GLMS EVENTS
A REPORT FROM THE DEAN AUTHOR Kathryn Vance
On March 8 , Dr . Charles Oberst , Chair of the CATO Senior Group , welcomed Dr . Toni Ganzel , Dean of the University of Louisville School of Medicine . Dr . Ganzel has served in this role for nine years and is also Vice President for Academic Medical Affairs and a Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery . Her presentation provided a snapshot of the current standing of the UofL School of Medicine and how the school and students have fared during COVID-19 .
The School of Medicine admits 162 students each year , with an approximate 50 / 50 ratio of male / female ( this year ’ s class is about 40 / 60 ). There are also 721 residents across 71 ACGME accredited programs . Diversity is paramount in the admissions process , making sure to include students , faculty and staff who are underrepresented in medicine , considering rural vs . urban , race , gender , economic status , etc ., as well as academics and character . About 75 % of students are natives of the commonwealth .
Admissions Committee members include basic science faculty , clinical faculty , medical students and community physicians . “ We do what ’ s called a holistic admissions process . When we are interviewing students , those interviewers are blinded to their academic record , so they ’ re just focused on non-academic aspects of their lives ,” she said . “ But that academic record must be strong because we need to ensure that our students are positioned for academic success when they come to medical school .”
Dr . Ganzel , on behalf of the School of Medicine , makes three promises to incoming students . 1 . We will prepare them for residency . 2 . We will actively engage them in their own educational experience . 3 . We will focus on each of them as a person . “ It ’ s not that we are just going to look at their academic success . But we are very interested in the development of their professional identity . We are very interested in student wellness and student health , both physical health and mental health .”
The White Coat Ceremony serves as a milestone for students , when they receive their first white coat and take the Oath of Geneva for the first time . GLMS provides the white coats , along with a student membership opportunity .
During our students ’ first two years , the medical school curriculum consists of gross and micro anatomy , the history and physical examination , along with integrated courses across disciplines such as immunology , physiology , pathology , pharmacology and more . Students also have a year-long introductory clinical medicine course with emphasis on topics such as cultural competency and health care disparities .
Problem-based learning is now a large part of the medical school education in the first two years . Small groups of students are paired with a faculty tutor as they work through clinical cases . The research and self-directed learning helps to prepare students more realistically for going into the clinic .
At the end of the second year , students take the USMLE Step 22 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
1 test ; the UofL School of Medicine has a 97 % pass rate , equal to the national pass rate . Previously , this has been a scored test , but educators felt there was undue pressure on students to excel with resultant severe anxiety , with many students “ studying for the test ” instead of attending to their current classes properly . Our incoming students will be the first class to take Step 1 as a pass / fail . Pass / Fail status levels the playing field as well , so that students with strong clinical skills but weaker “ book learning ” prowess will all now be judged much more by the Step 2 exam , which tests clinical knowledge as well .
Third-year students take core clerkships and also an elective to explore fields of interest to them . Fourth-year students have more freedom to customize their clinical experience to prepare for their residency . Students then take the USMLE Step 2 CK ( clinical knowledge ) test ; UofL has a 99 % pass rate , higher than the national average . The UofL School of Medicine also has an impressive 94 % graduation rate and a 97 % resident match rate .
“ Most accredited schools have a strong curriculum , but there are three things that distinguish the educational experience of our students . One is our Distinction Track Program ,” Dr . Ganzel said . This allows for extracurricular opportunities that provide students a mentored experience for academic exploration in an area of medicine for which they have a passion : research , medical education , public and global health , or business and leadership .
They also have a unique Advisory College Program , where students are assigned to one of six advisory colleges that they work with throughout their four years , participating in social and wellness activities alongside faculty and peer advisors . Students also have access to the Student Wellness Program , which provides wellness curricular electives such as basic meditation , nutrition and compassion cultivation training .
Dr . Ganzel gave a quick report on the adaptations they have implemented due to the pandemic , saying , “ This is the year with the asterisk .” In the beginning , they operated with a hybrid model , but with PPE shortages and viral risk soon shifted to an all-virtual model . Student precepting was delayed and eventually went virtual as well . Clerkships were modified to protect students , but by July they were able to be back in clinics . Despite the disruptions , students were still able to meet goals and complete modified experiences , as well as graduate on time . During this time , the School of Medicine provided extra tutoring , mental health counseling and wellness support .
Dr . Ganzel finished the presentation with some words of wisdom for incoming and prospective students . “ If you love science , if you love helping people , and you want to find a profession that brings that together , that is a true service profession , you should go into medicine .”
Kathryn Vance is the Communication Specialist at the Greater Louisville Medical Society .