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Building Medical Schools Around Social Missions: The Case of the University of California, Riverside
G Richard Olds1, Kathryn A Barton2
1Dean; School of Medicine, University of California , Riverside , CA , USA.
Insights
A new medical school was established to address health disparities in a diverse California region facing physician shortages. Its unique social mission, drawing from international models, aims to improve local health outcomes and inform global health policy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Public Health
- Health Disparities
Background:
- The West Coast's first new public medical school in 50 years was established in a region with significant health challenges.
- The region faces a severe physician shortage, poor health outcomes, and a diverse, growing population including many Mexican Americans.
- High unemployment, low college attendance, and a large undocumented immigrant population characterize the area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case study of a new medical school designed to fulfill unique social missions.
- To demonstrate how the school's design addresses the specific needs of its underserved region.
- To explore the potential for this model to improve regional health and inform health policy.
Main Methods:
- Case study analysis of a newly established medical school.
- Examination of the school's design and social missions in relation to regional health needs.
- Review of strategies adopted from developing countries for workforce and health challenges.
Main Results:
- The medical school was intentionally designed with unique social missions tailored to its region.
- Strategies adapted from developing countries were implemented to address workforce and health issues.
- The school's model is considered unique among recent U.S. medical school creations.
Conclusions:
- The new medical school's design offers a model for addressing health disparities in underserved regions.
- The adopted strategies demonstrate a novel approach to medical education and healthcare delivery.
- This model has potential implications for health policy and system reform internationally, particularly in countries like Mexico.
Abstract:
Abstract-The University of California recently created the first new public medical school on the West Coast of the United States in nearly 50 years. It was built in a region of California with significant health challenges, including a marked physician shortage and very poor overall health outcomes. The region's population is racially and ethnically diverse and rapidly growing, with a particularly large population of Mexican American residents. It is also an area with high unemployment, low college-going rates compared to most other areas of California, and a large undocumented immigrant population. When the University of California Board of Regents authorized the creation of this new medical school, it charted unique social missions for the school that have particular relevance to the needs of its immediate region. This article presents a single case study of how the school was designed to accomplish these social missions and, ultimately, to improve the health of the people living in the region it serves. Many of the strategies used were adopted from developing countries that have far more serious workforce issues and health challenges. The authors believe these strategies and missions are unique among the 17 new medical schools created in the United States in the last decade. Furthermore, this model could have broader implications for the development of health policies and health system reform in other nations, such as Mexico.
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