesters until intended undergraduate graduation) | Attend a program information session
The application for the 2026-2027 cycle will open October 30, 2026. |
| Spring semester of Junior year (3 semesters until intended undergraduate graduation) | Applicants take MCAT. For the 2026-2027 application cycle, the MCAT must be completed by January 16, 2027. The application deadline for the 2026-2027 cycle is February 17, 2027. Selected applicants will be invited to interview for the program on February 26, 2027 and eligible applicants will be evaluated for conditional admission. Admissions decisions will be communicated to applicants by the end of April. |
| Summer between Junior and Senior year (2 semesters until intended undergraduate graduation) | Admitted PHXMED LEAP-UA students will attend the required Summer Enrichment Program at UACOM-Phoenix |
| Senior year | Admitted PHXMED LEAP-UA students will ensure they are on track to complete all University of Arizona and Franke Honors College graduation requirements and pre-requisite courses to prepare for matriculation to the College of Medicine-Phoenix. |
| Summer Following Undergraduate Graduation | Admitted LEAP students begin medical school! |
Matriculation Requirements
Students accepted to the program receive a conditional acceptance, contingent upon successful completion of College of Medicine-Phoenix pre-requisites and graduation from the University of Arizona and Franke Honors College. Students who are unable to maintain a minimum University of Arizona GPA of 3.7, do not complete Franke Honors Graduation requirements, and/or do not complete all pre-requisite courses will have their College of Medicine-Phoenix offer rescinded. Disqualified students would be eligible to re-apply for admission to the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix via the traditional admissions pathway.
Once all requirements are completed, acceptance will be offered. No deferrals or gap year will be allowed for PHXMED LEAP-UA participants.
For questions about the College of Medicine-Phoenix Matriculation Requirements, MD processes, MCAT process, visits, or PHXMED LEAP-UA, contact our office at comphx-admissions@email.arizona.edu
Program-Relevant Information:
Students who are accepted into the PHXMED LEAP-UA are required to participate in a summer enrichment program in the summer between the Junior and Senior years to take place at UACOM-Phoenix. If a student has plans to participate in an alternative summer enrichment program, the student may submit a request for that alternative program participation to be approved to fulfill the summer requirement. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and approval is not guaranteed. Stipends for the PHXMED Summer Enrichment Program at UACOM-Phoenix may be offered; they are subject to funding availability and institutional approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the program is not limited to Arizona Residents
No, students must be active members of the Franke Honors College for their application to be considered.
The program can accept up to 10 students each semester.
No, all majors are welcome to apply.
No, the UA College of Medicine does not accept international students.
Yes, the summer program (or an approved alternative) is required for students accepted into the PHXMED LEAP-UA program. If you have concerns about your ability to participate if selected, please be sure to speak with program staff as soon as possible.
Yes, but please note that the PHXMED LEAP-UA admissions pathway offers early (conditional) admission to the MD program only. Applicants interested in the MD/PhD or pathway programs will need to complete a separate admissions process for those opportunities during their senior year.
There isn’t one single model for an ideal candidate! We encourage applicants to bring their unique strengths and interests to their application. The program is a partnership between the Franke Honors College and the College of Medicine-Phoenix and we are looking for candidates that are committed to both college communities. On the Franke side, a strong candidate is someone who is deeply engaged and can communicate the value of their engagement in relation to their goal of becoming a physician. On the COM-Phoenix side, strong candidates demonstrate not only a meaningful commitment to medicine, but also a developing understanding of what it means to be a healer, someone who builds trust, serves others, and demonstrating willingness to place the needs and humanity of people at their center.
Yes, students can apply to multiple programs. We understand that some students may be interested in applying to both the College of Medicine-Tucson and College of Medicine-Phoenix early assurance programs. Applications and selection processes are conducted independently for each program, though the programs will communicate their admissions decisions concurrently to give accepted students the opportunity to consider their offer(s) before committing to a program.
Affiliated Program Staff & Faculty
College of Medicine-Phoenix:
Dr. Mira Milas | Associate Dean, Admissions | mmilas@arizona.edu
Dr. Nafis Shamsid-Deen | Assistant Dean, Admissions | nshamsid@arizona.edu
Mark Priolo, MA | Director, Admissions & Recruitment | priolo@arizona.edu
Chip Young, MA | Program Manager, Pipeline Initiatives | chipyoung@arizona.edu
Fernando Hernandez, MA, MBA | Coordinator, Admissions Programming | hernandezfe@arizona.edu
Dayara Leyva, BA | Coordinator, Admissions Programming | dayaraleyva@arizona.edu
Naketa Ross, BA | Coordinator, Pipeline Initiatives | naketa@arizona.edu
Franke Honors College:
- Dr. Karna Walter | Assistant Dean, Student Engagement | karna@arizona.edu
- Tori Nardinelli | Assistant Director, Research, Creative Expression, and Professional Initiatives | outfleet@arizona.edu
- Gloria Cota Aguirre | Coordinator, Research & Early Assurance Programs | gcotaaguirre@arizona.edu