Purpose
As a large medical school (>435/year) with a diverse class, an early intervention (EI) coaching community called the Launch Team (LT) Program (LTP) was piloted to (1) ensure a successful transition to medical school and (2) assess the feasibility of implementation for all students.

Methods
Inclusion criteria included late admit, partner program admit, KCU masters graduate, or student repeating OMS I. Additionally, a pool of students opted into the LTP. 126 students were enrolled and 31 waitlisted students formed the control group. LTs met weekly for the first month and biweekly thereafter. LT coaches facilitated discussions focused on building community, metacognition, and professional identity formation. Academic metrics and LTP attendance will be compared to the control group and the cohort at the conclusion of the first semester. Student and coach feedback were collected via focus groups.

Results
80% of the students who failed the first systems course were in an LT which dropped to 50% of those who failed the second systems course. Lessons learned included stigma of inclusion/exclusion, absenteeism with proximity to an exam, and others. Coaches reported greater job satisfaction and greater efficiency of advising in a group format.

Conclusion
Prior to the LTP, EI began reactively after the first exam. We accurately predicted the students who experienced academic difficulty, and the LTP served as a proactive early alert system. 50% of those who failed the second-systems course were in an LT, indicating a missed opportunity to provide similar levels of EI support as for LT participants. Mid-pilot results were compelling and the LTP will be expanded to serve all incoming students of the Class of 2029. This pilot study might be useful to other institutions considering EI options at a large scale.