technology-rich environment was to be created, and the new curriculum was to
address primary care health needs of Florida’s citizens, especially the elderly, rural
populations, minorities, and other underserved. Geriatrics medicine content was
to be included in all four years of the curriculum. The legislation identified five
Florida communities as potential sites for the new college’s clinical campuses and
named potential clinical affiliates.
The college’s admission process was to continue PIMS practices by admitting
applicants whose interests and/or backgrounds indicated that they might eventually
become primary care or geriatrics medicine physicians or would practice in
underserved areas. An admission goal of 120 students per class was established.
The law directed the college to increase diversity in the medical profession by
outreach to medically underrepresented populations. A department of family
medicine, a rural medicine training track, and a partnership with West Florida
Area Health Education Center for programs to support practice choices in primary,
geriatrics, and rural medicine was to be established. The law also directed
the new college of medicine to evolve a strategy to increase opportunities for
Florida medical graduates to enter graduate medical education in Florida.
These legislative directives made the initial steps in founding the new college
of medicine very clear. Administrators and faculty who could plan and implement
programs and curricula consistent with these directives had to be recruited
and in place in a very short period of time. The legislative requirement to admit
students and begin classes within the first year added urgency to acquisition
of provisional accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education
(LCME).
CHANGING THE CULTURE
ADMISSION AND OUTREACH
As directed by law, the college of medicine has retained the admission practices
of the PIMS, while enrolling larger number of students as the class size is increased.
There is a large applicant pool for medical school in Florida, due to the size of the
population and fewer than 600 positions in allopathic medical schools each year.
From the beginning, a major issue for meeting the legislative mandate has been to
enroll students who are likely to help fulfill the college’s mission. These are students
who have demonstrated, through life choices, a commitment to service of medically
underserved or elderly patients. This enrollment issue is addressed by admission and
outreach programs and practices.
112 | Breaking the Mold