Accelerate Your Journey: The Primary Care Accelerated Track (PCAT)

Designed to boost the number of primary care physicians in South Carolina, PCAT offers an innovative route to becoming an M.D. Participants receive a full tuition scholarship in exchange for a four-year commitment to providing primary care with Prisma Health, serving the patients of South Carolina.

What is PCAT?

Welcome to the Primary Care Accelerated Track (PCAT) program, launched in July 2024. This innovative 3-year pathway is designed to accelerate your journey to becoming an M.D. with a focus on increasing the number of primary care physicians in South Carolina.

As a PCAT Scholar, you will complete your medical education at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville (USC SOMG) in three years. Following graduation, you will seamlessly transition into a 3-year residency in one of the Prisma Health Family Medicine residency programs.

We offer a full University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville tuition scholarship in exchange for a 4-year commitment to providing primary care within the Prisma Health organization after you complete your residency. Join us in shaping the future of healthcare in our community.

Why PCAT?

Full tuition scholarship with 4-year employment agreement with Prisma Health after residency
Integrated clinical rotations and patient continuity beginning in your Fall M1 year
Personalized primary care mentorship
Support and engagement opportunities from Family Medicine Faculty and Residents
Linked to Family Medicine Residency programs in Greenville, Seneca, and Greer.
Tutoring and exam preparation support from peer mentors and academic success coaches
Completion of medical school and residency in six years

Who Should Apply?

Candidates who have
- Demonstrated interest in a Family Medicine career
- Commitment to community health and wellbeing
- Desire to complete residency in one of the three Prisma Health Upstate Residency Programs
- Ability to commit to employment with the Prisma Health organization for 4 years after completion of residency

What does PCAT have in common with the four-year curriculum and what is different?
What is the same?	What is different?
EMT and all Biomedical Science modules Integrated Practice of Medicine Longitudinal course (IPM) Seven core clinical clerkships (FM, IM, OBGYN, Peds, Psychiatry/Neurology, Surgery, EM) Lifestyle Medicine opportunities Service-Learning opportunities Student engagement and wellness opportunities See our Curriculum Schematic	Supplemental clinical training and family medicine workshops during EMT weeks Weekly longitudinal Family Medicine clerkship one afternoon a week during the 18-month Biomedical Sciences modules. Early engagement with affiliated Family Medicine Residency programs Pediatric and Surgery clerkship experiences during the Summer between first and second year of medical school with continued Pediatric and Surgery experiences after USMLE Step 1 Condensed post-clerkship phase of medical school Linked residency positions via NRMP Waiver

How do you apply?

Individuals should complete their AMCAS application and submit to USC School of Medicine-Greenville
Applicants indicate interest in the Primary Care Accelerated Track for Family Medicine by answering a few additional questions in the supplemental application sent to you by the Admissions Office.
After earning acceptance to the School of Medicine Greenville, PCAT applications will be evaluated by affiliated Family Medicine Residency programs. Applicants may be invited to a virtual interview with the PCAT leadership team and affiliated Family Medicine Residency programs.
Accepted PCAT applicants will be notified of their acceptance in the Spring of their application year

Affiliated Family Medicine Residency Programs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This program is designed for students who have clear medical career goals and are interested in completing their medical school training in three years. The program offers financial and time benefits, as well as early professional development opportunities in Family Medicine. Students can also develop longstanding professional relationships with departmental Faculty.

PCAT Scholars are initially admitted to the four-year program through the standard AMCAS application process. To express interest in the PCAT program, you will indicate this in your supplemental application, which will be sent to you by the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville after your materials are verified by AMCAS.

Yes. The PCAT program is designated for talented medical students who have a clear career goal as a Family Medicine physician.

You can express your interest in the PCAT program on your supplemental application. If you are accepted into the traditional four-year program, your application will then be forwarded to the PCAT Admissions Team. Following their review, you may be invited for a virtual interview, which typically begins in early Spring of the application cycle.

You must first be accepted into the traditional four-year program. The PCAT Admissions Team wants to see your demonstrated commitment to a career in Family Medicine.

Review our curriculum schematic to see how we optimize your three years of study. You will complete the same core course work as your four year colleagues-just in a more efficient manner with a longitudinal Family Medicine clerkship beginning your first year of medical school. Additionally, you will undertake parts of your Surgery and Pediatric clerkships during the Summer between your first and second years.

In the fourth year of medical school, much of a traditional student’s time is dedicated to career development and exploring residency options. As a PCAT Scholar, you commit to a career in Family Medicine and benefit from a residency placement within one of the Prisma Health-Upstate Family Medicine Residency programs. You do not need time off to apply or interview for other residency programs. You also do not need elective courses to help you select a medical specialty.

No. PCAT students must complete the three-year curriculum uninterrupted. Students who request a research year will transition into the four-year curriculum and will not be eligible for the PCAT Scholarship.

We have a team to help you succeed in this program. In the event you experience academic difficulties, such as a module failure or USMLE Step failure, The PCAT Director, Associate Dean for Medical Education, Assistant Dean for Pre-Clerkship Education, and Associate Dean of Student Affairs will collaborate to develop a personalized transition plan into the four-year curriculum on a case-by-case basis.

A strong commitment to the Family Medicine specialty and a clear understanding of our program’s requirements and post-residency employment expectations with Prisma Health are essential. If you transition out of the program you will enter the traditional four year curriculum. You will lose your scholarship and my required to repay previously paid tuition. The Program Director, Associate Dean for Medical Education, and Associate Dean of Student Affairs will assist you in creating a path to complete your graduation requirements.

Yes, you can pursue a career as a Family Medicine physician and still apply to the Prisma Health Residency programs.

Please attend one of our virtual information sessions. You may also email us at PCAT@greenvillemed.sc.edu.

School of Medicine Greenville