Residents in General Preventive Medicine are provided training in settings where decisions about the health of defined populations are routinely made and where analyses and policies affecting the health of these individuals are under active study and development.
Mission Statement
The General Preventive Medicine (GPM) Residency Program at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) is designed to give physicians a firm educational foundation and a proficient competence in the practice of general preventive medicine. It is our mission to train physicians armed with knowledge and skills of preventive medicine and public health, to acquire leading roles in the field of public health and to work proficiently towards the health of individuals and populations in order to promote and maintain health and well-being and prevent disease and disability.
The impetus for the program originated out of a unique relationship between UTMB and the Texas Department of Corrections (now known as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-TDCJ). Because of this relationship, UTMB has provided healthcare care to inmates for decades. The program’s success has broadened in line with UTMB’s core values and to focus its efforts to ensure access of quality healthcare to the socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Program Objectives
Train residents to acquire competencies in general preventive medicine and public health, as described by ACPM, by providing them the knowledge in the core areas of preventive medicine including epidemiology, biostatistics, health care administration, environmental health, and behavioral sciences and the relevant practical experiences
- Provide residents experience in application of knowledge and skills in population health need assessment and program development and evaluation
- Develop the ability of the resident to conduct independent research in the field of preventive medicine and public health
- Prepare residents as effective public health educators with individual patients and communities
- Prepare physicians for leadership roles in academia, government, corporations, and other relevant settings
- Qualify residents to be eligible to sit for certification examination of American Board of preventive medicine (General Preventive Medicine & Public Health)
The educational program in preventive medicine is 24 months in length including broad-based education followed by focused preventive medicine education.
Curriculum
Through a Master of Public Health or Master of Science degree coordinated by the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health (PMCH) through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at UTMB, residents complete graduate level courses in epidemiology; biostatistics; health services management and administration; environmental health; and the behavioral aspects of health. Residents complete graduate level courses prior to completion of the program in advanced applied epidemiology (including acute and chronic disease); advanced biostatistics; advanced health services management; clinical preventive services; and risk/hazard control and communication.
The master’s degree will satisfy the academic requirements set forth by the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) for eligibility for the certifying examination and the Residency Review Committee (RRC) of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
A capstone (applied) or thesis (research) project and a mentored public health practice experience is required for completion of the degree program. The residents are encouraged to initiate research work in the first year of training but have two years to complete the project. .
Residents are afforded focused preventive medicine practicum opportunities to learn the application of concepts of preventive medicine and public health in various supervised settings such as hospitals, managed care organizations, health departments, government and non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations. Clinical experience will include participation in learning activities that relate to the current recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force.
Residents must complete a minimum of two months of direct patient care experience during each year of the program and a minimum of two months at a governmental public health agency prior to completing the program. Trainees are also expected to participate in and attend monthly Journal Club, Board Review and selective Grand Rounds didactic sessions.
In addition, residents are required to attend a public health/preventive medicine didactic conference such as the annual meeting of the American College of Preventive Medicine in both years of training.
Residents have the opportunity to concentrate and tailor training towards a variety of public health tracks including public health policy, correctional medicine, global and community health in underserved areas, cancer prevention and control, and administration and leadership in preventive medicine.