TAMHSC, BUMC welcome Dallas students

(DALLAS) — The Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) College of Medicine and Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas (BUMC) on Dec. 8 welcomed the inaugural group of medical students to the newly established TAMHSC Clinical Training Program in Dallas.

The program brings together resources from both entities to offer clinical training opportunities to third- and fourth-year students from the TAMHSC-College of Medicine.

“Given the close proximity and ties between BUMC and our own Baylor College of Dentistry,  and the excellent medical education opportunities offered by the Baylor Health Care System, this truly is the right time and place for an expansion of our College of Medicine program in Dallas,” said Nancy W. Dickey, M.D., president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center and vice chancellor for health affairs for The Texas A&M University System. “We look forward to the progression of this program that joins an academic institution with a health care provider to benefit the community and tomorrow’s health professionals, and we hope it serves as a model for others to follow.”

Twenty-four third-year students entered the program this month. The following academic year, a comparable number of new third-year students will arrive in Dallas to join the inaugural group as that group enters their fourth year of medical school.

“Medical education has been at the core of Baylor’s mission for more than a century, and joining forces with an outstanding program like the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine is an exciting new opportunity to further this mission,” said Joel T. Allison, FACHE, Baylor Health Care System president and CEO. “This new relationship is also exciting for Dallas as it brings another quality medical training program to the city at a time when we need more trained physicians to meet the needs of our growing population.”

Through the Clinical Training Program in Dallas, students will complete their first two years of medical education at TAMHSC-College of Medicine campuses in either Bryan/College Station or Temple. During their last two years of medical school, students enrolled in the program will complete clinical rotations in surgery, internal medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and other clinical affiliates.

“With approximately 1,200 physicians who care for more than 300,000 patients each year, BUMC offers an ideal environment for College of Medicine students to garner valuable clinical experiences in an urban health care setting,” said T. Samuel Shomaker, M.D., J.D., TAMHSC The Jean and Thomas McMullin Dean of Medicine and vice president for clinical affairs. “Additionally, BUMC’s multiple residency programs will offer our medical students increased options for residency training in the Dallas area.”

Cristie Columbus, M.D., who also serves as assistant director of medical education at BUMC, will lead the effort as TAMHSC-College of Medicine vice dean for the Dallas site.

“We know that doctors who train here are likely to stay and practice here. So this is not only a wonderful opportunity for these students, but it is good news for the communities Baylor serves in North Texas,” Dr. Columbus said.

To conclude the celebration, an original painting titled “Medicine” that depicts the medical profession by artist Benjamin Knox of Benjamin Knox Gallery in College Station was presented to Dr. Columbus for display in the student study and lounge area. Each student also was given a copy of the book “A Way of Life” by renowned, turn-of-the-century physician Sir William Osler, M.D.

Other scheduled event attendees included representatives of TAMHSC and BUMC, community leaders, and invited guests.