![Lecture hall full of nicely dressed students showing their certificates](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/large_16_9/public/2024-05/main_photo_on_the_right_side_panel.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=qlNFqjmy)
LEAD is a joint venture between the Office of Admissions, the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI) and the Office of Medical Student Education (OMSE). Admitted students should express interest in the LEAD program to the Office of Admissions for the Medical School. Selections will be offered and made at the discretion of the Dean and Office of Admissions.
![Students on a balance beam in the woods working together](/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2024-05/summer_programming.jpg?itok=r3Bao5uN)
![Auditorium full of students listening to a lecture and taking notes](/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2024-05/academic_programming.jpg?itok=oYbc1uGq)
![Two diverse men conversing in a group off camera](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16_9/public/2024-05/health_equity_and_inclusion.jpg?h=e5aec6c8&itok=_IvbWbxp)
OHEI faculty and staff provide leadership, mentorship, and social justice advocacy development; exposure to social determinants of health; community building; and social identity development.
![Row of students with focus on Black woman with braids wearing glasses and colorful scarf](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16_9/public/2022-12/DEI-LEAD-Learning%20to%20Lead.jpg?h=711002db&itok=US_sEROh)
OMSE staff assist with leadership strategies, including setting goals, improving organizational skills, and providing techniques to grow as a leader and mentor peers in the transition to medical school.
![Two college age students give each other a double high five in a field.](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16_9/public/2024-05/continued_support.jpg?h=e5aec6c8&itok=rWFP3iSL)
Students who participate in LEAD receive ongoing support from OHEI and are encouraged to stay connected to their cohort throughout medical school to coordinate efforts, share best practices, and serve as support to one another.
![Portrait of Krupa Patel](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2024-05/krupa_patel_testimonial.jpg?h=7a8a8cdf&itok=SX1b2uO_)
"The LEAD pre-matriculation program has been transformative for me, providing invaluable opportunities to cultivate my leadership skills and engage with diverse perspectives. By fostering a supportive community and offering tailored resources, LEAD has empowered me to approach academic challenges with resilience and confidence, paving the way for personal and professional growth."
![Portrait of Rija Awan](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2024-05/rija_awan_testimonial.png?h=87f9ea7e&itok=PQQd113H)
"My experience with LEAD was amazing! From the moment I stepped into the program, I was welcomed into a community of passionate individuals dedicated to personal and professional growth. As the first in my family to attend medical school, the pre-matriculation and longitudinal programs have also helped me gain a better understanding of how to navigate medical school."
![Portrait of Sahil Tolia](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2024-05/sahil_tolia_testimonial.jpg?h=5185f460&itok=12DTf6lr)
"Participating in LEAD has allowed me to build meaningful relationships with my classmates and learn how we can use our diverse passions to tackle important challenges within medicine. LEAD’s mix of educational and social activities has helped me grow as a student, leader, and friend to others here at Michigan!"
![Group posing outside in front of a fountain](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16_9/public/2024-05/sonal-joshi-lead-2021.jpg?h=a32b3037&itok=6xmsmW_Y)
About a year ago, over fifty thousand pre-med students began the application process for medical school. In a time of immense uncertainty, social isolation, civil unrest, and fear of losing loved ones, applicants like myself experienced an added level of unpredictability...
![Man sitting at a table working on a laptop with a baby on his lap](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16_9/public/2024-05/jake-2-500x380.jpg?h=1defd512&itok=Yq30I8E_)
Not every path is linear, especially when it comes to going to medical school. Some students may move directly from their undergraduate into M1, others may take a few years off before entering the field...
![Group photo of students in a field](https://patientcare-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16_9/public/2024-05/picture-1-lead-at-adventure-leadership-300x200.jpg?h=eebaf6c7&itok=F5MFSzqg)
Before coming to the University of Michigan Medical School, I spent three years building the nonprofit organization, Lunar Doula Collective (LDC)...