Transformation In Medical Education (TIME)

A multi-institutional initiative within the University of Texas System

Physician education has changed little in 100 years - but medicine has!

Medical education is in need of modernization:

• The traditional (Flexnerian) model of physician education is over 100 years old.
• The past century has seen remarkable advances in biomedical science.
• Increasingly complex physician roles require new skills and knowledge.
• The premedical and medical school phases of physician education are poorly coordinated.
• High educational debt affects physician diversity and specialty choice.
• The length of time in school contributes to educational debt.
• Numerous reports from esteemed groups have called for major reforms in physician education:
• The Institute of Medicine
• The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and The Association of American Medical Colleges
• The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation and The Association of American Medical Colleges
• The Carnegie Foundation

3. The mission of the U.T. System Transformation in Medical Education (TIME) initiative is a student-centered, clinically focused program designed to increase the effectiveness of medical education while shortening its duration.

A NEW MODEL

Educators involved in premedical and medical education at UT System institutions have developed a new model for physician education that spans the traditional baccalaureate/medical school boundary. In addition to relevant basic and clinical sciences, this model incorporates four major elements:

1. Pre-health professions program
   Students work interprofessionally to learn traditional, non-traditional and clinical subjects and to demonstrate teamwork and professionalism.
2. Competency-based education
   Student advancement and degree completion is based upon demonstration of abilities rather than duration of education.
3. Professional identity formation
   Personal and professional maturation--an essential complement to competency-based education--is achieved through intentional experiences, reflection, and mentoring.
4. Non-traditional fields of study
   Education important to future physicians includes medically-related and non-medical subjects that have not traditionally been emphasized.

PILOT PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPS:

Partnerships among six general academic and four health related campuses of the UT System have formed for pilot program development. The four configurations, each of which includes at least one undergraduate institution and one medical school, grew from a combination of geographical, historical, and programmatic considerations. The pilot programs will include the four main elements and will be designed for future compatibility while respecting each campus' unique missions, cultures and practices.

Mission: The UT System TIME initiative is a student-centered, clinically focused program designed to increase the effectiveness of medical education while shortening its duration. Strategy #1 (short-term): Participating UT System academic and health campuses will partner to develop, implement, and assess pilot programs of innovative and integrated medical education with the goal of generalizability and scalability across the UT System and beyond. Strategy #2 (mid-term): Participating campuses will work collaboratively to assess outcomes and identify best practices across the pilot programs to create a shared model for medical education to be expanded within schools, across partnerships, and outside the University of Texas System.