University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson explained

University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Type:Public medical school
Parent:University of Arizona
Head Label:Dean
Head:Michael Abecassis, MD, MBA
Academic Staff:1,432[1]
Administrative Staff:1,000
Students:2,365
Undergrad:1,850
Doctoral:515
Other:22
City:Tucson
State:Arizona
Country:United States
Campus:Urban
Colors:UA Red and Arizona Blue
Website:medicine.arizona.edu

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, located in Tucson, Arizona, is one of three MD granting medical schools in the state of Arizona, affiliated with the University of Arizona. The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix was initially established as a branch campus in 2007, but became an independent medical school in 2012.[2] The College of Medicine – Tucson campus is located at the University of Arizona Health Sciences (UAHS) center on the campus of the University of Arizona and is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents. Traditionally, the college accepted Arizona residents exclusively. However, beginning the 2009–2010 incoming class, the school changed its policy to allow for admission of "highly-qualified," non-residents.[3]

History

The College of Medicine at the University of Arizona was founded in 1967 with an initial class of 32 students. It has since grown to enroll approximately 125 students annually and has graduated over 4,000 physicians since its inception.[4]

Beginning in the early 1990s, a Phoenix program was established to allow the school's 3rd and 4th year medical students to complete clinical clerkships at Phoenix-area hospitals. In August 2007, a 4-year branch campus was founded at the Phoenix Biomedical Campus (PBC), on the former site of the historic Phoenix Union High School, and its inaugural class of 24 students was admitted.[5] In 2012, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) granted preliminary accreditation to the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix and the recruitment and admissions processes for the two colleges are now independent.[2] Though the Phoenix campus began as collaboration between the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and the neighboring Translational Genomics Research Institute, Arizona State University pulled out of the partnership in April 2010, citing state budget cuts.[6] Both colleges are now associated solely with the University of Arizona.

In 1974, the University of Arizona received $5.5 million from the Arizona State Legislature to renovate its football stadium. A provision of this legislation (ARS 15-1630) prohibited the school's associated academic medical center, then known as University Medical Center from performing abortions (unless the mother's life was in jeopardy) or teaching its medical students about various abortion procedures. This legislation is still in effect for every public medical school in Arizona, making Arizona the only state which prohibits the teaching of abortion in public universities. To address this issue, Planned Parenthood implemented a rotation for obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) residents to receive abortion training to meet Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements. Residents and medical students have thus maintained the ability to study the medical and surgical abortion procedures necessary to complete their training. Second and third year Ob/Gyn residents have scheduled time available to pursue training. Medical students may pursue training on an elective basis.

Medical education

The standard curriculum is a four-year program which currently graduates approximately 135 students per year.[7]

Classes for the first two years are graded on a Pass/Fail basis. In the last two years, students complete clinical clerkships at a number of Tucson-area hospitals and have the option to rotate in Phoenix as well. Grades for the last two years are assigned on a Pass/Fail/Honors basis. This system is similar to the curriculum of most other medical schools. The college also offers three dual degree programs: a joint MD/PhD, Masters of Public Health (MD/MPH), and Masters of Business Administration (MD/MBA) degree through the College of Medicine, the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and the Eller College of Management, respectively.[8]

Admissions and rankings

Admission to the College of Medicine – Tucson is very competitive with nearly 10,000 applicants vying for 120 spots for the 2022 graduating class.[9] Beginning in the 2009–2010 admissions cycle, the school began to accept "extremely qualified" out of state applicants with a cap of 25% of the incoming class. Starting in the 2011–2012 cycle, this cap was raised to 50% due to the increased number of seats at the recently established Phoenix campus. The College of Medicine, like most medical schools across the country, does not allow international students unless recommended by a faculty of the college and approved by the Dean under very special circumstances.[10] The average GPA and MCAT for the Class of 2018 was 3.7 and 30.5 respectively.[7] Starting in the 2010–2011 admissions cycle, the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) separated the application process between Phoenix and Tucson, allowing students to apply for these campuses separately.

In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Arizona College of Medicine #74 for primary care and #63 for research. Its primary affiliated academic medical center, Banner University Medical Center Tucson, was ranked #39 for nephrology, #46 for geriatrics, and high performing in five other specialties. The College of Medicine ranked #7 among the nation's medical schools for Hispanic students, according to Hispanic Business Magazine.[11] [12]

In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked the College of Medicine – Tucson's affiliate hospital, Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, No. 1 in Tucson and No. 3 in Arizona. Nationally, the hospital was ranked No. 36 for Gynecology, No. 49 for Pulmonology and No. 50 for Nephrology.[13]

Graduate medical education

The College of Medicine sponsors nearly 50 residency and fellowship programs across almost every specialty in medicine. Over 700 residents[14] and fellows train at a combination of the University's two local affiliated academic medical centers (Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center South), the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS), and several other hospitals in the Tucson area.[15] Many of the privately employed Tucson-area physicians and all physicians who practice at the SAVAHCS hospital have University of Arizona faculty appointments.

Residency and Fellowship programs

Residency programs

AnesthesiologyGeneral SurgeryOphthalmologyPsychiatry
DermatologyInternal MedicineOrthopaedic SurgeryRadiation Oncology
Emergency MedicineNeurologyOtolaryngologyRadiology
Emergency Medicine/PediatricsNeurosurgeryPathologyUrology
Family MedicineObstetrics & GynecologyPediatricsVascular Surgery

Fellowship programs[16] [17]

Acute CareEndocrinologyInterventional CardiologyPediatric Developmental and Behavioral
Allergy & ImmunologyEpilepsyMaternal Fetal MedicinePediatric Pulmonary
Anesthesia Critical CareGastroenterologyMedical Toxicology (at Banner – University Medical Center South)Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Anesthesia Pain ManagementGastrointestinal PathologyMicrographic Surgery and Dermatologic OncologyRheumatology
Behavioral NeurologyGeriatricsMinimally Invasive SurgerySports Medicine
Body ImagingHematology and Medical OncologyMolecular Genetics PathologyStroke and Vascular Neurology
Cardiovascular DiseaseHematopathologyNephrologySurgery Critical Care
Cardiothoracic SurgeryHospice and Palliative MedicineNeuroradiologyVascular and Interventional Radiology
Child and Adolescent PsychiatryInfectious DiseasesNuclear MedicineVascular Surgery
Emergency Medicine Critical CareIntegrative MedicinePediatric Endocrinology

Academic departments

The College of Medicine – Tucson is divided into a number of basic science and clinical departments. Clinical departments provide medical care (through Banner – University Medical Center [at both Tucson and South campus hospitals]), teaching and perform research. Faculty in the basic science departments teach undergraduate, medical, and graduate/doctoral courses in multiple programs.[18]

Commitment to Underserved People (C.U.P.) Clinic

Established in 1979 by medical students and faculty mentor Dr. Steve Spencer, this program allows for attendings, residents and medical students to serve underrepresented individuals in Tucson and Southern Arizona. Medical students earn elective credit by seeing patients to perform primary and preventative care, and providing diagnostic procedures under the supervision of physicians.[19]

Deans

YearsDean
1964–1971[20] Merlin K. DuVal
1971–1973Jack M. Layton (acting)
1973–1974Merlin K. DuVal (acting)
1974–1977Neal A. Vanselow
1977–1987Louis J. Kettel
1988–2001[21] James E. Dalen
2001–2002[22] William S. Dalton
2002–2003[23] Kenneth Ryan (acting)
2003–2008[24] Keith A. Joiner
2008–2009Steve Goldschmid (acting)
2009–2014[25] Steve Goldschmid
2014–2016[26] Joe "Skip" Garcia
2016–2018 [27] Charles B. Cairns
2018–2019 [28] Irving L. Kron (interim)
2019–present [29] Michael M. I. Abecassis

Notable faculty and alumni

The University of Arizona is home to a number of nationally and internationally known clinicians and scientists:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fast Facts: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson . 7 November 2019 . UAHS Office of Public Affairs . 6 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Campuses. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2017-02-25.
  3. Web site: Admissions, College of Medicine, the University of Arizona . www.admissions.medicine.arizona.edu . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040904011106/http://www.admissions.medicine.arizona.edu/ . 4 September 2004 . dead.
  4. Web site: History. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2017-02-25.
  5. News: College Timeline. 2014-12-22. The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. 2017-02-25. en.
  6. News: Arizona State University to Withdraw From Partnership With University of Arizona on College of Medicine-Phoenix. https://web.archive.org/web/20100626062824/http://uanews.org/node/31043. usurped. June 26, 2010. UANews. 2017-01-09.
  7. Web site: Facts and Figures. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2017-02-25.
  8. Web site: Dual Degree MD Programs. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2019-01-03.
  9. Web site: Applications to Medical School in Tucson Reach Record High. Arizona Daily Star. en. 2019-01-03.
  10. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2017-01-09.
  11. Web site: USNews.com: University of Arizona.
  12. http://www.hispanic7.com/university_of_arizona_college_of_medicine_ranked_at_top_in_hispanic_outreach.htm
  13. Web site: Banner – UMC Phoenix and Tucson Named 'Best Hospitals'. UANews. August 20, 2018. University of Arizona. en. 2019-01-03.
  14. Web site: College of Medicine – Tucson Fast Facts. UAHS Office of Public Affairs. en. 2019-01-03.
  15. Web site: Graduate Medical Education. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2017-02-25.
  16. Web site: Residencies and Fellowships at Banner University Medical Center – Tucson . Office of Graduate Medical Education. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2019-01-03.
  17. Web site: Residencies and Fellowships at Banner University Medical Center – South . Office of Graduate Medical Education. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2019-01-03.
  18. Web site: Academic Departments. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. en. 2017-02-25.
  19. Web site: Commitment to Underserved People (CUP) Programs College of Medicine - Tucson . 2022-03-04 . medicine.arizona.edu.
  20. Web site: History and Overview: College of Medicine. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
  21. Web site: James Dalen: Bio.
  22. Web site: Newspaper Archive. nl.newsbank.com.
  23. Web site: Dr. Keith A. Joiner Is New Dean of UA College of Medicine. George. Humphrey. UANews. December 4, 2003. University of Arizona.
  24. Web site: Archived copy . tucsoncitizen.com . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121004094237/http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2008/07/02/89822-dean-of-ua-college-of-medicine-steps-down-in-restructuring/ . 4 October 2012 . dead.
  25. Web site: Goldschmid Appointed Dean of UA College of Medicine in Tucson. George. Humphrey. AHSC Office of Public. Affairs. UANews. July 28, 2009. University of Arizona.
  26. Web site: UA College of Medicine – Tucson Dean Steve Goldschmid Accepts New Executive Clinical Practice Role with AHSC and UA Health Network . UAHS Office of Public Affairs.
  27. Web site: Dr. Charles B. Cairns Named Dean of UA College of Medicine – Tucson . UAHS Office of Public Affairs.
  28. Web site: UA College of Medicine – Tucson Names Interim Executive Dean.
  29. Web site: Dr. Michael M. I. Abecassis Appointed Dean of UA College of Medicine – Tucson . Health Sciences Connect.