Program Overview

Introduction to the OHSU School of Medicine

The OHSU School of Medicine is a renowned institution dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for all Oregonians through excellence, innovation, and leadership in healthcare, education, and research.

Academic and Training Programs

The school offers a range of academic and training programs, including:

• MD Program: A competency-based, time-variable approach to medical education that emphasizes active learning and allows students to demonstrate competency in core areas.
• Graduate Medical Education: Provides residents and fellows with the opportunity to develop their skills and expertise in a variety of specialties.
• Physician Assistant Program: Prepares students to become competent and compassionate physician assistants.
• Graduate Studies (Ph.D./M.A./certificates): Offers advanced degrees and certificates in a range of fields, including biomedical sciences, public health, and healthcare management.
• M.D./Ph.D. Training Program: A dual-degree program that allows students to pursue both medical and doctoral degrees.
• M.D./M.P.H. Training Program: A dual-degree program that allows students to pursue both medical and public health degrees.
• Radiation Therapy: A program that prepares students to become radiation therapists.

Curriculum Transformation

The OHSU School of Medicine has undergone a curriculum transformation to better prepare students for the changing healthcare landscape. The new curriculum is competency-based, not time-based, and allows students to progress at their own pace. It also includes a focus on data-driven healthcare, informatics, and self-assessment.

Research Areas

The school has a strong research focus, with faculty and students working on a range of projects, including:

• Basic science and biomedical engineering
• Clinical research
• Epidemiology and community health
• Global health
• Health policy and management
• Medical education and pedagogy

Rural Curriculum

The school has a strong commitment to rural healthcare and offers a range of programs and opportunities for students to gain experience in rural settings, including:

• Rural and Community Health Clerkship: A required clerkship that provides students with the opportunity to work in rural and underserved communities.
• Rural Track Program: A program that allows students to pursue a career in rural healthcare.

Transformation Philosophy

The curriculum transformation is guided by a set of principles, including:

• Integration of foundational and clinical sciences
• Learner-centered approach
• Assessment and evaluation
• Integration of technologies
• Faculty development

FAQ

• Why transform our M.D. curriculum? The health care landscape is changing, and our goal is to boldly and innovatively bridge the growing divide between how physicians are trained and the needs of society in this future landscape.
• How is the health care landscape changing? Reform, changing delivery models, integration of new treatments, the push to contain costs, and a new focus on prevention and wellness are among several accelerating trends.
• At its broadest level, what is the purpose of the initiative? The M.D. Curriculum Transformation process is ensuring that OHSU continues to educate and graduate the types of physicians needed by Oregon across discipline, geography, patient population, cultural competency, and attributes linked to an ability to provide high-quality health care and community leadership in the evolving future health care landscape.