Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/220800
QA 5 Questions Paula Allen-Meares, MSW '71, PhD '75, has been chancellor of the University of Illinois at Chicago since January 2009. An international expert in social work, with an emphasis on mental health issues among vulnerable populations, Allen-Meares is a member of the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences. She shared her reflections on the College of Medicine's contributions. 1 How does the College of Medicine echo the mission and goals of UIC, and what collaborative partnerships has it forged around the campus? The College of Medicine trains outstanding health care providers, with a major focus on underserved communities. For example, we have just received grants to develop innovative ways to deliver health care to patients with especially complex health issues like end-stage renal disease and COPD. This is a collaboration between the College of Medicine, the UI Hospital and local community members who will serve as patient liaisons. We also collaborate with the Jesse Brown VA Hospital here in the Illinois Medical District. The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences has partnered with a number of groups to provide research support, including early investigational research that holds potential for securing larger NIH funding. Often, these projects are collaborations among departments in the college, and sometimes other colleges, like Pharmacy or Dentistry. 2 What distinguishes the college from other medical schools around the nation? It consists of four campuses, so it has statewide reach and touches many diverse patient populations. As part of a comprehensive health sciences system, it is teamed with alliedhealth colleges that are among the nation's best, and this enables students to collaborate on multiprofessional teams. The college ranks among the top U.S. medical schools in graduating African-American and Latino physicians. One of the jewels is the Hispanic Center of Excellence, and our Institute for Minority Health Research is the main Chicago center for the national Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, the largest observational cohort study of its kind. It will collect health information on more than 16,000 Hispanics and Latinos in the U.S. and provide insights into the health status and challenges of this growing population. 3 What does the college contribute to the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois? In a nutshell, the College of Medicine is giving Illinois its physicians: one in six MDs practicing in our state. And because of our focus on addressing health disparities in underserved populations, our graduates gain the tools to treat a changing America, where minority populations are poised to become the majority, and where growing disparity in health is one of the top national concerns. The college's four campuses take advantage of the state's urban and rural environments and offer myriad opportunities to serve diverse populations. The college's alumni practice in almost every county in Illinois, and the college educates 60 percent of minority physicians in the state. 4 How is the college suited best to educate the future leaders in medicine? Our College of Medicine's research agenda is interdisciplinary and collaborative, and these collaborations serve as the foundation for more than 53 different residency opportunities. Secondly, students on the Chicago campus get hands-on clinical training with patients as early as their first year with one of the eight teaching hospitals nearby. Our focus on community-based medicine, particularly in underserved communities, is going to be an expanding national trend for decades to come. 5 How will the college's upcoming renovations improve the student experience in Chicago? It will dramatically improve the educational experience of our students. Most of the space in the West Tower has had no renovation since the 1930s. There will be more of a focus on team-based learning, peer-to-peer instruction and case-based instruction, and students will be able to come together to prepare for their board exams. It will enhance their sense of community, which we know will bolster their education and enjoyment here, and we hope carry forward throughout their professional careers. | FA LL 2 013 Photo: diane smutny 44