F-MAT Family Medicine Accelerated Track
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Dr. Besty Jones Presentation Documents - Medical College of Wisconsin
The Texas Tech School of Medicine is pleased to announce the Family Medicine Accelerated Track, or F-MAT, an innovative 3-year accelerated medical school curriculum that culminates in the M.D. degree and will prepare participants for a standard 3-year family medicine curriculum at one of three Texas Tech programs, in Lubbock, Amarillo, or the Permian Basin. At its February 1-2, 2010 meeting the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) the accrediting body for medical education, reviewed and approved Texas Tech's request to implement the F-MAT program
The purpose of F-MAT is two-fold:
1. To increase the number of medical students choosing a career in family medicine, especially in underserved area, who will provide patient-centered care
2. To prepare primary care physicians more efficiently and with less cost
The F-MAT program offers students a seamless transition between their predoctoral and residency training settings and curricula as they spend two years in Lubbock, followed by at least 4 years on the campus (which may include Lubbock) where they will complete both the final year of medical school and three years of family medicine residency training. F-MAT will modify and accelerate the standard 4-year curriculum through the development of three new curricular experiences.
The F-MAT program involves all three campuses of the Texas Tech School of Medicine, so that students will be linked with the site of their eventual family medicine residency program training. It will be limited to 10-12 students per year in each class.
An important consequence of the F-MAT program is to allow students to complete their training one year earlier than students in a standard curriculum--and with approximately half of the debt typical of current students. This reduced debt will be possible for two reasons:
1. F-MAT students spend only three years in medical school; therefore, they will be obligated for one less year of tuition and fees.
2. Texas Tech School of Medicine provides scholarship support to F-MAT students for at least one year of medical school.
Apply for F-MAT Here
Application for the F-MAT Class of 2015 is due by midnight on Sunday, January 13, 2013. Interested students are encouraged to contact any of the F-MAT faculty for more information.
F-MAT Curriculum
F-MAT students will complete their predoctoral training in three years, following a curriculum modified slightly from the regular curriculum. The training program for F-MAT students includes several innovative curricular activities that will ensure that students are prepared appropriately for their accelerated experiences:
F-MAT1 Course: This 8-week concentrated course is taken during the summer between Year 1 and Year 2 under the supervision of Family Medicine faculty. This course prepares students to begin the Longitudinal Family Medicine Clerkship during Year 2.
Course Content:
- Overview and review of MS2 basic science course materials
- 8-week concentrated course in June and July
- Class meets 4-5 hours daily Monday through Thursday
- Case-based didactic and small-group sessions across 7 themes with both basic science and family physician facilitators: cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, musculoskeletal, women's health/urology, gastroenterology, neuropsychiatry
- Clinical and pathophysiology correlations material, focusing on skills for patient assessment
- Evaluation includes daily quizzes, a weekly OSCE and two exams
F-MAT2 Course: Students participate in a Longitudinal Family Medicine Clerkship course in August-April of Year 2
Course Content:
Family Medicine and Early Clinical Experience clerkship course objectives and content
- Conducted primarily during Tuesday and Thursday mornings, August-April
- Outpatient clinic and inpatient hospital service
- Geriatrics and palliative care experiences
- Twice monthly student enrichment activities
- Increasing independent responsibilities with clinic and hospital patients
- Evaluation includes monthly quizzes, shelf exam, OSCE and other family medicine clerkship evaluations
F-MAT3 Course: This 8-week capstone course taken during the May-June rotation of Year 3 to fulfill the learning objectives for two courses normally required in Year 4, the Family Medicine Senior Critical Care Selectives.
Course Content:
- 4 weeks ICU and critical care, including time for the all-campus OSCE
- 3 weeks Family Medicine inpatient service, including time for Step 2CK exam
- 1 week residency program orientation
- Students participate in May graduation exercises but do not complete coursework until the end of June
- Evaluation includes assessments used for the Family Medicine sub-I and critical care experiences
Please contact the following individuals for more information about the Family Medicine Accelerated Track:
Media Requests: Mary Croyle, TTUHSC Director of Communications and Marketing
School of Medicine Curriculum Information: Simon Williams, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
School of Medicine Admissions: Kimberli Peck, MD, Associate Dean for Admissions
Family Medicine Program Information: Ron Cook, DO., F-MAT Program Director; Mike Ragain, MD, Family Medicine Chair;
or Betsy Jones, EdD, F-MAT Program Evaluator