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University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

Medical School

Mailing Address
1 Hospital Drive
Columbia, Missouri 65212
Phone
(573) 884-7886
Email address
MizzouMed@missouri.edu
School Information
"As the first publicly supported medical school west of the Mississippi River, the University of Missouri School of Medicine has improved health, education and research since 1872. "More Missouri physicians received their medical degree from MU than from any other university. The School of Medicine’s more than 680 faculty physicians and scientists educate more than 1,000 medical students, residents, fellows and others seeking advanced degrees, as well as more than 1,000 undergraduate students each semester. "Our researchers focus on lifesaving discoveries that address the most prevalent health problems. The school is nationally ranked in such areas as family and community medicine, primary care, pharmacology and physiology, and health management and informatics. "MU School of Medicine graduates treat patients from every county in the state, and more Missouri physicians have received their medical degrees from MU than from any other university. "MU School of Medicine graduates are trained, evaluated and expected to be competent in their ability to deliver patient-centered care, including their capability to communicate with the patient, family members and colleagues working as part of an interdisciplinary team. The school uses a patient-based learning style, which emphasizes self-directed learning and early clinical experiences. "Graduates of MU School of Medicine consistently score higher than the national average on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The graduating class of 2016 had a 100 percent match rate." (Source: https://medicine.missouri.edu/about)
General Information
The school joined the "Anti-Racist Transformation in Medical Education" led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Incoming students will participate in "the Common Read Program to learn more about racial biases in medicine," as well as participating "in small group discussions... either in-person or via videoconferencing." The book in 2020 was "Seeing Patients: Unconscious Bias in Health Care” by Augustus A. White.

Actions Taken

Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • Incoming students will participate in "the Common Read Program to learn more about racial biases in medicine," as well as participating "in small group discussions... either in-person or via videoconferencing." The book in 2020 was "Seeing Patients: Unconscious Bias in Health Care” by Augustus A. White.
  • On December 26, 2020, the publication "Columbia Missourian" published an article titled "MU students examine unconscious racial disparities in medicine" and stated that "Njai and his fellow third-year student, Patricia De Castro, helped facilitate implicit bias reflection through the new Common Read program. As part of 2020 virtual orientation week, each first-year medical student at MU was asked to read 'Seeing Patients: Unconscious Bias in Health Care'".
Disciplinary Measures
  • The school has a "Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Bias Hotline" to "report bias incidents."
Program and Research Funding
  • The school hosts the Visiting Student Diversity Program which is geared for “students who are members of groups underrepresented in medicine.” A $950 housing stipend as well as an additional departmental stipend is offered.
Resources
  • The school has an Office of Diversity & Inclusion, which links to the "Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Bias Hotline."
  • The school's Office of Diversity and Inclusion publishes a newsletter called "Unique Perspectives: Celebrating Diversity, Inclusion and Equity."
  • The school has an "Inclusive Excellence Professional Development Series," which hosted an event called "Reframing Intercultural Competencies."
  • The school has an "Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Answers and Support" (IDEAS) book club.
  • The school has launched "Thoughtful Thursdays," which will feature "a respectful conversation on difficult topics surrounding race and inequities that face our society and healthcare system."
  • The school's Office of Diversity and Inclusion defines inclusion as "the active, intentional and ongoing engagement with diversity — in people, in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in communities (intellectual, social, cultural and geographical) with which individuals might connect."
  • On July 31, 2020, the school's News Page published an article titled "Class of 2024 Medical Students Takes First Steps Toward the Future at White Coat Ceremony" in which Steven Zweig, MD, Dean of the MU School of Medicine stated that the white coat "has also come to symbolize the selfless commitment of health care workers during the current viral pandemic and making a commitment to fighting racism in medicine."
Symbolic Actions
  • The school joined the "Anti-Racist Transformation in Medical Education" led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
  • The school's Medical Pharmacology and Physiology Department issued a "Diversity Statement" and stated "As individuals we will strive to recognize our implicit biases and work actively to minimize their influence on our interactions, opinions, and decisions." The department also stated that it is committed to "Developing teaching and mentoring practices that foster inclusiveness and diverse experiences, promoting equal participation of all groups – continually revising our teaching methods to avoid approaches that can inadvertently hamper the success of students."
  • The School of Medicine has a program known as PAWS which supports underrepresented students.
  • In June 2023, the school offers the “Mini-Medical School” and states that “we strongly encourage students from underrepresented minority groups and from rural communities to apply.”
Last updated July 29th, 2023
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