Best schools for primary care?

[KS123]

I am interested in going into primary care and have no interest in research. Which schools are the most geared for people like myself?

I would also be interested in schools that provide opportunities for clinical experience in the first two years. Thanks for any suggestions.

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[DMO]

Hey,

last time i checked, Oregon Health Sciences University and UW school of medicine were ranked number 2 and 1 respectively in primary care....hope this helps.

 

[Goofyone]

Originally posted by KS123
I am interested in going into primary care and have no interest in research. Which schools are the most geared for people like myself?

I would also be interested in schools that provide opportunities for clinical experience in the first two years. Thanks for any suggestions.

Depends on where you want to live, but you should definately look into DO schools. They are very focused on primary care and generally do a fantastic job training people for that. These schools typically don't generate a lot of reasearch and don't emphasize it or look for it in their incoming students. And if you're interested in practicing in a rural area, that's even more typical of DO schools.

However, if you changed your mind while in school you could certainly still specialize and/or do research if you wanted to.

 

[doc05]

Originally posted by KS123
I am interested in going into primary care and have no interest in research. Which schools are the most geared for people like myself?

I would also be interested in schools that provide opportunities for clinical experience in the first two years. Thanks for any suggestions.

you should go to your state school in order to minimize your debt burden, because you sure as hell won't be able to pay back private school loans.

 

[eminemunc]

UNC!!!!!!!!

 

[superdevil]

no interest in research, eh...

like others have said, DEFINATELY look into DO schools. if you're going the allopathic route, look at state schools NOT located in sprawling metropolises (NYC, LA, Chicago, etc.)- they tend not to be research-oriented institutions.

for one example, my pre-med advisor told me (take this for what you will), that, for a long time, one public school in ohio wouldn't accept people who explicitly had the word "research" in their LORs because they assumed that people who were interested in research weren't likely to enter primary care! luckily this is no longer the case, or i wouldn't be applying there!

 

[Sweet Tea]

Originally posted by eminemunc
UNC!!!!!!!!

second this, also ECU...but since it doesn't look like you're a resident of NC you won't be eligible for ECU.

 

[Chronotropic]

Originally posted by superdevil
one public school in ohio wouldn't accept people who explicitly had the word "research" in their LORs because they assumed that people who were interested in research weren't likely to enter primary care! luckily this is no longer the case, or i wouldn't be applying there!

I had a friend with 4 years of research, and was told by a med school he applied to that it had a negative impact on his application. Like the school in ohio they were big on primary care.

 

[Amy B]

DO schools are very much geared towards primary care. Read through the course descriptions on the web page for Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
( http://www.evvcom.org/courses/courses.php )
and you can see what I mean. I am interviewing there are Tuesday. My interest is rural primary care so that is why I prefer DO over MD.

 

[Finn]

The University of Washington in Seattle has been ranked by US News and World Report as #1 in the nation for, I believe, the last 6 years.

Go UW.

 

[Newquagmire]

U-Missouri at Columbia

 

[doc05]

the point is that it makes no difference whatsoever. anyone can get into a primary care residency (IM, peds, FP), even an IMG.

go to your state school. UW is nice but entirely unnecessary; and you'd have to be a fool to pay much attention to US News anyhow.

remember that you learn the basics in medical school. anything related to your future specialty (or non-specialty) is learned in residency.

 

[Goofyone]

Originally posted by doc05
you should go to your state school in order to minimize your debt burden, because you sure as hell won't be able to pay back private school loans.

State schools are definately cheaper, but.....

Actually, if you're willing to practice for awhile in an underserved area, NHSC (National Health Service Corp) will forgive your student loan debt.

Go to a school that you like, wherever that may be.

 

[pboothe]

TCOM TCOM TCOM

 

[KS123]

Lots of great advice! Thanks! I will be checking into all these schools. Where can I find out more about NHSC?

 

[Buster Douglas]

PCSOM 😛 probably not too far away, either...

 

[Goofyone]

Originally posted by KS123
Lots of great advice! Thanks! I will be checking into all these schools. Where can I find out more about NHSC?

http://www.cfda.gov/public/viewprog.asp?progid=1238

 

[Sprockette]

As for primary care...I would list Michigan State University among schools that favor primary care.

As for the clinical experience in the first two years, I believe the University of Rochester in NY begins some sort of clerkship in the second semester of first year. I don't go there, but I interviewed there a couple years ago and it seemed like they give you good clinical exposure early on.

However, U of R is a private school and pretty expensive, so unless you can get some scholarships it might not be your best bet.

Good luck! 🙂

Originally posted by KS123
I am interested in going into primary care and have no interest in research. Which schools are the most geared for people like myself?

I would also be interested in schools that provide opportunities for clinical experience in the first two years. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Gleevec]

For primary care, you can go anywhere and get excellent training. The Harvards and Stanfords and Dukes tend to churn out more researchers, but almost ANY school will train you to be a good primary care physician. So pick based on location, price, and how much you like the school. You will do great wherever you go.

 

[mute360_CO]

University of Colorado School of Medicine has great clinical exposure during the first two years. We have a program called "Foundations of Doctoring" where 1st and 2nd years are paired with preceptors including: primary care, OB/GYN, peds, geriatrics, ER, and surgery. We shadow our preceptor for 4 hours each week. Additionally, we are required to take electives that put us in several clinical settings such as urban free clinics and pediatric vaccination programs. One option this semester was riding around in a traveling clinic- basically an old ambulance that travels around Denver to administer care to indigent patients. Good luck!

 

[Catalyst]

My interests seem to be very similar to those of the OP (although I am interested in public health research)... from my short experience, I'd suggest looking at GW, Tulane, and Rochester. These are all schools that are not research powerhouses, but very seriously geared towards students looking to become excellent clinicians (and not necessarily researchers).