Kentucky College Specializes in Premed : Transylvania: No Draculas, Just Doctors

LEXINGTON, Ky. —  The name Transylvania usually evokes dark thoughts of vampires, haunting castles and the bloodthirsty Count Dracula.

But there is a Transylvania University in Kentucky that has gained a glowing reputation for sending a remarkably high rate of students to medical schools.

Transylvania, the nation’s 16th oldest college, has had 89% of its premed students accepted to medical schools over the last 14 years. This year, 15 of 17 applicants gained admissions.

According to a Money magazine article, only 39% of the 50,000 applicants to medical school are accepted each year. The article also said that a 50% success rate in getting premed students into medical school is doing well.

‘Success Breeds Success’

“It’s been a successful program for so many years,” said Charles Shearer, Transylvania’s president. “Because it’s been strong, we talk about it a great deal and promote it. And I believe success breeds success. We have also strengthened it over the years.”

Transylvania is a private university affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Tuition, fees, room and board for one year total $9,623.

During the early 1800s, Transylvania, which means “over the fields,” was the dominant medical school in Kentucky, beginning with a medical department in 1799 and a full medical college in 1818. It was the fourth college with a medical department established in the United States and the first west of the Allegheny Mountains.

But internal problems forced the medical college to close in 1859, with one faction of teachers going north to Cincinnati and another west to Louisville.

Liberal Arts Encouraged

While the university has always provided a strong science curriculum, Shearer believes the liberal arts education a premed student receives has been an asset.

“We encourage a strong liberal arts base,” he said. “It’s important to be well-rounded. A doctor is expected to be a valuable member in the community. That’s one way we’ve strengthened the university.”

Monroe Moosnick, who headed the premed program for 38 years before stepping down in 1985, believes the attention given by faculty is a major factor in the overall success of the students.

“We take every student and encourage them,” he said. “My feeling is that any student is capable of completing the program and going on into a medical school.”

‘Super Teachers Who Care’

Bryan Shouse, of Lawrenceburg, Ky., who recently completed the premed program and will be attending the University of Louisville medical school this fall, agreed.

“The faculty are super teachers who care and they know their business,” he said. “They were able to communicate whatever the student needed to know.”

Shearer, who has been president of the 875-student university for three years, said, “Our professors motivate and encourage students to reach their potential. I think that environment is important in a relationship.”

Dr. Edward Leslie, who graduated from Transylvania in 1963, also stressed the liberal arts angle to premed education.

‘Better Versed’

“You don’t get that in the large universities,” said Leslie, who has a medical practice in Frankfort, Ky. “The large schools are geared more toward a science background.”

Shouse added, “The liberal arts courses helped. I was better versed during my (medical school) interview. When you can talk about something other than medicine, it helps you.”

Shearer said the university tries to keep the curriculum within standards of medical schools and the American Medical Assn.

“When you have a strong program, you want to keep it that way,” he said. “It’s probably easier to lose it than to build it.”