The document outlines plans to incorporate population health into the medical education curriculum at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University. It discusses assessing internal resources and community needs. A framework is proposed to introduce population health concepts into the 3rd and 4th year of medical school through lectures, seminars, clinical experiences, and service learning opportunities. The goal is to better prepare physicians for a healthcare system focused on prevention and community health as recommended by organizations like the Institute of Medicine and licensing exams. Contact information is provided for those wanting more details on the population health initiative.

1. The Medical College of Georgia
at Georgia Health Sciences University
Incorporating Population Health
into Medical Education
Kathryn Martin, PhD, MPA
Assistant Dean for Southeast Georgia Campus
T. Wayne Rentz, MD
Assistant Dean for Curriculum, Southeast Georgia Campus

2. Georgia Health Sciences
University
Medical College College of College of
of Georgia Dental Medicine Nursing
College of College of Allied
Graduate Studies Health Sciences

3. A state health
sciences university
with expanded
campuses
throughout Georgia

4. NW Clinical Campus
Rome, GA GHSU/UGA
Medical Partnership
Athens, GA
Georgia Health
Sciences University
Main Campus
Augusta, GA
SE Clinical Campus
Savannah, GA
SW Clinical Campus
Albany, GA

5. Georgia Health Sciences University Hospital
Affiliations in Southeast Georgia

6. Abraham Flexner 1866-1959 Educator at Carnegie

7. Population Health Southeast
Georgia Regional Campus

8. Population Health =
public health
community health
global health

9. Our Global Partner
• Map International
• Distributes more than $360 million in
medical aid
• Has offices in Atlanta, Brunswick, New
York, Chicago, Los Angeles, domestically
• International offices in South and Central
America, Eastern Europe, and Africa

10. How to Do it

12. “Why?”
• State health rankings
• Student demand for more than an MD
degree
• New leadership at MCG, now GHSU
• Opportunities in the region to offer
robust learning experiences

13. • What do these 30
counties have in
common with:
– Dominican
Republic
– Gaza Strip
– Thailand
– El Salvador

14. Dr. Peter Buckley, Dean

15. Dr. Ricardo Azziz, President

16. Overview
• Internal assessment of interests,
resources
• Community assessment of
interests, resources
• AAMC/LCME guidelines
• Syllabus/Timeline

17. The separation of the two disciplines has its roots
in the late 19th century, when medical schools began
to focus more on hospital-based care and scientific research
and less on community-based care and prevention.
The separation has continued partly because medical students
have jam-packed curricula and insufficient medical faculty
with public health expertise.

18. The Affordable Care Act
promises a future in which
preventive care and population health,
rather than procedures, are rewarded,
the gap between medicine and public health
may be closing

19. 2007 Institute of Medicine
report recommended that all physicians
receive basic training in public health.

20. Beginning next year,
the United States Medical Licensing Examination
(USMLE),
which is sponsored by
the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME),
will begin testing students on public health
principles.
Additional changes for all three parts of the exam
will be phased in over the next two years.

21. AAMC

22. Internal Assessment:
900 faculty, approximately
490 physicians and dentists
in residency and fellowship training,
and nearly 2500 students,
GHSU has unrivaled access to well
informed human resources to bring to bear
on the many challenges facing public
health in Georgia.

23. Internal Assessment:
Currently over 25 GHSU faculty have Masters in
Public Health or other related degrees:
• College of Allied Health Sciences
• College of Dental Medicine
• College of Graduate Studies
• College of Nursing, with branch campus in Athens
and
• Medical College of Georgia, with branch campuses
in Albany and Athens, and additional campuses
being developed in Savannah and Rome

24. child obesity
immunizations
car seats
exercise
balanced diet
child safety
education

25. transportation
home safety
medications
exercise
meals
isolation
social resources

26. family planning
drugs, alcohol
healthy diet
peer pressure
conflicts
smoking
depression

27. environment
stress
medications
anxiety
support systems
workplace
family

28. Framework for Population Health in 3rd year
• Directed readings
• Lectures
• Round table discussions/seminars
• Service participation
• Case project reviews (individual or groups)
• Interviews
• Brief reports (written or oral)
• On-line classes
• Integrated learning opportunities within clinical
rotations
• tours

29. Integrated Learning Opportunities Within
Clinical Rotations
• OB/GYN
• Pediatrics
• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Surgery
• Psychiatry
• Neurology

30. Framework for Population Health in 4th year
• Emergency Medicine
• Internal Medicine/Critical Care
• Internal Medicine/Ambulatory Care
• One month elective
• Extended service opportunity in global
health
• In-depth written report on topic of student’s
choice with oral presentation

31. Questions?
Kathryn Martin, PhD, MPA T. Wayne Rentz, MD
Assistant Dean Assistant Dean for Curriculum
912-819-8337 912-466-7540
912-655-3954 912-258-5101
katmartin@georgiahealth.edu trentz@georgiahealth.edu

32. Thank-you