For a number of years, the KU School of Medicine has been ranked as one of the country’s top medical schools for producing both primary care and rural physicians. A new report released this week further illustrates our dedication to training primary care doctors and those who practice in rural and underserved areas.
In a first-ever study on how well the nation's medical schools are meeting their social mission, the KU School of Medicine was ranked 5th among 141 U.S. medical and osteopathic schools. The study was published this past Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The George Washington University researchers who conducted the study defined social mission as the percentage of graduates practicing primary care, the number of graduates from underrepresented minorities, and how many work in health-professional-shortage areas.
This is a unique study in many ways. The great majority of the assessments of medical schools draw heavily on the number of research dollars an institution attracts and the school’s overall reputation. The George Washington study, however, looks strictly at a school’s ability to produce physicians – and in particular – physicians who are helping to ease the crushing shortage of primary care and rural doctors. While we often point with great pride to KU Medical Center’s rising reputation as a center for biomedical research and our growth in research dollars, our mission to educate the doctors of tomorrow never wavers.
We are committed to making sure our medical students leave our institution with all of the cutting-edge skills they need to be the best physicians. But we also want to ensure that they’re going to be compassionate, well-rounded doctors who are able to connect on a personal level with their patients. Being ranked among the top five schools in the country when it comes to social mission is an indicator that we are on the right track.
You can read the entire social mission study at the Annals of Internal Medicine website.
Parvesh Kumar, MD, professor and chairman of radiation oncology, was given the Joe and Jean Brandmeyer Professorship at an investiture ceremony on Tuesday. Pictured here are: (back row) Roy Jensen, MD, director of the KU Cancer Center; Bob Page, CEO of The University of Kansas Hospital; and Joe Brandmeyer; (front row) Dale Seuferling, president of the KU Endowment Association; Bernadette Gray-Little, PhD, KU Chancellor; Barbara Atkinson, MD, Executive Vice Chancellor at KU Medical Center; Dr. Parvesh Kumar; and Jean Brandmeyer.
Around Campus
The March 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology was devoted entirely to hearing and balance research being conducted at KU Medical Center. The issue was edited by Mark Chertoff, MD, associate professor of hearing and speech, and is comprised of articles authored by faculty and students/residents from the Departments of Hearing and Speech, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Biostatistics on the KUMC campus, and the Dept. of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and Disorders on the Lawrence campus. Read more here.
Carol Smith, RN, PhD, a professor in the School of Nursing, has been selected to join the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) for 2010. This selection is a prestigious recognition that is bestowed on individuals in the nursing profession who have contributed in significant and outstanding ways to the practice, academic or research goals of nursing. This honor as a Fellow in the AAN is especially well-deserved and places Carol among our elite nursing leaders.
Please join me on Tuesday, June 22, at 2:00 p.m. for the official PDK (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Walk kickoff under the “PKD Tree” located just south of the Olathe Pavilion entrance. KUMC’s fundraising goal for the Walk is $20,000, so we need as many of you as possible to participate. The Walk will be held on Saturday, September 11, at Theis Park on the Plaza. I encourage you to organize a team with your department, friends or family. Teams registering at the kickoff on Tuesday will be eligible to win some great prizes, or you can register online. For more information about the walk, contact Sue Full, the PKD Walk coordinator. See you on Tuesday!
Medical Education Retreat
The KU School of Medicine held its annual Medical Education Retreat last Friday. We had a terrific turnout for the retreat and those in attendance enthusiastically participated in the discussions around how to improve the medical education we provide at KU. The event's new format allowed faculty and others at the retreat to explore the best ways to evaluate and assist medical students, and there seemed to be significant support among the group for focusing on the importance of improving doctor-patient communication. My thanks to all the faculty, students and learning specialists who helped make this year's Medical Education Retreat one of the most productive ever.
In the News
The new $15 million Children's Campus of Kansas City had its grand opening last week. The new facility will be the home for KUMC's Project Eagle, KU's Juniper Gardens and The Family Conservancy. The organizations hope to serve at least 1,000 area families in need of health, education and social services. I know we are very excited about the opportunities the Children's Campus will give us to expand community health care programs with an emphasis on prevention, early detection and treatment. You can watch the Fox 4 News coverage of the grand opening here.
The KHI News Service published an fascinating story this week on the growing number of physicians who are choosing to practice exclusively in hospitals. The article quoted Lisa Vansaghi, MD, director of the internal medicine residency program at the KU School of Medicine. Read more here.