Preparing for the Drexel University College of Medicine interview

To truly distinguish yourself during a medical school interview at Drexel University College of Medicine, you'll need a comprehensive understanding of Pennsylvania's healthcare environment, relevant regional and national healthcare policies, urgent community challenges, and significant medical developments across Pennsylvania and the United States.

This comprehensive guide offers valuable perspectives to help you craft impressive interview responses that showcase your dedication to medicine and your awareness of the communities that Drexel—with its rich history combining the Hahnemann Medical College and the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania—has long served through its commitment to biomedical research and compassionate healthcare delivery.

1. Drexel’s MMI Format: Structure, Stations, and Hidden Priorities

Drexel’s MMI typically includes 8-10 stations (6-8 minutes each) assessing ethics, teamwork, and cultural humility. Key themes:

1. Urban Health Equity: Scenarios involving resource-limited Philly neighborhoods (e.g., Kensington’s opioid crisis, Nicetown’s maternal care deserts).

2. Ethical Dilemmas: Conflicts between cost, access, and patient autonomy (e.g., “A homeless patient refuses shelter to stay with their dog—how do you respond?”).

3. Collaboration: Role-playing interprofessional conflicts (e.g., disagreeing with a nurse about a patient’s discharge plan).

4. Policy Awareness: Questions tying local issues to systemic solutions (e.g., “How would you improve Philly’s lead poisoning prevention efforts?”).

Insider Tip: Drexel’s MMI graders prioritize process over answers. They want to see how you structure your reasoning, not just your conclusion. Practice verbalizing your thought process aloud, even if uncertain.

2. Pennsylvania’s Healthcare Policy: Rust Belt Realities and Urban Innovation

PA is a microcosm of America’s healthcare challenges. Key policies shaping Drexel’s mission:

Medicaid Expansion & The Health Equity Challenge

1. PA expanded Medicaid in 2015, covering 1.1 million residents. Yet, 20% of Philadelphians remain uninsured. Drexel’s Dornsife School of Public Health partners with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) like Delaware Valley Community Health to bridge gaps—a model to cite.

Opioid Crisis Reinvestment

2. PA received $1.07B from opioid settlements, funding vending machines for naloxone in Kensington and mobile MAT (medication-assisted treatment) units. Drexel’s HEALing Communities Study integrates addiction care into ERs—mention this to show policy fluency.

Rural Hospital Crisis

3. PA leads the Northeast in rural hospital closures (9 since 2005). The PA Rural Health Model, an alternative payment system piloted in 18 hospitals, aims to stabilize care. Contrast this with Philly’s hospital saturation—Drexel trains students to navigate both extremes.

Tip: Name-drop Drexel’s Urban Health Collaborative when discussing systemic solutions.

3. Current Events & Social Issues: The Philly Lens

Local Flashpoints

• Maternal Mortality: Black women in Philly die at 3x the rate of white women postpartum. Drexel’s Maternal Health Hub trains doulas in Nicetown, where prenatal care deserts persist.

• Gun Violence as Public Health Crisis: Philly saw 516 homicides in 2023. Drexel’s CURE Violence Program treats violence like a disease, deploying “interrupters” in Germantown—tie this to trauma-informed care.

• Lead Poisoning: 11% of Philly kids have elevated blood lead levels. Drexel’s Edison Scholars Program screens homes in Strawberry Mansion—a model for preventive advocacy.

National Issues with PA Stakes

• Abortion Access: PA’s 24-week limit faces GOP challenges. Drexel OB-GYNs lead research on “shadow networks” helping low-income patients access care.

• Climate Health: Philly’s heat islands (e.g., Hunting Park) see 250% more ER visits during heat waves. Drexel’s EcoMAPPERs track environmental racism—link to asthma disparities.

Tip: Reference Drexel’s Community-Driven Research Day to highlight collaborative problem-solving.

4. The 5 Questions Drexel University College of Medicine is most likely to ask during your medical school interview

1. “Why Drexel? How does our ‘Urban Underserved’ track align with your goals?”

2. “A patient with limited English insists their daughter translates. How do you respond?”

3. “PA ranks 44th in mental health care access. Design a community intervention.”

4. “Describe a time you advocated for a patient. What systemic barriers existed?”

5. “How should medical schools address racism as a public health threat?”