Q . What Partnership programs are you excited about implemen�ng or hoping to implement over the next 5 years ?
A . With the rapidly changing landscape in the healthcare field , we need to equip our students with the tools and skills necessary to embrace technology and health informa�cs . Introducing a curriculum that addresses these important areas will be a priority over the next five years .
Q . Where would you like to see the partnership in 10 years ? 20 years ?
A . I ’ d like to see the Medical Partnership as a leader in medical educa�on through collabora�on with Augusta University , the University of Georgia and our community physicians and partners . Together , we can improve the health of our community and increase access to care .
Q . How do you think technology , such as electronic medical records and new devices , has changed medical educa�on ?
A . The healthcare field is changing rapidly , and physicians of today are facing so many challenges , including the effec�ve and efficient use of the electronic medical record . Technology in medicine is here to stay – wearable , electronic medical devices have become the norm and measure everything from a person ’ s heart rate , to BP , to blood sugars , and more . Physicians are faced with managing massive amounts of incoming data and learning how to use that data to manage pa�ents ’ medical problems . We have to train our students and residents differently than we have done for the past 50 years .
Q . What types of research is the Partnership engaged in ?
A . Many of the faculty , both basic science and clinical scien�sts , are working on research , on topics such as heme synthesis , breast cancer , cardiovascular disease , and innova�ve methods of teaching including the use of technology in clinical prac�ce .
Q . Is the Partnership partnering with researchers from other colleges at UGA , GRU , or the private sector in any of its research endeavors ?
A . At this �me our research projects are primarily focused on the research interests of Augusta University and University of Georgia . With the hiring Dr . Murrow , the Campus Associate Dean of Research , we hope to expand our research footprint .
Q . How do you think the local community will be enhanced as a result of having physician training taking place in Athens ?
A . The local community has been enhanced by our presence in so many ways . Our medical students work with community partners and non‐profit agencies to support health programs and outreach to the community . They work to strengthen health programs already in place and to foster new ones . Our medical students have provided health screenings for the Salva�on Army and at the West Broad Street Farmer ’ s Market for the public . They also host events to teach children and young adults about healthy diets and lifestyles . Our students coordinate benefits , like the annual Wine and Cheese event , to raise money for different non‐profit agencies each year . Through these partnerships , we hope to have a posi�ve impact on the health of our community .
Beyond the medical students ’ involvement with the community , the development of a residency program with St . Mary ’ s Hospital has improved access to care for many pa�ents that have never had the opportunity to see a physician . Access to healthcare has been an issue in Athens for years . With the opening of the Medical Partnership campus and residency programs , we have been able to
successfully recruit high quality specialists to the area . Lastly , we hope many of these new young physicians wish to stay and prac�ce in Georgia and help to avert the growing physician shortage , drawing physicians from inside and outside of Georgia to come to our city and work in the medical field .
The increase in students , residents , and faculty members to the community will enhance the quality of care delivered in Athens and have a strong economic impact on the area . We are crea�ng more jobs and work within the Athens community , and we are bringing in people from the medical field that will care for the Athens community – literally in the sense of medical needs and figura�vely as a home and community that has welcomed them .
Q . Have there been any challenges in recrui�ng students , residents , or faculty to a rela�vely new medical school ?
A . We have been very successful in a�rac�ng top medical students to our campus and residency programs . Medical students select the Athens campus once they have been accepted through the MCG admission process in Augusta . The residency program had 1300 applica�ons in the first year of the program , and in the second year it topped 1800 applica�ons for just 10 Internal Medicine residency posi�ons .
Being only in its second year , we ’ re proud to see our residency program solidifying , and we look forward to its con�nued growth in the upcoming years .
The Medical Partnership has been able to a�ract Faculty physicians from across the US from some of the top medical schools like Harvard , Johns Hopkins , Baylor , University of Texas Southwestern , Emory and Yale to name a few .
Q . Is there anything that you think local leaders ( non‐university leaders ) or the local community could do make the Athens area more a�rac�ve for recrui�ng student , resident , and faculty talent to the Partnership ?
A . Athens has a lot to offer our prospec�ve medical students , residents and faculty . As they say in real estate – loca�on , loca�on , loca�on . Athens hosts a wonderful community interlaced with Southern hospitality , and great college town feel . There is live music almost every night of the year , great locally‐owned restaurants , and an array of community events that make it a colorful , lively place to live , learn and work !
The Athens community has been incredibly welcoming to our medical educa�on program ; we thank our community physicians and partners – we could not deliver our program without their involvement . Our promise is to con�nue to strengthen our rela�onships with the community and build on the successes we have had to date .
Spring 2016
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