FAQs
MD Degree Study Group
Background
Q: Why would the UNTHSC consider adding a parallel MD degree program to the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s existing DO degree?
A: Texas faces a looming shortage of primary care physicians. In fact, Texas has been consistently ranked in a variety of studies as having the fewest physicians per population in the country. We hope to increase our class size to support the primary care physician needs of Texas; however, we need to identify the necessary number of high quality clinical rotation opportunities for our students in order to do so. Growing competition from potential new MD programs and the growth of existing MD programs increases competition for these clinical rotation opportunities. In addition, the closure of all osteopathic hospitals in Texas has resulted in a limited number of uniquely osteopathic clinical opportunities for our students, and this has limited our growth.
Q: When would the UNTHSC start offering a parallel MD degree?
A: No decision has been made to add an MD degree. While the idea has been informally raised for more than a decade, this is the first time the organization is conducting a comprehensive study of the topic. We do not know what the Study Group, and eventually the Board of Regents, will conclude. Should the Regents approve the addition of an MD degree, it would take approximately three to five years to begin the parallel degree program.
Q: Why are osteopathic hospitals across the country, and especially in Texas, closing?
A: Regardless of philosophy, small hospitals face financial, quality and market challenges. The specific challenge of many osteopathic hospitals has been related to osteopathic physicians’ widespread acceptance in nearly all hospitals across the country. As DOs earned greater respect in the medical community, they often chose to admit their patients and complete their surgeries at non-osteopathic hospitals. As volumes fell at the osteopathic hospitals, most of them closed, including all osteopathic hospitals in Texas.
Q: Why not just increase the number of DO degrees that UNTHSC confers?
A: This is certainly the preferable option and one we have attempted; however, we must identify enough clinical rotation opportunities for our students. This has become a great challenge. Many hospitals prefer to partner with a medical school that grants the MD degree. As other medical schools in Texas grow, it becomes even more challenging to retain and identify high quality clinical opportunities for our students to support our growth goals.
Impacts on the Osteopathic Program
Q: Would we keep the DO degree?
A: Absolutely. Regardless of the outcome of the study, the UNT System Regents, UNT System Chancellor and UNTHSC President are committed to maintaining, enhancing and cherishing the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s DO program.
Q: Would there be a possibility of granting a dual DO/MD degree?
A: Initially, the study group will determine the benefits and liabilities of adding a parallel MD degree to our existing programs. If the Study Group and the Regents believe we should add a parallel MD degree, the UNTHSC would evaluate the most optimal way to add the MD opportunity. Offering a dual degree is one option, but this would be groundbreaking and may pose many operational challenges.
Q: Wouldn’t adding an MD degree betray our mission to promote osteopathy?
A: The Health Science Center’s strong commitment to osteopathic medical education would continue. Advancing osteopathic medical education is at our core and is non-negotiable. Any action taken now or in the future must be aimed at expanding, and not detracting from, our ability to fulfill that mission for the field of osteopathy. As the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine approaches its 40th anniversary, we are mindful of the history and tradition of the school’s founders, and we understand the responsibility we have to respect and carry that forward. We are home to the National Osteopathic Research Center and have become recognized as a leader in the profession, and we intend to continue as such. In addition, the UNTHSC would continue to focus on developing primary care physicians for all current and any possible future medical education programs.
Q: How would UNTHSC make sure the DO program is preserved and not overshadowed by the MD program?
A: We are committed to the sustainability and strength of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. TCOM is the founding school of the UNTHSC.. The only way we would consider adding an MD degree would be if it enhances the DO program for our students and for the health care needs of Texans.
Impacts on the University
Q. What would be the implications if UNTHSC is unable to find enough clinical opportunities for its medical students?
A. There would be significant impacts on class size, which would in turn reduce our funding and compromise faculty and staff positions. We receive from tuition and other support approximately $6 million for every 25 students in each class (100 students total over the four year program). For the past two years, we were able to increase our class size to 175 students from 135, and we have been approved to increase our class size to 250. However, we will lose at least one key clinical site next year due to medical school growth at another institution. This will impact our ability to maintain our current class size. If that trend continues and we are unable to retain current and identify additional quality clinical opportunities for our students, we may have to reduce our class size to 150 or lower. That would reduce our funding, putting at least 120 faculty and staff positions at risk. Conversely, if we are able to increase clinical opportunities and grow our class size, our funding would increase allowing us to expand our faculty, educational programs and other institutional opportunities.
Q: Have any other osteopathic medical schools done this?
A: Other schools have offered parallel degree programs in various models -- some on campus, some in other cities than the home campus. Michigan State University has maintained highly successful MD and DO schools for nearly 40 years. In fact, Michigan State’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Human Medicine have both been ranked by US News and World Report as being among the top 10 primary care medical schools for most of the past seven years.
Q: What are you doing to solicit input from students, faculty, and interested community members?
A: Students and faculty are represented on the Study Group and will participate in various focus groups. Town Hall meetings have been scheduled with several groups to elicit input and assure that the Study Group obtains a comprehensive view of any option’s benefits and liabilities. In addition, an on-line survey is available to convey your views to the Study Group.
Q: How will we stay informed on the Study Group’s progress?
A: The UNTHSC will keep this Web site updated with developments as they occur. This Web site will provide all information on the study’s progress and other related issues.
Study Group
Q: What criteria were used to select the membership of the Study Group?
A: The 33 member “blue-ribbon” Study Group is designed in “the Fort Worth way” to gain the multiple perspectives of this most important and sometimes emotional issue. The membership consists of four major groups, including: distinguished osteopathic physicians; members of the medical community; hospital and health system leaders; and community, business, and civic leaders. In addition, selected members of the UNT System Board of Regents, UNT System Chancellor and the UNTHSC President will serve as ex-officio members of the Study Group.
Q: What is the purpose and charge of the Study Group?
A: To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the benefits and liabilities of adding a parallel MD program to our institution. The Study Group will consider all perspectives of this important issue through a highly transparent and open process. The Study Group’s findings will be posted on this Web site and eventually presented to the UNT System Board of Regents for consideration at its May meeting. No recommendation is expected until August 2009.