Stanford, Duke, Michigan Deans Talk About Diveristy

The Deans of Admission for the medical schools at Stanford, Duke, and the University of Michigan spoke about diversity and the medical profession at a recent panel hosted by the Yale College Dean’s Office and the Yale Health Professions Advisory Program.

The three agreed that health care professionals have the potential to promote positive social change through their practice of medicine. "Medicine offers you a license to do an amazing amount of good," said Stanford's Dr. Gabriel Garcia.

They agreed that extracurricular and community activities played an important role in their own preparation for medical school and that their schools look for applicants now who are not only strong academically but also active outside the classroom.

One of the deans noted that there is a significant difference between a technician and a healer, and that medical schools are looking for candidates with the ethical and social perspectives required of healers.

Source: "Panel Addresses Med. School Diversity," by Alyssa Nguyen-Phuc, the Yale Daily News, January 30, 2007

U. of Hawaii Gets Record High Number of Applications

The University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine has received over 1,900 applications for the 64 first-year class spaces available in Fall 2007.

This year's applicant pool marks a 16.5 per cent increase from last year and sets a record high for the number applications submitted to the School in a single admissions season.

Only 223 of this year's applications are from Hawaii residents, while the remainder are from non-residents. The School's policy is to enroll no more than 6 out-of-state students in each class.

Source: "University of Hawaii Medical School Attracts Record-High Number of Applicants," by Gregg Takayama, the Hawaii Reporter, January 12, 2007

Virginia Plans Fifth Medical School

rVirginia officials have confirmed their interest in establishing a new state-supported medical school, the fifth one in that state.

The school would be a partnership between Virginia Tech and Carilion Health System and would be built somewhere in the Roanoke region.

Virginia is presently home to three state-supported medical schools and one private medical school. State officials are concerned that the existing schools are not able to train enough physicians to keep pace with the healthcare needs of Virginia's growing and aging population.

Source: "Kaine to Announce Plans for a 5th Medical School in Virginia," by Sue Lindsey, AP (Roanoke, VA), January 2, 2007

Case Western Plans Joint M.D./D.M.D. Degree Program

Case Western University is launching an innovative joint degree program this fall that will graduate health care professionals with degrees in medicine and dentistry.

The program, the first of its kind in the country, will enroll approximately five students each fall. Students will pursue a five-year curriculum that is similar to the training that oral surgeons -- who undergo a medical residency following dental school -- undergo.

Students will qualify for dental licensure upon graduation, and for medical licensure after completion of a medical residency.

Case officials said that the program grew out of a growing appreciation for the linkages between physical and oral health. For example, recent research has found linkages between gum disease and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and fetal development.

Graduates of the M.D./D.M.D. program are expected to be well-prepared for expanded general practice dentistry, for further dental and medical specialization, and for research careers.

Source: "Combining Medical and Dental Education," by Paul Thacker, Inside Higher Education, January 3, 2007