It is no easier to get into than the regular school of medicine

Recruitment:
This new track at OU-Tulsa will gather the first group of students from the class matriculating in August 2008. The next interview/admission cycle (2008-09) will be the first to specifically recruit for tracks in community medicine, public health, research, and humanities. The first two tracks will be supported in Tulsa while the last two will be unique to OkC.

Financial incentive:
Specific plans for financial assistance are still being hammered out. However, it is a safe bet that OU-Tulsa College of Medicine, School of Community Medicine students will be provided grants to: pursue a concurrent MPH degree, fund international medicine experiences, support summer employment/learning between MS1 and MS2 years, and/or receive conditional tuition/fee waivers.

Curricular content:
What areas will this school emphasize along with the traditional M.D. coursework? Our students will become familiar with applied epidemiology, decision analysis/health economics, evidence-based healthcare, disease management, medical informatics, bioethics, health policy, role of physician leadership, environmental health, health disparities, medical geography, organizational behavior, emergency preparedness, complex adaptive systems, special populations, advocacy, and cultural competency. Many schools across the country have outstanding centers and programs from one or more of these disciplines. We will address them all, weaving these educational objectives throughout the four-year curriculum.

Experiential learning in community medicine will be stressed, just as the clinical clerkships require hands-on learning. Our university and community supports the entire range of practice settings from tertiary care hospitals to free clinics. We have community health centers, school-based clinics, and not-for-profit health and human service agencies.

Ultimately, we will strive to educate physicians who will train in all specialties and then enter practice with a point of view toward addressing health needs of the community through clinical service AND leadership in policy, community intervention, interdisciplinary work, and organization. This approach may better serve communities through prioritizing needs, reducing health disparities, enhancing “systemness”, and improving efficiency.

Thank you

Anon 2 – The press release and info that I found on OU Tulsa’s website indicates that out of state students will be included for selection into the program. Traditionally, OU’s out of state students have strong ties to Oklahoma, so I’m sure that will remain unchanged. They also noted that their admissions screening will include assessing for a desire to work in underserved areas (in OK). This also applies to instate applicants. Part of the tuition repayment program (intended as in incentive to keep bright young physicians from running from primary care toward so-called lifestyle specialties) requires a commitment to completing a designated number of years working in underserved areas. Google OU Tulsa College of Community Medicine and you’ll find much more info in greater detail.

Boomer Sooner!