The Primary Care-Population Medicine (PC-PM) Program at Brown University – Early Outcomes

Context: The Primary Care – Population Medicine Program at Brown University (PC-PM), the first of its kind, awards both a Medical Degree and a Master of Science in Population Medicine, and seamlessly integrates Health Systems Science (HSS) with the Basic and Clinical Sciences over the 4 years of medical school. As part of the PC-PM program, we developed HSS and population medicine content, a navigator program, as well as a longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC), a leadership course, and thesis research.

Objective: To evaluate the short -term impact of a unique primary care educational program.

Study Design and Analysis: Mixed-method analysis including longitudinal surveys, focus groups, and academic student data.

Setting: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University (AMS) -- a medical school in the Northeast of the United State.

Population Studied: Medical students enrolled in PC-PM program.

Intervention/Instrument: Dual degree educational program.

Outcome Measures: Diversity; Shelf Exams; Completion of MD and ScM requirements; Residency Matching (both primary care v. specialty care and quality of programs matched); and scholarly productivity.

Results: The PC-PM Program has drawn a diverse student body with high URM representation who have had a flexible, adaptive approach to their education that encourages self-direction and tolerance of ambiguity. PC-PM students have been leaders, productive scholars, educators, and advocates/activists at AMS and in the community. 95% (71/75) of students in the first 4 years of the program have successfully completed both their Medical and ScM degrees. There have been no differences in Shelf Exam scores between students in the traditional block clerkships and those in the LIC. Over 50% of graduates have gone into primary care residencies in the first 4 years; more than double the overall AMS rate. Seven students have entered Brown primary care residencies through the “guaranteed track”.

Expected Results and Conclusions: The PC-PM program is meeting and exceeding its short-term goals, though further follow-up after residency will be necessary and is planned to determine long-term outcomes. Other medical schools may want to adapt a similar primary care educational model.