General Preventive Medicine


CLINICAL YEAR

The clinical phase must be completed prior to matriculation into the residency program. The typical candidate shall have completed one of the primary care residencies that focus on the care of the adult patient. Completion of a formal residency will give the physician a sound clinical background useful in dealing with the complex medical problems encountered in the prison population. However, a candidate with one year of primary care training is eligible to apply for the program.

 

ACADEMIC YEAR (1st Year)

The Academic Phase of the program requires twelve months of intensive academic work that will lead to a Master of Public Health degree. It satisfies the academic requirements set forth by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) and the Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health (PMCH) has a prescribed course-work that must be completed to obtain the Master of Public Health. It includes courses in statistical methods, epidemiology, research design and a survey of issues in preventive medicine and community health. The required course work, also, includes curriculum in social and behavioral influences on health, environmental and occupational health, and health services organization and administration. Residents may further concentrate their interests in preventive medicine by selecting from electives in such areas of study as nutrition, sociomedical sciences, environmental toxicology and quantitative analysis.

A research thesis , capstone project (in lieu of thesis), or a manuscript publication is required for completion of the degree program. Ample opportunities for research in several areas of preventive medicine and public health are available for the residents at UTMB and supporting facilities. The residents are encouraged to initiate research work in the academic year but have two years to finish their project.

A summary of the academic work for the year and its course weight is as follows:

 Course
 Course Number
 Hours
Instructor
Summer I (5 credits)
Occupational Injury and Illness
PMCH 6227
2
N. Avery, MD
Introduction to Aerospace Medicine
PMCH 6382 
3
R. Jennings, MD
Fall (15 credits)
Statistical Methods 1
PMCH 6443 
 4
D. Freeman, PhD/ J. Grady, PhD
Introduction to Epidemiology
PMCH 6330
3
E. Guevara DrPh
Environmental Health & Toxicology
PMCH 6328
3
W. Au, PhD / N. Avery, MD
Health & Policy Management
PMCH 6384 
3
J. Freeman, PhD
Community Health Practice I
PMCH 6223
2
L. Rudkin, PhD
Spring (12 credits)
Approaches to Communicable Diseases
PMCH 6220
2
R. Johnson, MD
Health Promotion: Social and Behavioral Approaches
PMCH 6318
3
G. Weaver, PhD
Community Health Practice II
PMCH 6326
3
L. Rudkin, PhD
Medical Toxicology
PMCH 6329
3
N. Avery, MD
Electives (credits vary upon selection)
Immunization Policy
PMCH 6XXX
X
M. Myers, PhD
Space Physiology- Pts. 1 & 2
BBSC 6211 / 6212
4
J. Meck, PhD
Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
PMCH 6233
2
C. Arcari, PhD / M. Alter, PhD
Summer II (9 credits)
Medical Ethics
 MEHU 6101
 1
E. More, PhD
Thesis (Capstone Project)
PMCH 6X98
8
 

 TOTAL ACADEMIC HOURS

42

 

               (The resident may also choose from various elective courses in PMCH)

PRACTICUM YEAR (2nd Year)

This year is dedicated to providing residents supervised field experiences at UTMB and several affiliated institutions in a variety of preventive and public health settings such as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital, Texas Department of Health and the Galveston County Health District. Each resident is encouraged to choose an area of concentration for the practicum year, which include: correctional health, public health and clinical preventive medicine.

The correctional health track involves rotations in various TDCJ correctional facilities to learn how to manage healthcare problems unique to inmate population.  The health track rotations are with the Galveston and Harris County health departments learning principles of public health practice.  The clinical preventive medicine track involves rotations in the UTMB family medicine department and indigent care clinics to acquire experiences in patient counseling and developing and managing health promotion and disease prevention programs.

DIDACTIC SESSIONS

Residents are required to participate in an hour and a half didactic session every week.  This may include presenting at journal club, departmental seminars, or discussion sessions with the program director on topics based on ACPM competencies.  Participation in quarterly Grand Rounds and attending an annual residency-related conference is also required to enhance the educational experience of the resident.