New U of A 3-year medical degree program receives ABOR approval

The University of Arizona’s efforts to reduce the state’s significant primary care physician shortage took a major step forward June 12-13, when the Arizona Board of Regents approved a three-year pathway to medical degrees at the university’s two separately accredited medical schools.

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The new three-year medical degree program will allow graduating physicians from the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson and the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix to enter the workforce one year earlier than those who pursue the traditional four-year degree, decreasing student debt and increasing the number of primary care physicians available to serve Arizonans.

“We appreciate the Arizona Board of Regents’ approval of this new medical degree pathway, which will allow us to leverage the strength of the University of Arizona’s two medical schools to improve access to health care for all Arizonans,” said University of Arizona Provost Patricia Prelock. “We are committed to reducing the state’s primary care physician shortage, and these new programs will allow us to move expeditiously to improve the well-being of all Arizona residents.”

More than 30 universities in the U.S. offer a three-year medical degree program; the College of Medicine – Tucson and College of Medicine – Phoenix programs will be the first two in Arizona.

Arizona meets just 39.2% of its primary care physician need. An estimated 600 additional primary care physicians are needed to meet current needs, and 2,000 more will be needed by 2030 to serve Arizona’s growing population. The accelerated degree pathway will help fill this pressing need.

All medical students in the three-year program will complete the same required core coursework and clerkships as those in the four-year program. The accelerated pathway, which has Liaison Committee on Medical Education approval, eliminates some elective clinical curriculum and transition to residency credits that students typically complete in year four.

The College of Medicine – Tucson’s program, developed by Kristen Rundell, MD, head of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, focuses on competency-based education and provides a pathway to family medicine residency.

“The three-year pathway to a medical degree will play a key role in our ability to address the state’s shortage of primary care physicians, including but not limited to rural, tribal and underserved communities”, said Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, the inaugural Humberto and Czarina Lopez endowed dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson. “This innovative, competency-based program will benefit patients as well as physicians who are passionate about the practice of primary and community care.”

At the College of Medicine – Phoenix, students will participate in early immersion clinical experiences during their first and second years. They will benefit from direct interaction with a teaching faculty member from a primary care residency program, who will assess their progress and readiness to join a residency program after three years.

“Our ability to train students and residents in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties benefits those with a strong interest in primary care and rural health. Our goal is to graduate highly skilled and competent primary care physicians who are dedicated to serving the people of Arizona,” said Fredric Edward Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix. “We are confident this accelerated degree program will not only help us fulfill our educational and land grant missions but also contribute to a successful outcome for the Arizona Board of Regents and its Arizona Healthy Tomorrow initiative.”

The College of Medicine – Phoenix’s program, developed by Kathleen Brite Hillis, MD, associate dean of community engagement and Jonathan Cartsonis, MD, assistant dean of rural health, is training a rural medical workforce and fulfilling the service mission of the medical school to improve the quality of care for Arizona residents.

Within the next three years, the two medical schools hope to enroll a combined 36 medical students in the three-year program that will enroll its first cohort this fall.

The three-year curriculum joins the Primary Care Physician Scholarship as programs developed to increase the number of graduates practicing primary care in Arizona, especially in rural and tribal areas. The two programs, and new degrees in physician assistant, physical therapy, midwifery and more, are part of the university’s health care workforce development initiative and broader strategic imperatives to promote student success and benefit Arizona residents.