|
|
|
|
Dean's Message
From time to time, an organization with an interest in the physician workforce will release a report stating that it takes too long to educate a physician. Sometimes, perhaps while attending a national meeting, I hear a colleague lament the same problem. I always enjoy pointing out that UMKC School of Medicine is solving that problem with its signature six-year BA/MD program, which saves two years compared with the traditional U.S. eight-year model. And, the School has been doing it for 45 years!
I know that most of you who read this newsletter are intimately familiar with the Docent System, the vital role it plays in our six-year program, and its wonderful way of cultivating thoughtful, caring and skilled physicians. The School’s leadership team wants to do all it can to make sure that everyone with an interest in the School — including applicants, prospective faculty, residency program directors, and others — gets a sense of the value and true meaning of the Docent System. One part of this effort is a video with first-hand accounts of what the Docent System means to individual students and faculty. I hope you will watch it.
January is an exciting time at the School of Medicine. Many students are returning from holiday, and some programs are welcoming new students. As we begin a new year, it’s a good time to take stock of the year just passed.
In 2016, our students, faculty and alumni continued to publish and present impressive results of their research and scholarly endeavors. They also attracted significant funding, including a $930,000 CDC quality improvement grant for collaborative work with two of our partner hospitals, Truman Medical Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Also in 2016, the School’s alumni welcomed new members with the graduation of our 44th class of physicians, and our very first graduating class of physician assistants. We also conferred advanced degrees and certifications in bioinformatics, clinical research, anesthesiology, health professions education and other disciplines.
As you know, I am excited about the remarkable accomplishments of the School’s alumni and I encourage you to share your achievements with us. I invite you to do so in person on April 21-22 at this year’s Alumni Reunion.
I know I speak for the entire School of Medicine family when I say we look forward to seeing and hearing from you in 2017.
Best wishes, Steven L. Kanter, M.D.
Dean, UMKC School of Medicine
His goal? Connecting alumni to UMKC  Fred Schlichting, who spent 18 seasons with the UMKC men’s soccer team as assistant and then associate coach, has joined the School of Medicine as director of advancement. In a Q&A, he tells why he made the switch, and what makes him tick. Read more >>
Do you make house calls? Are house calls an occasional, or even integral, part of your practice? Do you know fellow alumni who make house calls? We would love to hear from you, to help us with a possible article in the alumni magazine. Please email or call our UMKC Medicine editor, Greg Hack, at hackg@umkc.edu or 816-235-1706. Waldman's latest text recognized among best of 2016  A unique textbook by Steven Waldman, M.D. ’77, has won a British Medical Association Book Award for 2016. Read more >>
Munger to lead American Academy of Family Physicians  Michael Munger, M.D. ’83, FAAFP, who has practiced family medicine in the Kansas City area for more than 30 years, is the president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Read more >>
Alumni Weekend - Register Now! 
Make plans to attend the next UMKC School of Medicine Alumni Reunion, scheduled April 21-22, 2017. Reception, tour and reunion details are available. Read more>> |
|
|
|
|
|
|
