LEAWOOD, Kan. - Recognizing the growing need for family physicians to understand both the business and clinical aspects of medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians, in cooperation with Kansas City-based Rockhurst University, has established the first fully-integrated family medicine/master of business administration program.
Beginning in 2004, family medicine residents will be able to simultaneously complete their medical-specialty training and earn a master's degree in business administration.
"Health care is increasingly the business of medicine as well as the art of medicine. Family physicians completing this dual program will combine top-notch medical skills with the business skills necessary to be leaders in America's health care arena," said Norman Kahn, M.D., vice president for science and education at the American Academy of Family Physicians.
"Physicians' need for business acumen has grown with the spiraling complexity of reimbursement regulations, employment law and business tax rules," said Myles Gartland, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics and health care leadership curriculum coordinator at Rockhurst. "The goal of the MBA in Health Care Leadership for Physicians program is to complement medical education with the business and leadership skills necessary to effectively lead health care management teams, medical practices and health care organizations."
The dual family medicine/MBA program has been integrated with three Kansas City-area family medicine residency programs: the University of Missouri-Kansas City Family Medicine Residency Program, Baptist-Lutheran Family Practice Residency Program and the University of Health Sciences/Medical Center of Independence Family Medicine Residency Program.
Between 25 and 35 students are expected to begin the first business course in the dual program in June 2004. They will earn their MBA and complete their family medicine residency in 2007.
The AAFP Foundation provided $55,000 in support of the program's development. The program was developed with the consultative assistance of Perry Pugno M.D., MPH, CPE, director of the AAFP's Division of Medical Education.
Rockhurst began offering graduate business education designed for health care clinicians three years ago through a dual-degree program with the University of Health Sciences. Last year, the university added a track tailored for nursing students at Research College of Nursing.
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American Academy of Family Physicians Spearheads the First Joint Family Medicine Residency/MBA Program
Family Physicians Need to Know Both the Business and Clinical Side of Medicine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Contact:
Leslie Champlin
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237, Ext. 5224
lchampli@aafp.org
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Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 110,600 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.
Approximately one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 240 million office visits each year — nearly 87 million more than the next largest medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.
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