IT’S A NEW DAY IN MEDICINE The University of Houston College of Medicine is taking a bold and fresh new approach to medical education. The status quo hasn’t improved health. The U.S. spends more on health care than any other developed nation; yet, we have some of the poorest health outcomes. To end the downward trend, UH College of Medicine is tackling a key contributor to poor health — a shortage of primary care doctors. We will groom students to become primary care physicians who deliver compassionate, high-value care to underserved communities in Houston and Texas. At UH College of Medicine, our focus is on preventing and improving poor health — not simply treating it. Students will receive the highest quality medical training to provide comprehensive health care. By teaching students to address key factors that affect their patients’ health — such as food insecurity, the environment and housing — we can help eliminate health disparities in our urban and rural areas. The future of medicine is here.
STEPHEN J. SPANN, M.D., MBA Vice President for Medical Affairs and Founding Dean of the College of Medicine
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OUR MISSION: OUR VALUES MISSION STATEMENT UH College of Medicine is accountable to society for improving the overall health and health care of the population of Greater Houston, Texas and beyond.
VALUES: WE RISE
R
RESPECT
I
INTEGRITY
Develop a culture of respect where compassion, active listening, appreciation and constructive collaboration are foremost.
Be mindful and reflective about our behavior while maintaining honest and authentic professional relationships. Maintain a standard that supports ethical, moral and evidence-based decisions. Hold oneself and others accountable to the continuous pursuit of excellence.
S
Lead with compassion, humility, openness and supportive behaviors.
E
Our commitment to fostering an inclusive and unbiased environment and holding space for safe dialogue.
SERVANT LEADERSHIP
EQUITY
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OUR PROGRAM Our MD program will provide students with the tools and training to be successful physicians and improve health in underserved populations by taking a comprehensive, community- and team-based approach to patient care. Students will not simply learn how to diagnose and treat disease, but how to prevent it. It’s medicine with a mission: Improved health and healthy communities.
MD CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS UH College of Medicine’s unique and innovative curriculum will prepare students to practice high-quality, high-value, patient-centered medicine in a rapidly changing and complex health system. • Students spend one half-day weekly in a primary care clinical setting throughout the entire curriculum • A focus on socioeconomic, environmental and other societal factors (social determinants of health) to improve patient outcomes • Enhanced learning via a hybrid clinical-clerkship model that exposes students to various fields of medicine, simultaneously, in hospital and outpatient settings • Teams consisting of physician faculty, community health workers, and medical, pharmacy and social work students, will make regular visits to households facing significant health disparities to address health improvement needs
Our approach to medical education is rooted in sound clinical training aimed at overall wellness. The Future of Medicine Is Here | PAGE 5
WHY THE PRIMARY CARE FOCUS? Primary care physicians are often the first point of patient contact, provide comprehensive care and develop long-term patient relationships, making them a key point-of-influence in patients’ lives. Yet, in Texas, we face a critical shortage of primary care doctors, especially in urban and rural communities. To improve the health of underserved Houston and Texas residents, our program aims to produce doctors who will choose a career in primary care.
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TEXAS’ PRIMARY CARE BY THE NUMBERS Texas has a low primary care physicians-to-population ratio compared to other states. And its ethnic makeup of the physician workforce is not reflective of the population.
47
th
Out of 50 states in primary care physicians-topopulation1
40%
of Texans are Hispanic3
13%
of Texans are African American3
4,800
Additional primary care physicians are needed in Texas today to meet the national average1,2
10%
of Texas’ Primary Care Physicians are Hispanic4
8%
of Texas’ Primary Care Physicians are African American4
SOURCES: 1. Association of American Medical Colleges 2019 Texas Physician Workforce Data Report 2. Association of American Medical Colleges 2019 State Physician Workforce Data Report 3. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates 2019 4. Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Projections of Supply and Demand for Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists, 2017-2030
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WHY WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT? MISSION DRIVEN University of Houston College of Medicine is founded on a social mission to improve health in underserved communities in Houston and across Texas. We recruit students whose key motivation is to help others and make a lasting impact.
GAME-CHANGING CURRICULUM: GAME-CHANGING HEALTH CARE Our approach to medical education is rooted in sound clinical training aimed at overall wellness. We don’t train students to simply treat illness, but to take a holistic approach to improving patients’ health. We address the social and economic factors that affect health outcomes, and work with a variety of professionals to eliminate health disparities in high-priority communities.
AWARD-WINNING MEDICAL TRAILBLAZERS UH College of Medicine faculty are trailblazing physicians and researchers who have been recognized for patient care, research and transformational approaches to improving health. Moreover, each faculty member still practices medicine each week, to stay in tune with the practical applications of what they teach.
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RESEARCH AT UH COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Our research propels improvements in patient care and health. Building on the University of Houston’s legacy of excellence as a Tier One research institution, UH College of Medicine is conducting interdisciplinary research to find innovative solutions to some of the most pressing issues in health and health care. Our researchers have uncovered novel solutions and discoveries in medical science and patient care. Together, we conduct clinical and translational research, with an emphasis on population health, behavioral health, community engagement and the social determinants of health.
THE HUMANA INSTITUTE The Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute at the University of Houston will produce high-impact research that changes policy, facilitates innovative educational programs for future health care providers and creates novel programs that support community transformation. The Humana Institute is a strategic partnership between UH and Humana. The Future of Medicine Is Here | PAGE 9
WE’RE COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY HEALTH Founded on deep roots in the Houston community, UH College of Medicine has a vision to transform health and health care in communities with major health disparities. Our work is driven by community need. We are engaging the community to learn about their priorities and key approaches for improvement. Household-Centered Care Teams consisting of physician faculty, community health workers, and medical, pharmacy and social work students will make regular visits to households facing significant health disparities to address health improvement needs. Community Partners Transformational change isn’t achieved alone. We are creating strategic partnerships with grassroots, local and regional partners to improve health outcomes in Houston.
Rendering of the future University of Houston College of Medicine building. Slated to open in the summer of 2022, the three-story, 130,000-square-foot building will be constructed on 43 acres and feature modern classroom and meeting spaces, state-of-the-art anatomy and simulation suites, and more.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION uh.edu/medicine