LECOM Introduces Three-Year Medical Degree Curriculum

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LECOM Introduces Three-Year Medical Degree Curriculum

Erie medical college hopes to attract more students to family practice with shorter time to earn the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree.

Erie, PA - The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is taking a lead position in the future of medical education by introducing a new program to attract more physicians to family practice. LECOM is continuing its mission to help grow the osteopathic medical profession by starting a Primary Care Scholars Pathway (PCSP) that will reduce the time it takes to become a family physician.

The LECOM PCSP has received approval from the American Osteopathic Association Committee on Osteopathic College Accreditation and backing of the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice. The PCSP will condense four years of medical education into three years in order to graduate more family doctors sooner and to save these students one year of expenses that adds to the mounting debt held by medical college graduates.

“LECOM proposed this innovative curricular pathway in response to the declining interest in primary care and particularly family practice,” explained LECOM President John M. Ferretti, D.O. “We hope to attract new students by offering them a shorter path to a medical degree without jeopardizing their education in the areas needed to train a family physician.”

LECOM formed a committee through the College’s Primary Care Department led by Associate Professor of Family Medicine Richard Ortoski, D.O. The committee reviewed the need for family physicians and the factors causing the decreasing number of medical students who are interested in primary care.

“Numerous factors account for the declining numbers of medical students applying to become family doctors,” according to Hershey Bell, M.D., Director of the LECOM Teaching and Learning Center and a member of the PCSP committee. “The rising cost of medical education and the lower earning power of family practice physicians becomes an impediment to students with an interest in family medicine.”

 

[Shodddy18]

Almost like a NP or PA!

Pardon the sarcasm. I def see the pros to this program, but I dont think this will help with the "street credit." There are many ways that the AOA could help to increase the number of primary care physicians and help alleviate debt... I just dont think that truncating the medical education is the way to do it. C'mon...How about better loan repayment incentives and scholarships! How about finding other ways to subsidize the school to help decreasing the outrageous tuition costs of osteopathic medical education.

 

[nvshelat]

Gets my vote for one of the worst ideas ever.

 

[sddoc]

I have to agree that this is probably not the greatest idea. However, lots of people said this about their PBL program, and it has been done very well.

I do have to say that it would have been nice if they had considered how far they were putting med students into debt before[/I] my last week of medical school!!! 🙄

I think they should refund all of 4th year for me since I am going into rural family practice. What do you think???

 

[Captain Fantastic]

[SOAPBOX]
I've thought for a long time that "early specialization" could help turn out physicians faster and help control healthcare costs. Very few medical school graduates practice as "complete physicians." Surgeons don't manage chronic medical problems. Internists don't cut on people. Why not streamline the education? Have people decide on a specialty early and then tailor the education to what they need.

You could integrate these specialized medical tracks with residencies and drop the whole NRMP thing and go from zero-to-hero in 6 years for most specialties.
[/SOAPBOX]

I didn't figure any school would have the stones to do something this bold. I am very impressed that LECOM is offering this track. I do wonder how well graduates from this program will be received by the community.

 

[HunterGatherer]

just cut the tuition owed for students who complete a family practice residency.

 

[MacGyver]

Wait a minute guys....are you telling me that if you complete this 3 year pathway you will be eligible to specialize ONLY as an FP?

I seriously doubt it.

which means this program will simply become a backdoor way to making surgeons and other specialists while doing VERY LITTLE to increase FP docs.

The LECOM students are going to take this idea and totally manipulate it to their advantage.

5 years from now, when LECOM is reviewing the data from this pilot project, they will discover that the same % of studnets are going into specialties as opposed to primary care, making this project and abject failure.

P.S. I'm curious as to what they are going to cut out of the curriculum to shorten it down to 3 years. Apparently the accreditation standards set by AACOM are pretty lax and there's a lot fluff that can be cut out without affecting accreditation.

 

[PlasticMan]

Wait a minute guys....are you telling me that if you complete this 3 year pathway you will be eligible to specialize ONLY as an FP?

I seriously doubt it.

which means this program will simply become a backdoor way to making surgeons and other specialists while doing VERY LITTLE to increase FP docs.

The LECOM students are going to take this idea and totally manipulate it to their advantage.

5 years from now, when LECOM is reviewing the data from this pilot project, they will discover that the same % of studnets are going into specialties as opposed to primary care, making this project and abject failure.

P.S. I'm curious as to what they are going to cut out of the curriculum to shorten it down to 3 years. Apparently the accreditation standards set by AACOM are pretty lax and there's a lot fluff that can be cut out without affecting accreditation.

The first thing that crossed my mind was "A pre-med student applying there could pretend to be all into FP whether they were or not, and take 1 year off the long years required to become a surgeon, sweet!" I completely agree with you.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

P.S. I'm curious as to what they are going to cut out of the curriculum to shorten it down to 3 years. Apparently the accreditation standards set by AACOM are pretty lax and there's a lot fluff that can be cut out without affecting accreditation.

Seems like most programs give M1s and M2s a few months in the summer. The M4 year is usually padded out nicely so you can go interview for residency positions. Take those away and cut out a couple of non-required elective rotations and I bet you'd come close to a three-year straight through program.

 

[n0chi]

im assuming that they force you to apply to FP... otherwise its all pointless now isnt it?

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Wait a minute guys....are you telling me that if you complete this 3 year pathway you will be eligible to specialize ONLY as an FP?

When applying to residency positions you have to include LORs, etc. I bet the program only allows LORs from medicine faculty and/or to be sent to FM residency programs. You're not going to match into surgery if you can't get an LOR from a surgeon. I'm not saying this is what they're going to do, but I imagine they have thought of someway to ensure you keep your end of the bargain.

 

[HunterGatherer]

The only way to "force" people is to have a severe tuition jump for those who don't go into FP. You can't force people do anything other than sign a contract and give penalties for breach of contract.

 

[Taus]

Wait a minute guys....are you telling me that if you complete this 3 year pathway you will be eligible to specialize ONLY as an FP?

I seriously doubt it.

which means this program will simply become a backdoor way to making surgeons and other specialists while doing VERY LITTLE to increase FP docs.

The LECOM students are going to take this idea and totally manipulate it to their advantage.

5 years from now, when LECOM is reviewing the data from this pilot project, they will discover that the same % of studnets are going into specialties as opposed to primary care, making this project and abject failure.

P.S. I'm curious as to what they are going to cut out of the curriculum to shorten it down to 3 years. Apparently the accreditation standards set by AACOM are pretty lax and there's a lot fluff that can be cut out without affecting accreditation.

if that was the case I would fully agree w/ you... but read the entire article

It appears these students will only be doing specific rotations at specific hospitals, will have vacation and fluff 4th year electives cut out and will not be eligible for other specialties....residencies in FP will only be through approved hospitals.

If it pans out that way...and these students can really only do FP (and have their entire 3 years + rotations only geared towards that).....then I think this could actually be a good idea. My attitude would change completely if loopholes existed though.

 

[n0chi]

if that was the case I would fully agree w/ you... but read the entire article

It appears these students will only be doing specific rotations at specific hospitals, will have vacation and fluff 4th year electives cut out and will not be eligible for other specialties....residencies in FP will only be through approved hospitals.

If it pans out that way...and these students can really only do FP (and have their entire 3 years + rotations only geared towards that).....then I think this could actually be a good idea. My attitude would change completely if loopholes existed though.

i feel its a great opp for people interested in FP! 👍

 

[medhacker]

Outstanding Idea, I foresee much success 👍

 

[star22]

I thought I heard about a public MD program that was going to allow your fourth year family practice electives to count towards a year family practice residency at specific places (so 6 years total med school + FP residency).... I guess it is the same idea. Too bad I cant find the original article. 😳

 

[DrBowtie]

I thought I heard about a public MD program that was going to allow your fourth year family practice electives to count towards a year family practice residency at specific places (so 6 years total med school + FP residency).... I guess it is the same idea. Too bad I cant find the original article. 😳

I remember seeing that too. It might have been UKY.

 

[strawberryfield]

LECOM Introduces Three-Year Medical Degree Curriculum

Erie medical college hopes to attract more students to family practice with shorter time to earn the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree.

Erie, PA - The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is taking a lead position in the future of medical education by introducing a new program to attract more physicians to family practice. LECOM is continuing its mission to help grow the osteopathic medical profession by starting a Primary Care Scholars Pathway (PCSP) that will reduce the time it takes to become a family physician.

The LECOM PCSP has received approval from the American Osteopathic Association Committee on Osteopathic College Accreditation and backing of the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice. The PCSP will condense four years of medical education into three years in order to graduate more family doctors sooner and to save these students one year of expenses that adds to the mounting debt held by medical college graduates.

“LECOM proposed this innovative curricular pathway in response to the declining interest in primary care and particularly family practice,” explained LECOM President John M. Ferretti, D.O. “We hope to attract new students by offering them a shorter path to a medical degree without jeopardizing their education in the areas needed to train a family physician.”

LECOM formed a committee through the College’s Primary Care Department led by Associate Professor of Family Medicine Richard Ortoski, D.O. The committee reviewed the need for family physicians and the factors causing the decreasing number of medical students who are interested in primary care.

“Numerous factors account for the declining numbers of medical students applying to become family doctors,” according to Hershey Bell, M.D., Director of the LECOM Teaching and Learning Center and a member of the PCSP committee. “The rising cost of medical education and the lower earning power of family practice physicians becomes an impediment to students with an interest in family medicine.”

At an interview I went on at the University of Arizona, I spoke with an MD that graduated in the mid 70's, he's a pediatrician, apparently his class graduated in 3 years, at the time he was in school they were shortening the time to get the MD degree to graduate more docs, but I think that only lasted a few years. I don't have much more info than that... 🙄

 

[sddoc]

I just heard from a friend of mine in Erie on SGA who was told by higher ups in the administration that students on this track would pay the equivalent of 4 years of tuition over 3 years. That seems like a crummy deal if you ask me, but it doesn't really surprise me much!

 

[Shodddy18]

if that was the case I would fully agree w/ you... but read the entire article

It appears these students will only be doing specific rotations at specific hospitals, will have vacation and fluff 4th year electives cut out and will not be eligible for other specialties....residencies in FP will only be through approved hospitals.

If it pans out that way...and these students can really only do FP (and have their entire 3 years + rotations only geared towards that).....then I think this could actually be a good idea. My attitude would change completely if loopholes existed though.

This is still ludacris. FPs, perhaps more than any other specialty, must have a very well rounded education. I mean a urologist for example, will only be refered patients with urological problems... almost all the same bread and butter cases. FP's on the other hand have to deal with every problem immaginable... Psych, OB, Cards, Resp, Allergy, GI.... the list goes on and on and on. If anything the specialists are the ones who could probably still function with less education... focused on a more specific area.

 

[SoCuteMD]

Ok, here's a thought. LECOM has shortened this degree to 3 years, but hasn't one of those allopathic schools that students salivate over done the same? I mean, 3rd year at Duke can be ENTIRELY unrelated to medicine (like, obtaining an MPH at a different school) and yet they still graduate in 4 years. Yes, many students do choose to participate in medically-related activities, but many don't.

 

[Oculus Sinistra]

LECOM Introduces Three-Year Medical Degree Curriculum

Erie medical college hopes to attract more students to family practice with shorter time to earn the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree.

...

“The rising cost of medical education and the lower earning power of family practice physicians becomes an impediment to students with an interest in family medicine.”

They're only seeing part of the problem.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I think this is a great idea and if my school offered, I'd definately take it. And as far as students taking a backdoor into surgery, I am sure they are required to sign a contract that they will go into family practice (like the D.O. school in Iowa or Ohio makes you sign that you will practice in that state for 3 years or so) and your deans letter will mention your 3 year curriculum for family practice in addition to allowing only family practice letters of recommenation (or some regulation of that sort) which will pretty much guarantee that students will go into family practice.

 

[Sundarban1]

Is this for only Erie or Bradenton as well?

 

[DragonWell]

P.S. I'm curious as to what they are going to cut out of the curriculum to shorten it down to 3 years. Apparently the accreditation standards set by AACOM are pretty lax and there's a lot fluff that can be cut out without affecting accreditation.

Read the article - sounds like the curriculum is being accelerated, not cut.

Dr. Ortoski explains. “By concentrating on the core primary care rotations and creating new clinical experiences needed to become good family doctors, we can reduce the final two years of medical college to just over a year.” With less vacation time, PSCP students still will have spent as much time in training as their fellow students in the four-year programs.

(emphasis mine)

 

[NonTradMed]

Hm, this would be great idea if:

1. Only studies not pertinate to family practice are cut.

2. Students are ONLY allowed to sign up for FP.

3. Students save a year of tuition.

As long as quality if maintained and we are getting FP docs, then it's fine.

 

[FMR1]

I wonder if a three year program would we worth while since traditional 4 year programs are already killer...but anything to make more osteopathic doctors is good 😛

 

[BradFromLECOM]

I'm not a big fan of this idea.

LECOM is already struggling to improve dwindling board scores and now they want to expedite the medical school curriculum. I wish they were as excited about improving the current curriculum. Furthermore, I think smushing the third and fourth years of medical school together would be overwhelming. Imagine taking COMLEX 1, COMLEX 2 CE, COMLEX 2 PE, applying to residencies, and interviewing at residency programs all in the same year without any vacation days. I hope they have some strict criteria for applicants to this program and I hope the criterion involves a psychiatric evaluation.

This program's purpose is to attract more primary care physicians to medical school. My question is what type of students will this attract? Students who take short-cuts in life? Students who want to become physicians but aren't willing to commit to four years of medical school. You may attract more students to primary care medicine but who are you attracting? Are you going to attract students who are truly committed to becoming primary care physicians or are you going to attract students looking for a quick three year medical degree? And what type of doctor will these students become? If I were LECOM, I'd prefer to graduate a truly committed primary care physician who chose primary care despite the opportunity to pursue other career opportunities. I think we need more quality and truly dedicated physicians in the U.S.

What percentage of students enter into medical school thinking they want to be a primary care physician and then change their mind? Pretty many!!! What happens if a student enters this pathway and they want to change their mind but they can't? Now you graduate a primary care physician who doesn't want to be a primary care physician. Won't this make for one bitter, angry, and unpleasant physician? I think we have enough of these physicians. Do we really want to give them degrees from LECOM? Do we really want to risk our reputation?

So congratulations LECOM, I think your program will be successful in producing more primary care physicians. But what kind of physicians will this program produce? I guess we'll find out in three years.

P.S. LECOM, are you sure you want to do this?

 

[JohnnyOU]

This is a bad idea for numerous reasons.
A few of which have already been addressed.

They should just pay FPs more if they want to attract more students.

J

 

[PublicHealth]

I'm not a big fan of this idea.

LECOM is already struggling to improve dwindling board scores and now they want to expedite the medical school curriculum. I wish they were as excited about improving the current curriculum. Furthermore, I think smushing the third and fourth years of medical school together would be overwhelming. Imagine taking COMLEX 1, COMLEX 2 CE, COMLEX 2 PE, applying to residencies, and interviewing at residency programs all in the same year without any vacation days. I hope they have some strict criteria for applicants to this program and I hope the criterion involves a psychiatric evaluation.

This program's purpose is to attract more primary care physicians to medical school. My question is what type of students will this attract? Students who take short-cuts in life? Students who want to become physicians but aren't willing to commit to four years of medical school. You may attract more students to primary care medicine but who are you attracting? Are you going to attract students who are truly committed to becoming primary care physicians or are you going to attract students looking for a quick three year medical degree? And what type of doctor will these students become? If I were LECOM, I'd prefer to graduate a truly committed primary care physician who chose primary care despite the opportunity to pursue other career opportunities. I think we need more quality and truly dedicated physicians in the U.S.

What percentage of students enter into medical school thinking they want to be a primary care physician and then change their mind? Pretty many!!! What happens if a student enters this pathway and they want to change their mind but they can't? Now you graduate a primary care physician who doesn't want to be a primary care physician. Won't this make for one bitter, angry, and unpleasant physician? I think we have enough of these physicians. Do we really want to give them degrees from LECOM? Do we really want to risk our reputation?

So congratulations LECOM, I think your program will be successful in producing more primary care physicians. But what kind of physicians will this program produce? I guess we'll find out in three years.

P.S. LECOM, are you sure you want to do this?

Everyone questions and doubts innovation. Give it time, see what happens.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

Id be willing to bet there is going to be some contract that you have to sign that locks you into an FP track. Similar to OUCOM making you sign a contract to lock you into the state of Ohio if you are an out-of-state applicant.

I think its a good idea and I think (I hope) that LECOM will be insightful enough to prevent any backdoor manipulation.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

This program's purpose is to attract more primary care physicians to medical school. My question is what type of students will this attract? Students who take short-cuts in life? Students who want to become physicians but aren't willing to commit to four years of medical school.

Are you implying that individuals in 6 or 7 year BS/MD BS/DO programs are in some way taking short-cuts in life?

Certainly not. They are just smarter than the rest of us.

 

[newdogirl]

if you click on the link you will read where it says " With less vacation time, PSCP students still will have spent as much time in training as their fellow students in the four-year programs." it mentions that you will not have a summer vacation, etc. sorry if someone else posted this (haven't read all the posts on this thread), but it doesn't sound like the students who choose the three year path will miss out on any education.

 

[hermione]

if you click on the link you will read where it says " With less vacation time, PSCP students still will have spent as much time in training as their fellow students in the four-year programs." it mentions that you will not have a summer vacation, etc. sorry if someone else posted this (haven't read all the posts on this thread), but it doesn't sound like the students who choose the three year path will miss out on any education.

Not true. They are taking away most of the fourth year electives as well. I would think these might be pretty important for an FP. If they only took away vacactions, that would equal eight weeks between first and second year and two months in the clinical years, equaling four months. Not a whole year. LECOM tends to word things to their advantage. Hi Brad.

 

[newdogirl]

Not true. They are taking away most of the fourth year electives as well. I would think these might be pretty important for an FP. If they only took away vacactions, that would equal eight weeks between first and second year and two months in the clinical years, equaling four months. Not a whole year. LECOM tends to word things to their advantage. Hi Brad.

oh ok, gotcha...i recant 😛

 

[poormansDO]

anybody know what LECOM's admissions email address is, i sent an email at [email protected] but didn't work for some reason.

 

[scpod]

anybody know what LECOM's admissions email address is, i sent an email at [email protected] but didn't work for some reason.

That's right. Don't know why it didn't work, but you could try sending it directly to the Director of Student Affairs and Admissions:

[email protected]