IF I’M INTERESTED NOT IN THE OU SCHOOL OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE, CAN I STILL DO MY 3RD AND 4TH YEAR IN TULSA?

WILL APPLYING TO THE OU SCHOOL OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE TRACK INCREASE OR DECREASE MY CHANCES OF BEING ADMITTED TO THE OU COLLEGE OF MEDICINE?

The M.D. degree that meets the standards of the OU College of Medicine will be the degree conferred upon a graduate of the OU School of Community Medicine.  The designation of School of Community Medicine track will be added to the OU College of Medicine diploma.  Community medicine is a track that the student chooses during the admission process.

The School of Community Medicine curriculum fully prepares students for both specialist and primary care residencies.  The curriculum develops a new kind of physician expert who will provide personal care to patients, while improving the health of entire communities.  Students will be able to develop multiple competencies through education and training that supplements the traditional medical school curriculum in public health, translational research, and clinical epidemiology.  Training will also include a higher level of clinical experience in OU Longitudinal clinics and with vulnerable populations in underserved areas as focused public health instruction and an appreciation of community needs is gained through interaction with other health care professionals and community service providers.  An undergraduate “fast-track” is also planned with selected area universities to the medical program.

School of Community Medicine students are recruited from within Oklahoma and nationally.  Students who want to study general medical care coupled with care for underserved community populations will be attracted by the new curriculum that develops multiple competencies through expanded classes in public health and community service. Like other medical students, students in the School of Community Medicine will be bright, articulate and interested in medicine, surgery, and other specialty care and have a specific interest in public health and in serving vulnerable populations. 

Currently the OUSCM is accepting 40 medical students per year.  When fully realized, the OU School of Community Medicine will graduate approximately 70 medical students and 25 physician assistants per year (per class size of 200 medical students at University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City).  In addition, plans are to increase the number of resident physicians in specialties needed in Oklahoma by 25 percent from 201 to 251.

Educational grants and a medical school loan payback program are available for students, residents, and faculty physicians who choose to pursue service and scholarship in meeting the special needs of vulnerable and at-risk populations, with the goal of improving the healthcare system in Oklahoma.  With these incentive programs, the School of Community Medicine aims to reduce the burden of medical school loans and income potential disparity that tend to divert graduates from altruistic service goals.  Financial Incentives.

Yes! The faculty, staff and students of the School of Community Medicine are committed to the interests of the entire state of Oklahoma.  It is an initiative that will educate the type of physicians who will seek careers in solving the medical needs of Oklahomans living in underserved areas, both rural and urban.  Moving beyond the idea of increasing primary care for rural communities, the school’s programs will educate physicians who seek systematic solutions to medical services in communities which are hard to reach.  The educational grants are currently available regardless of residence, and the loan payback program is available for service with any vulnerable population in Northeastern Oklahoma.

The George Kaiser Family Foundation is donating a total of $50 million to establish the OU School of Community Medicine.  Of this gift, $35 million will establish 35 new endowed chairs, faculty from different specialty areas, recruited nationally to provide the advanced components of the curriculum and the innovation needed to improve the health status of Oklahomans.  Additionally, $7.5 million will provide student educational grants and medical school loan payback programs and $7.5 million will fund start-up, medical school infrastructure expansion and initial recruiting expenses.

Overall Health Status – The health status of Americans is improving and the average lifespan is increasing.  The same is not true in Oklahoma.  In fact, Oklahoma is the only state in which average lifespan has declined over the past 25 years.  Oklahoma ranks last (50th) in the U.S. in access to health care, quality of care, health equity, avoidable hospital use and cost, and health status.
Significant Health Disparities – The average life span is 14 years less in the lowest income ZIP code of Tulsa than that in the wealthiest ZIP code.  In addition, the disparity in access to physicians in low-income areas is alarming; in many communities there are no immediately available healthcare services or professionals.
Physician Workforce – Oklahoma ranks 45th nationally in number of physicians per capita, 25 percent below the national average.  This shortage exists in not only primary care, but is most critical in specialty care.  Physician workforce is in greater demand than ever, especially in underserved communities, both in rural and urban.
Physician Skills – Traditional medical education emphasizes individual acute care.  Physicians may choose high paying specialties in order to accelerate the payment of medical school debt.  Our motivation is to sustain the native altruism of medical students for improving the health status of all patients, by reducing the anxiety of debt, while meeting the needs of communities that are not being served well by the current healthcare system.

The OU School of Community Medicine track is an essential, integrated component of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.  Medical student applicants are admitted to the OU College of Medicine and select the OU School of Community Medicine track in the application process.

Applying to the OUSCM track will not in affect your admission to the OU College of Medicine.  However it is important to note that an applicant who does not indicate interest in the OUSCM track, will not be offered an OUSCM track interview, even if offered an OUCOM interview. 

No.  Applicants for the OUSCM track will be screened and interviews will be offered to the highest quality applicants who show evidence of an interest in community medicine and working with underserved populations.  Following interviews by the OUSCM admissions committee decisions will be made regarding acceptance into the School of Community Medicine track. 

Applicants should indicate their interest in the OUSCM track at time of application.  If you are offered a position in the OUSCM track, you will need to make a decision at the time of acceptance to the OU College of Medicine. 

Yes, but a limited number of spots are available on both campuses.  Students should be prepared to make their decision about which track to choose, upon acceptance to the OU College of Medicine.  Students who gain an interest in community medicine during their first two years of medical school may be considered for a spot in the OUSCM track if one becomes available.