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. Every part of our curriculum has been designed to ensure that our students gain a deep understanding of their patients’ needs, how their communities, families, culture, and experiences impact their heath, and the skills to advocate for their patients, now, and in the future. At UH College of Medicine, our focus is on preventing and improving poor health — not simply treating it. We are committed to recruiting a diverse student body and having an inclusive educational environment. The future of medicine is here. Come help shape it for a better tomorrow.
PAGE 2 | University of Houston College of Medicine
The Future of Medicine Is Here | PAGE 3
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 health for underserved Houston and Texas residents, our program aims to produce doctors who will choose a career in primary care.
PAGE 4 | University of Houston College of Medicine
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.
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.
If your key driver is to help others and make a lasting impact, UH College of Medicine is for you.
The Future of Medicine Is Here | PAGE 5
WHY CHOOSE UH COLLEGE OF MEDICINE? 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. If your key driver is to help others and make a lasting impact, UH College of Medicine is for you.
PHYSICIAN EXCELLENCE Building on the University of Houston’s legacy of excellence as a Tier One institution, UH College of Medicine students will receive top-level medical training to prepare them for a bright future in medicine. Leading physician experts will equip students to provide comprehensive care from the routine to the most complex health conditions.
AWARD-WINNING MEDICAL TRAILBLAZERS UH College of Medicine faculty are trailblazing physicians and researchers who have been recognized locally and nationally for patient care 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.
PAGE 6 | University of Houston College of Medicine
STUDENT SUPPORT:
YOU’RE NOT ALONE At UH College of Medicine, you’re not alone. Our goal is to ensure students feel supported and valued at every stage of their medical education. We promote and provide supportive resources to ensure students’ health and well-being. • Learning communities are a group of students established to provide academic, social and peer support to one another. Learning communities can meet to study, socialize and support each other throughout the program. • Faculty support is essential to a successful student experience. Our faculty are mentors who provide academic support and can help guide your career, courses and how to manage stress. • Wellness is taught. Components of our curriculum will help students learn how to be resilient, protect their mental health and prevent burnout. • We’re built for wellness. Our campus is designed with wellness in mind. There are spaces for social gatherings, time alone, prayer, meditation and physical activity.
The Future of Medicine Is Here | PAGE 7
FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL: uhcom-admissions@uh.edu uh.edu/medicine