Washington, D.C., May 12, 2003 - A new study by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) provides evidence that regional medical campuses serve as an important vehicle for training the next generation of doctors. The study, entitled, "Mini Med: The Role of Regional Campuses in U.S. Medical Education," found that these campuses present opportunities for high-quality interaction between students and teachers, and offer innovative education experiences.

Despite the fact that some regional medical campuses have existed for more than a quarter century, the general public knows very little about these institutions. The study examined 10 of the 25 regional campuses currently operated by U.S. medical schools. The campuses selected were geographically spread across the country and varied in age. Four of the sites are located in the south, three in the northeast, two in the southwest, and one in the far west. Six of the sites were established in the 1970s, one in the 1980s, and three were created in the 1990s.

The study examined the medical education each campus provides and looked at the faculty, organization and management of the 10 schools. Medical students who participated in the study indicated high levels of satisfaction with the educational experiences at these regional sites. According to the students, they encountered a wide range of patient conditions, were able to perform many routine clinical procedures, and received a great deal of clinical instruction from both residents and faculty. In addition, the quality of the education, as judged by the students, did not depend on the academic stature of on-site faculty, or on the management and program relationships between the regional campus and the corresponding departments at the parent medical school.

Based on these findings, the authors conclude that dedicated clinician teachers practicing at the regional campuses surveyed offered educational experiences comparable to those provided by full-time medical school faculty practicing in major teaching hospitals. In some cases, more flexibility and innovation in the design and delivery of clinical education was evident. This conclusion is important given that medical educators are seeking to broaden the clinical training of students so that they are thoroughly prepared to practice medicine in today's health care environment.

"While medical students gain the majority of their clinical experiences at our country's major teaching hospitals, educators increasingly acknowledge the need to augment those experiences by placing students at community-based sites. Developing regional medical campuses, like those described in this study, is an option that should appeal to many," said AAMC President, Jordan J. Cohen, M.D.

# # #

The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

Contact Us    © 1995-2008 AAMC    Terms and Conditions    Privacy Statement