Medical education is being re-imagined by leaders and faculty of the new TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine.
This collaborative school, being designed under the flags of both universities, will focus on medicine, patient care and the health care environment of 2026 and beyond. Stuart D. Flynn, MD, the founding dean of the school, emphasizes the importance of looking forward and developing physicians who will be agile, life-long learners with outstanding communication and patient care skills.
The two universities announced in July 2015 plans to create the School of Medicine. Pending accreditation, student recruitment will begin in 2018 and classes will begin in 2019.
In addition to the founding dean, Vice Dean of Educational Affairs and Accreditation Jacqueline Chadwick, MD, also has been hired. She and Dean Flynn are meeting with faculty on both campuses and physicians within the community to build the cadre of physicians and scientists needed to design the curriculum and teach the MD students.
Other hires have included associate deans for faculty affairs and development, student affairs, admissions and student diversity, finance and communications and strategy.
This new school will transform medical education by inspiring and training empathetic scholars who will provide care that is both high-tech and high-touch. The cost, quality and work force challenges of today will be addressed, but with an eye toward tomorrow’s health care. With all of the talent at both universities and the array of programs, Fort Worth will lead medical education with its interdisciplinary team model of care, which places the patient at the center, utilizes cutting-edge technology, enhances communication among caregivers and focuses on patient safety.
In addition to focusing on accreditation and curriculum, leaders at the new school have been building relationships with all of the major health care institutions in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. A recent "charrette," or meeting, brought in stakeholders to discuss medical education, graduate medical education, possible partnerships, funding, faculty development and other important issues.
There are many different ways to join the new school, such as a lecturer or instructor, clinical preceptor, research mentor, faculty leader, master educator or even as an applicant interviewer.
If you are interested in exploring opportunities, please reach out to Carlos Tapia, Senior Administrative Coordinator, at (817) 735-2430 or carlos.tapia@fwmdschool.org