Florida International University: development and accreditation of Miami's Public College of Medicine.
Anticipating pressing health care needs in the region, Florida International University (FIU) proposed the FIU College of Medicine (COM), which was approved by the Florida Board of Governors in March 2006. The FIU COM provides a program of study enabling graduates to pursue a wide spectrum of professional careers. This includes careers in general and subspecialty private practice, academic medicine, public service, health care, and public policy leadership. Irrespective of career choice, the special emphasis of the FIU COM mission is its focus on community health in a diverse metropolitan region. Clinical facilities are met through a public partner and multiple private hospital affiliations. Educational objectives are organized into five strands reflecting the breadth of medical education and running concurrently through the four-year curriculum: (1) human biology, (2) disease, illness, and injury, (3) clinical medicine, (4) professional development, and (5) medicine and society. Founding teaching faculty with expertise in the core basic sciences will not only introduce core scientific concepts during the initial seven months but reinforce these same concepts during organ system integrated courses and clerkships. The Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program is an FIU COM innovation in which each medical student is a member of a team that throughout the four-year curriculum identifies and addresses health care needs and factors affecting health outcomes. Preliminary approval of FIU COM was conferred in February 2008, with the first cohort of 40 students matriculating in August 2009.
Rock
John A
JA
Florida International University College of Medicine, 11200 SW Eighth Street, HLS II 693, Miami, FL 33199, USA. rockj@fiu.edu
Simpson
Joe Leigh
JL
Dambach
George
G
O'Leary
J Patrick
JP
Markham
Sanford
S
Bagby
Larry
L
Seecharan
Khaleel
K
Berkman
Ronald M
RM
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D000068:Accreditation; D003479:Curriculum; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D016730:Program Development; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards