MISSION

The School of Medicine’s principal responsibility is to offer an excellent, comprehensive program of medical education, biomedical research and health care. The ultimate goal of this program is improvement of the physical and mental well-being of citizens of the state, nation and, indeed, the world.

Primary Goal: The School of Medicine’s primary goal is to offer an accredited program of medical education which will provide well-trained physicians and certain supporting health care professionals, in numbers consistent with the health care needs of the state, who are responsive to the health problems of the people and committed to medical education as a continuum which must prevail throughout professional life.

Related Goals: The School of Medicine’s related goals are (1) to expand the body of basic and applied knowledge in biomedical sciences; (2) to improve systems of health care delivery; (3) to demonstrate model medical care for hospitalized and ambulatory patients; and (4) to provide excellent programs of continuing education for the state’s practicing physicians.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

The educational program of the School of Medicine is designed to achieve the multiple goals of dissemination of knowledge through teaching, application of knowledge through clinical practice, and creation of new knowledge through scientific research. The specific educational program objectives set forth below reflect the essential requirements for physicians to act in an ethical and altruistic fashion while providing competent medical care and fulfilling their obligations to their patients.

Objective I - Graduates must have sufficient knowledge of the structure and function of the human body to recognize alterations from the normal. They must understand the various causes of such abnormalities and their pathogenesis. At the completion of the medical school curriculum, students must be able to demonstrate:

A. Knowledge of the normal structure and function of the human body and each of its major organ systems.

B. Knowledge of the molecular, biochemical and cellular mechanisms which help maintain the body's homeostasis.

C. Knowledge of the various causes (genetic, developmental, metabolic, toxic, microbiologic, autoimmune, neoplastic, degenerative, and traumatic) of diseases and the ways in which they impact on the body (pathogenesis).

D. Knowledge of the altered structure and function (pathology and pathophysiology) of the body and its major organ systems that are seen in various diseases and conditions.

E. An understanding of the power of the scientific method in establishing the causation of disease and efficacy of traditional and nontraditional therapies.

F. Commitment to engage in lifelong learning to stay abreast of relevant scientific advances, especially those in the disciplines of genetics and molecular biology.

Objective II - Graduates must possess the necessary diagnostic and interventional skills to accurately evaluate, diagnose and plan treatment appropriate for each patient. At the completion of the medical school curriculum, students must be able to demonstrate:

A. Competence in obtaining an accurate medical history that covers all essential aspects of the patient's history, including issues related to age, gender, ethnic and socioeconomic status.

B. Competence in performing both a complete and an organ system specific examination, including one for mental status.

C. Competence in performing routine technical procedures including, at a minimum, venipuncture, inserting an intravenous catheter, arterial puncture, inserting a nasogastric tube, inserting a foley catheter and suturing simple lacerations.

D. Competence in interpreting results of commonly used diagnostic tests and procedures, i.e., laboratory, roentgenographic, electrocardiographic.

E. Knowledge of the most frequent manifestations of common disorders.

F. Ability to reason deductively in solving clinical problems.

G. Ability to construct appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic plans/strategies for patients with common conditions, both acute and chronic, including medical, surgical and psychiatric conditions, and those requiring short- and long-term rehabilitation.

H. Ability to recognize patients with immediately life-threatening conditions; i.e., infectious, cardiac, pulmonary, allergic, neurologic or psychiatric diseases regardless of etiology, and to institute appropriate initial therapy.

I. Ability to recognize and outline initial management for patients with conditions requiring critical care.

J. Knowledge about how to relieve pain and ameliorate suffering of patients.

K. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with patients, patients' families, colleagues, and health care team members with whom physicians must exchange information in carrying out their responsibilities.

Objective III - Graduates must possess those characteristics, attitudes and values that are needed to provide ethical and beneficial medical care for all patients. At the completion of the medical school curriculum, students must be able to demonstrate:

A. Knowledge of theories and principles that govern ethical decision making, and of the major ethical questions in medicine, particularly those at the beginning and end of life and those that surface from the rapid expansion of technology.

B. Compassionate and nonjudgmental treatment of all patients, and respect for the privacy and dignity of all patients.

C. Honesty and integrity in all interactions with patients, families, colleagues and others with whom physicians must interact in their professional lives.

D. An understanding of, and respect for, the roles of other health care professionals, and of the need to collaborate and work with others in caring for individual patients and in promoting the health of defined populations.

E. A commitment to advocate the interests of one's patients over one's own interests at all times.

F. Capacity to recognize and accept limitations in one's knowledge and clinical skills, and a commitment to continuously improve one's knowledge and abilities.

PROGRAM

The School of Medicine offers a four-year course of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine that is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). In addition, the School of Medicine collaborates in support of other degree and certificate programs offered by the University of Mississippi Medical Center; a combined MD-PhD program is also offered.

DOCTOR OF MEDICINE DEGREE

The degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) is conferred upon candidates of good moral character who have studied in an LCME-accredited medical school at least four academic sessions, of which the last two sessions must be spent in the regular four-year course of this school; who have properly fulfilled all academic requirements of the medical curriculum; and who have discharged all financial obligations to this school. The diploma is awarded summa cum laude to the graduate who ranks first in the class in academic achievement; magna cum laude to the next three; and cum laude to the graduates who rank six through 10.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

The University of Mississippi Medical Center seeks to promote the health and well being of Mississippians by training health professionals who will care for the state’s citizens, by doing research that adds to man’s knowledge about disease and health, and by treating the illnessess of patients who come to our hospitals from all of the state’s 82 counties.

As the state’s only health sciences campus, the institution also is committed to the community at large as a source for health information and science instruction.

Two programs that reflect that outreach comittment are the MiniMed School lecture series and the Base Pair science mentorship program.

MINIMED SCHOOL LECTURE SERIES AND SPEAKERS BUREAU

MiniMed School is a series of free public lectures by School of Medicine faculty.

The next series of six presentations is planned for spring, 1997, but a specific date has not been set.

Call the Division of Public Affairs at (601) 984-1000 for more information.

The public affairs office also maintains a speakers’ bureau which is a list of School of Medicine faculty who have agreed to give 30-minute presentations for local civic and community groups.

Call public affairs and ask for the MiniMed School Speakers’ Bureau brochure for a list of speakers and topics.

BASE PAIR SCIENCE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

"Base pair" refers to the two corresponding bases of the DNA helix which form the structure of the molecule from which all live begins.

In the same way, a mentorship program called "Base Pair" teams Jackson Public School students with practicing scientists at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Dr. Rob Rockhold, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology, is the program's coordinator.

Base Pair students, selected for their interest and aptitude in science, meet at UMC four afternoons a week for a semester. Each student chosen for the program is paired with a UMC scientist or "mentor" whose area of research closely matches the interest of the student. Students spend three afternoons a week working individually in the laboratory with the mentor. One afternoon is reserved for a group meeting with Dr. Rockhold where the week's laboratory experience and outside reading are discussed.

The students learn laboratory and research skills, scientific documentation and presentation. Each student is required to make a presentation on their research findings and experiences to "colleagues" at the Medical Center at semester's end. The mentors also encourage students to present abstracts at the annual Mississippi Academy of Sciences meeting.

The program actually begins first semester in the home school where teachers prepare students for the next semester at the Medical Center.

Students receive academic credit for their participation in Base Pair while they get a real taste of the life of the scientist. Base Pair encourages the pursuit of science as a career by demonstrating the challenge and intellectual excitement of biomedical science. Even if students don't make careers of science, they are given a new appreciation of how science affects the daily lives of everyone--regardless of occupation.

The UMC mentors are all scientists of the first rank who do original research and publish regularly in scholarly journals.

The number of students who participate in Base Pair is determined largely by the number of mentors who volunteer. The program will probably average 10 students annually.

Students who are interested in participating in Base Pair should contact their science teacher and principal.

Web site content is Copyright 1996-2000 by The University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39216. Telephone (601) 984-1100. The University of Mississippi Medical Center offers equal opportunity in employment, education and all programs and services, M/F/D/V.