title: America's medical school: 5,000 graduates since the "first class".
abstract: In 1980, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) graduated its first class of medical students. As a national university intended to produce "career-committed" military officers and future leaders of the Military Health System, USU functions as the service academy for military medicine and public health. More than 40 years after the school's charter and 5,000 graduates since the first class, we describe the original purpose of USU and provide an update on its achievements. In particular, we address the question of the "staying power" of the University's alumni-the degree to which graduation from the nation's military medical school is associated with long years of devoted service to military medicine. At a time when the MHS is confronting the challenge of extended deployments, rising health care costs, and a growing array of threats to our nation's health, we suggest that America needs USU now more than ever.
authors: Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
authors: Anthony R
authors: AR
authors: Artino
authors: F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Gilliland
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814.
authors: David F
authors: DF
authors: Cruess
authors: Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
authors: Steven J
authors: SJ
authors: Durning
mesh_terms: D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000266:history* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000266:history* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States