Editor,
This letter is in response to the article published in the Daily Lobo on Tuesday on the BA/MD program.
The article claims students in the BA/MD program are stealing away spots from other pre-medical students in science classes, specifically biology. The truth is that the BA/MD program students do not take away spots from fellow students, because the program arranges for a separate section specifically for us.
We do not enroll in the regular section but, instead, in a reserved section. These spots are only available for BA/MD students.
It's easy to argue that the program benefits other UNM students because BA/MD students enrolled in the reserved section are not competing for spots in the general sections. In essence, by giving BA/MD students a separate section, the program makes sure other students are able to fill the places opened by us.
Reserved sections are not available to BA/MD students in all courses, and for the majority of classes we take, we have to compete with other students to get into them.
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Yes, the BA/MD program offers its students many opportunities. But the goal of the program is extremely ambitious.
Students in the BA/MD program are recruited from high schools throughout New Mexico with the majority coming from nonurban areas. The program is funded by the New Mexico State Legislature. The idea is to train new physicians who will serve in New Mexico's most medically under-served areas.
The students in the program have made a commitment to the medically under-served areas of New Mexico. The BA/MD program is working to meet the needs of New Mexicans. We never wanted to alienate or cause inconvenience to anyone, especially fellow UNM students. Reserved spots are just a way to help us meet the high expectations and major commitment made by the program administrators, faculty, University and the Legislature.
David Medrano
UNM student
