University of Arizona College of Medicine Programs: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Arizona boasts a robust medical education system, offering diverse programs across its two medical schools: the College of Medicine - Tucson and the College of Medicine - Phoenix. These institutions provide various pathways for aspiring physicians, researchers, and healthcare leaders.

Foundational MD Programs

College of Medicine - Phoenix MD Program

The College of Medicine - Phoenix MD program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful medical career. The first two years are structured in integrated blocks that focus on organ-systems in addition to courses focusing on basic doctoring skills and early exposure to patients. These early years emphasize a Pass/Fail grading system, reducing pressure and encouraging collaborative learning. The latter two years involve required clinical clerkships in key disciplines, complemented by significant elective time for specialized exploration. Through agreements with nine clinical affiliates, the UA College of Medicine - Phoenix employs a distributive model which offers you early exposure to diverse patient populations and opportunities to learn in various clinical environments. Our students have the opportunity of training at each of the nine locations and interacting with more than 1,800 faculty members gaining invaluable insights from their knowledge and experience.

College of Medicine - Tucson MD Program

The College of Medicine at the University of Arizona was founded in 1967 with an initial class of 32 students. The College of Medicine - Tucson, located in Tucson, Arizona, is one of four MD granting medical schools in the state of Arizona, and one of two medical schools at the University of Arizona. The curriculum at the College of Medicine - Tucson mirrors that of many other medical schools, with the first two years graded on a Pass/Fail basis. In the last two years, students complete clinical clerkships at a number of Tucson-area hospitals and have the option to rotate in Phoenix as well. Grades for the last two years are assigned on a Pass/Fail/Honors basis. Students gain practical experience in a variety of clinical settings.

Admission to MD Programs

Admission to the College of Medicine - Tucson is very competitive with nearly 10,000 applicants vying for 120 spots for the 2022 graduating class. Beginning in the 2009-2010 admissions cycle, the school began to accept "extremely qualified" out of state applicants with a cap of 25% of the incoming class. Starting in the 2011-2012 cycle, this cap was raised to 50% due to the increased number of seats at the recently established Phoenix campus.

Specialized Programs and Opportunities

Pathway Scholars Program (PSP)

The Pathway Scholars Program (PSP) is intended for Arizona residents who desire to pursue a career in medicine. The program is designed for students who have experienced unique or greater than average challenges in preparing to become competitive medical school applicants. The Pathway Scholars Program (PSP) is for Arizona residents who desire to pursue a career in medicine.

Global Health Program

At the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, the Global Health Program exposes students to the primitive clinical and public health care due to the resource constraints typically found in developing nations. Students have the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge to health care situations around the world and to learn from colleagues and experts abroad in the fields of tropical medicine, nutrition and public health. These equal partnerships are aimed at promoting health equity here and abroad through the shared development of best practices. This certificate of distinction (COD) integrates the long-established College of Medicine electives in Global Health (GH) with several newer elements. The certificate consists of five educational components, including externships, courses, participation in seminars, a scholarly project and a preceptorship abroad. A “medical home” has been established between our College of Medicine and a site in Rocky Point, Mexico, that gives our students the opportunities to care for the underprivileged Mexican community and Guatemalan refugees. By going there twice a year, the community is followed and cared for by having prior knowledge and documentation of their illnesses.

Clinical Research MS Program

The Clinical Research MS program addresses the need for highly qualified clinical investigators conducting clinical research.

Clinical Translational Sciences PhD

The Clinical Translational Sciences PhD is designed to provide a strong foundation in clinical translational sciences for post-baccalaureate and postgraduate students. The program attracts both clinicians and researchers who want to explore how basic science can inform clinical practice, or how basic science can elucidate observations from clinical treatment.

Clinical Affiliations and Resources

The University of Arizona College of Medicine maintains strong ties with various hospitals and medical centers, providing students with diverse clinical experiences.

Banner - University Medical Center Tucson

News & World Report ranked the College of Medicine - Tucson's affiliate hospital, Banner - University Medical Center Tucson, No. 1 in Tucson and No. 3 in Arizona. Nationally, the hospital was ranked No. 36 for Gynecology, No. 49 for Pulmonology and No. Its primary affiliated academic medical center, Banner University Medical Center Tucson, was ranked #39 for nephrology, #46 for geriatrics, and high performing in five other specialties.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Valleywise Health

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Valleywise Health (formerly Maricopa Integrated Health System) has a proud tradition of being both the community safety net health care system, with a mission and commitment to serving the underserved and Arizona’s only public teaching hospital.

Abrazo Central Campus

Abrazo Central Campus has been a provider for the Phoenix community for more than 40 years, growing along with the city to provide the best possible care, close to home.

Phoenix Children's

News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. For over 35 years, Phoenix Children's has provided world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest.

HonorHealth

You want health care focused on you - your unique needs, your schedule, your goals. You want a network of experts connected to each other, with everyone focused on your well-being. HonorHealth provides that focus.

Phoenix VA Health Care System

The Phoenix VA Health Care System proudly serves Veterans in central Arizona at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center and nine community-based outpatient VA clinics. The Phoenix VA Health Care System is joining a growing number of VA health care facilities in adopting a new method of health care delivery called Patient Aligned Care Teams.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

St. Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is a nationally recognized center for quality tertiary care, medical education and research in Central Phoenix. It includes the internationally renowned Barrow Neurological Institute®, the Norton Thoracic Institute, Center for Women's Health and a Level I Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons.

Mayo Clinic

Students are instructed and can choose elective rotations at the Scottsdale branch of the renowned Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic's Arizona campus is ranked the No. News & World Report and is ranked No.

Hospice of the Valley

Hospice of the Valley is the leading provider of hospice care, serving more than 23,000 patients and families in 2023. Their care teams provide compassionate care in the comfort of home, relieving symptoms and addressing the patient’s medical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Clinical Departments

The College of Medicine - Tucson is divided into a number of basic science and clinical departments. Clinical departments provide medical care (through Banner - University Medical Center [at both Tucson and South campus hospitals]), teaching and perform research.

Commitment to Underserved People (CUP) Programs

Established in 1979 by medical students and faculty mentor Dr. Steve Spencer, this program allows for attendings, residents and medical students to serve underrepresented individuals in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

Historical Context

The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix was initially established as a branch campus of the College of Medicine - Tucson in 2007, and was granted independent accreditation in 2012.

Restrictions on Abortion Training

In 1974, the University of Arizona received $5.5 million from the Arizona State Legislature to renovate its football stadium. A provision of this legislation (ARS 15-1630) prohibited the school's associated academic medical center, then known as University Medical Center from performing abortions (unless the mother's life was in jeopardy) or teaching its medical students about various abortion procedures. This legislation is still in effect for every public medical school in Arizona, making Arizona the only state which prohibits the teaching of abortion in public universities. To address this issue, Planned Parenthood implemented a rotation for obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) residents to receive abortion training to meet Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements. Residents and medical students have thus maintained the ability to study the medical and surgical abortion procedures necessary to complete their training. Second and third year Ob/Gyn residents have scheduled time available to pursue training.

Rankings and Recognition

News & World Report ranked the University of Arizona College of Medicine #74 for primary care and #63 for research.

Residency and Fellowship Programs

The College of Medicine sponsors nearly 50 residency and fellowship programs across almost every specialty in medicine.

tags: #university #of #arizona #college #of #medicine