TUSM PILOT
Program
Trains Physicians of Tomorrow
The United States has the best trained physicians with access to the most sophisticated technology in the world. But why then are the morbidity and mortality statistics higher than most industrialized countries in the world? Part of the answer lies in overemphasis on specialization and tertiary care in this country. And perhaps part of the answer lies in a need to change the perspective on the delivery of health care to emphasize disease prevention and community health.
The Primary Initiative in Longitudinal Outpatient Training (PILOT) program, initiated in 1999 at Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM), places second year medical students in the offices of primary care physicians in Philadelphia communities. The curriculum addresses community health care needs by preparing students to work mostly with minority, high risk populations in ambulatory primary care settings. TUSM contributes greatly to the Pennsylvania “in the trenches” primary care work force, and this community based training is one way of sharing in that mission. Not only do the students take patient histories and develop their physical examination skills, but many are encouraged to provide patient education in various aspects of healthcare. This assists students to establish positive physician-patient relationships that encourage overall good healthcare habits among the patients. And it provides encouragement for the physicians of tomorrow to establish family medicine practices in communities where they are needed.
The SE PA AHEC has recruited physicians to precept 87 TUSM students in the fall of 2006 and 96 students in the spring of 2007. Community based physicians who mentor students are motivated by their own positive experiences with preceptors and enjoy giving back to the community by helping to train the current crop of young physicians. “Precepting keeps me on my toes,” says one physician who understands the challenges as well as the personal and professional rewards that come with being a teacher and mentor to a physician in training.