The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine has been recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians as one of the top 10 programs in the country in producing family physicians.
The award was presented at a conference of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine in San Antonio.
Family physicians are qualified to treat most ailments and provide comprehensive health care for people of all ages — from newborns to seniors.
The award honors medical schools that — during a consecutive three-year period — graduated the greatest percentage of students who chose first-year family medicine residency positions.
“We are pleased to be honored by our peers. This award is a testament of the contributions by many at UNMC, by the full-time and volunteer faculty, the students who ultimately choose family medicine as a career and our health care partners across Nebraska,” said Michael Sitorius, M.D., chairman of the UNMC Department of Family Medicine. “The department has a long-standing commitment to training future family physicians and will continue its efforts to increase the family medicine workforce for all of Nebraska.”
At a time when the United States is facing a shortage of primary care physicians, filling the family physician workforce pipeline is vital to the health of Americans, AAFP President Reid Blackwelder, M.D., said.
Awardees were recognized for employing a variety of initiatives that support students interested in becoming family physicians. These include:
- student outreach;
- faculty involvement in medical school committees;
- admissions policies that target students from rural and medically underserved areas;
- clinical rotations that emphasize positive experiences in family medicine;
- strong, student-run family medicine interest groups;
- and financial aid packages that minimize student debt.
The 2014 award recipients and the percentage of graduates entering family medicine are:
• University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences — 23.3
• University of Kansas School of Medicine — 19.2
• Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine — 19
• University of Missouri School of Medicine — 18.8
• Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University — 18.6
• University of Minnesota Medical School — 18.0
• University of Washington School of Medicine — 17.6
• UNMC College of Medicine — 16.7
• University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health — 16.5
• Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine — 15.9
The percentages reflect students who graduated in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and matriculated into family medicine residency programs.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu and follow us on social media.