M.D. Program Academic Distinctions and Concurrent Degree Programs

M.D./M.P.H. Program

The concurrent Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (M.D./M.P.H.) is a collaborative program offered by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso) Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (PLFSOM) and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health (UTSPH). The M.D./M.P.H. program will prepare students to integrate medical and public health skills in their professional lives as practitioners, administrators, and researchers. The MP concurrently with enrollment in the MD program and prepares students to address community, regional, and population-specific public health issues.

Curriculum:

Shared credit between the two institutions for selected coursework makes it possible for students to complete both degrees simultaneously within the four years of medical school, while still being able to customize the M.P.H. program to individualized interests and educational goals. Student interests are varied including exploring behavioral health, health policy, and global health issues, or deepening skills in epidemiology or health care administration. The PLFSOM Society, Community, and the Individual course complements the M.P.H. curriculum and supports requirements related to the UTSPH practicum requirement.

Students are guided throughout the program by faculty from the two participating schools. M.P.H. coursework begins early in the summer before medical school begins and continues in the summer between first and second year of medical school and then throughout years three and four. Preliminary core required coursework may be taken online and does not require residence in El Paso at the time of enrollment.

Application deadline for the M.P.H.:

April 1* - Summer or fall admissions - PLFSOM students should apply in early spring once they are matched with PLFSOM to begin course work in the summer before medical school

October 1* - Spring admissions

*Deadlines are subject to change; contact the UTSPH for current deadlines.

GREs are waived for students who have been accepted to medical school. Student must submit separate Letters of Support for the MPH.

Application forms and directions can be found at the following websites:

UTHealth SPH
https://sph.uth.edu/application/

Or see the application directly at the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS)
https://sophas.org/program-finder/?program=4501

For more information, please contact both schools:

TTUHSC El Paso:
E. Lee Rosenthal, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H., TTUHSC El Paso M.D./M.P.H. Program Coordinator
Lee.Rosenthal@ttuhsc.edu| 915-215-6459
PLFSOM Admissions webpage: M.D./M.P.H. Option
 

UTHealth SPH:
M.D./M.P.H. Program Contacts:

Kristina Mena, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.
El Paso Dean
Kristina.D.Mena@uth.tmc.edu | 915-539-6417

Pedro Garza
Admissions and Academic Advisor, El Paso
Pedro.Garza@uth.tmc.edu | 915-975-8531

M.D. Program Anatomy Distinction

Thomas M. Greiner, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Anatomy, Department of Medical Education

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.

O: 915-215-5659

Thomas.M.Greiner@ttuhsc.edu

Students with a special interest in advanced instruction in anatomy may apply for the PLFSOM Distinction in Anatomy Program during the 2nd semester of their MS1 year. Students must demonstrate an ability to succeed in the core curriculum as a prerequisite to acceptance into the Distinction in Anatomy Program (DIAP). Students interested in the Distinction in Anatomy Program must fulfill the program’s general and anatomy-specific criteria, seen below, and submit a complete application no later than April 14, 2024.

 ELIGIBILITY: All students in good academic standing and with a good record of professionalism are eligible to apply for the Distinction in Anatomy Program. Students who are placed on academic warning or probation, as defined by the PLFSOM Grading, Promotion, and Academic Standing (GPAS) policy, are not eligible for the Distinction in Anatomy Program and must withdraw from the program if enrolled. Recorded negative professionalism issues as well as outstanding remediation/s and/or other obligations may also be considered by the faculty in determining program eligibility.

MS1 Year

ACCEPTANCE PROCESS AND CRITERIA: The application deadline is April 14, 2024. Acceptance is competitive and determined by a committee consisting of the participating anatomy faculty members, the Chair of the Department of Medical Education, and the Associate Dean for Medical Education. Acceptance is based primarily on the applicant’s general academic record, participation in required MS1 anatomy lab assignments, performance on summative items related to anatomy, and a record of good professionalism. Students may also submit an optional short essay explaining potential time conflicts, explaining any shortcomings in their academic or professional record, and making the committee aware of any additional items they feel should be considered, relative to their candidacy.

CAPACITY: The number of students accepted for the Distinction in Anatomy Program is to be determined each year by the participating anatomy faculty members and the Chair of the Department of Medical Education, with final approval by the Associate Dean for Medical Education.

 As outlined in the following sections, the Distinction in Anatomy Program begins following the end of the MS1 spring semester, with the first day being May 28, 2024.

MS1 Summer Break

The summer dissections for the Distinction in Anatomy program are intended to provide the student with a firm foundation in clinically oriented human gross anatomy. This is a 6-week course that incorporates self-directed learning materials that prepare the student for each day’s lab experience, followed by dissection labs that expose the student to the detailed structure of the human body, and completed by review of the material using organized learning materials after lab. These dissections will potentially be used in general anatomical instruction in the following year.

Labs will begin each morning at 8am, except on days when there is a practical exam. There will be a short quiz (do not be late - there are no make-up quizzes), as well as a brief overview of the day’s dissection. After the overview, we will perform the day’s dissection. Labs are scheduled beginning at 8am and continuing until the dissections are complete (no later than 5pm). Practical exams are scheduled for 3pm on designated practical exam days. Attendance for all sessions is mandatory with only two absences permitted. Students will be required to complete all the dissection assignments, including those they missed due to absence.

Lectures and prelab learning modules are posted online using Canvas. Students should review the narrated PowerPoint lab overview lectures and the prelab learning modules, and watch the online dissection videos, before coming to labs. The daily quiz questions will be drawn from the online lectures and prelab learning materials. Students should use the computers in the gross anatomy lab to review dissection procedures and adhere closely to the instructions of the anatomy faculty and dissection manual when performing dissections. Students may be required to submit records of their dissections electronically, or on provided forms, including notes and photographs of any pathology, evidence of surgery, and anatomical variation. After lab, students should use the online Dissector Answers to review the material dissected that day, and review any Learning Modules assigned to the lab. The final step in reviewing is to look over the online Review Questions.

Grades will be based on the average of all the prelab quizzes (with the two lowest quiz scores dropped) (25%) and the average of all the practical exams (75%). Practical exams will include some comprehensive questions in addition to material covered for each of the current topics. To remain in the program, distinction students must:

• achieve a minimum course average of 70%
• score at or above 75% on the NBME Anatomy Subject Exam

Students are required to schedule and take the NBME Anatomy Subject Exam by the end of the MS2 school year, prior to the start of 3^rd-year clerkships. The committee may allow remediation; this will be determined on an individual basis.

The schedule for the anatomy labs to be completed in the MS1 summer break follows:

Week 1: May 27^th - May 31^st

Monday: Memorial Day Holiday

Tuesday: Introduction to Dissection & Lab Safety; Superficial Back Wednesday: Deep Back & Spinal Cord; Pectoral Region & Breast Thursday: Posterior Shoulder, Axilla, & Arm

Friday: Forearm & Wrist; Hand

Week 2: June 3^rd - 7^th

Monday: Anterior & Medial Thigh Tuesday: Gluteal Region & Posterior Thigh Wednesday: Leg & Foot

Thursday: Joints

Friday: Practical Exam Review & Dissection Catch-up

 Week 3: June 10^th - 14^th

Monday: Practical Exam 1: Upper & Lower Limbs Tuesday: Thoracic Wall, Pleura, & Pericardium Wednesday: Heart

Thursday: Superior Mediastinum & Lungs; Posterior Mediastinum Friday: Practical Exam 2: Thorax

Week 4: June 17^th - 21^st

Monday: Abdominal Wall; Inguinal Region Tuesday: Foregut Structures

Wednesday: June 19^th Holiday Thursday: Hindgut

Structures Friday: Practical Exam 3: Abdomen

Week 5: June 24^th - 28^th

Monday: Kidneys & Posterior Abdominal Wall; Pelvic Viscera Tuesday: Pelvic Muscles & Neurovasculature

Wednesday: Perineum

Thursday: Practical Exam Review & Dissection Catch-up Friday: Practical Exam 4: Pelvis & Perineum

Week 6: July 1^st - 5^th

Monday: Anterior Triangle of the Neck; Posterior Triangle & Root of the Neck Tuesday: Scalp, Cranial Cavity, & Brain; Parotid Gland & Face

Wednesday: Infratemporal Fossa & Oral Cavity; Larynx & Pharynx Thursday: July 4^th Holiday

Friday: Optional Open Lab Day

Week 7: July 8^th - 9^th

Monday: Orbit & Eye; Ear & Nasal Cavity Tuesday: Practical Exam 5: Head and Neck

MS2 Year

Students will participate in MS1 and MS2 anatomy labs as teaching assistants during their MS2 year. TA obligations will be shared, and will be coordinated by the supervising anatomy faculty as follows:

• Students will be randomly assigned for TA duties, but adjustments to scheduling may be done on a case-by case basis.
• Students must prepare their own gross anatomy materials/specimens, in addition to basic informational slides (when necessary) ahead of time for assigned lab structures and be prepared to serve as an informed teaching assistant for each assigned lab duty. Remember how things were done well, or poorly, by last year’s TAs and try to improve upon them.
• Participation in a minimum of 6 labs is mandatory, but this may change depending on cohort size to no more than 10 labs.
• Attendance at pre-lab meetings to prepare for TA assignments is also mandatory for assignments during SPM. If pre-lab meetings are not held, students will receive their assigned structures ahead of labs and are expected to review cadaveric materials, models, imaging, and/or pictures in advance of the labs.

Students must take the NBME Anatomy Subject exam prior to the start of 3^rd-year clerkships. A minimum score of 75% is required to stay in the program.

Research Requirement (MS1-MS4 Years)

All candidates are required to develop a research project that must be approved by the committee of participating anatomy faculty. It may also serve as the student’s SARP project if desired. Clinically oriented anatomy research projects are highly recommended and may entail studies of anatomical variations, development and testing of novel anatomical teaching materials, investigations of modifications to surgical procedures or invasive techniques, or the relationship of anatomy to other fields of medicine, such as radiology, anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, etc. Other research projects less related to anatomy will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the anatomy faculty committee.

Candidates must complete and submit the DIAP Research Project Proposal Survey to seek approval for their proposed DIAP research project. Once the proposed project is approved, it is the candidate’s responsibility to submit for a new approval if the project changes or their role in the project changes. If the project is not approved prior to completion, it may not count as fulfilling the DIAP research requirement.

When the approved project is completed, the candidate will submit their scholarship for peer-reviewed publication or presentation at a regional or national meeting. Poster or platform presentation at a regional or national conference is the minimum requirement for the research component of the Distinction in Anatomy Program, though candidates are always encouraged to strive for a peer-reviewed publication. Candidates may reach out to the anatomy faculty committee for clarification as to whether a specific conference or journal qualifies as an approved venue for presentation or publication. More than one student may work on the same project if each student has a delineated research role.

Candidates will submit supporting documentation following the presentation and/or publication of their scholarly work. Documentation must include a statement from the project PI or mentor outlining the student’s role and contributions to the project as well as their role in its presentation and/or publication. Additionally, a copy of the regional or national meeting proceedings (indicating the meeting name and organization, date, location, etc.) must be submitted as well as a copy of the abstract and/or poster. If the project was published in a peer- reviewed journal, documentation must include a copy of the published manuscript or copies of the correspondence between the author and the journal editor if the manuscript is in an earlier stage of publication. Additional documentation may be requested upon review by the anatomy faculty committee.

MS4 Year

Distinction in Anatomy Program candidates will be required to enroll in and successfully complete an anatomy elective of at least 2 weeks in length. The current options are Advanced Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, but other anatomy-specific electives may be developed and approved.

Distinction

Upon successful completion of all the above outlined elements of the Distinction in Anatomy Program, with review and verification by the program committee (as described above for the acceptance process), candidates will receive a designation of “Distinction in Anatomy” on their diplomas in addition to a notation on their official transcript indicating completion of the Distinction in Anatomy Program.

Summary of Requirements for Distinction in Anatomy

• Maintain good academic standing as defined by the PLFSOM Grading, Promotion, and Academic Standing (GPAS) policy
• Perform all required dissections with dissection documentation - Summer MS1
• Attain a minimum average score of 70% for graded components of the dissection experience - Summer MS1
• Schedule and take the NBME Anatomy Subject Exam, (75% minimum required) - by the end of MS2
• Serve as Teaching Assistant for required anatomy lab assignments for MS1 and MS2 students - MS2
• Submit for and obtain anatomy faculty committee approval for research project - Preferably MS2 or MS3
• Present approved research project scholarship at a regional or national meeting, or publish scholarship in a peer-reviewed journal - MS2 - MS4
• Submit documentation demonstrating that project was presented or published for review and approval by anatomy faculty committee - MS2 - MS4
• Successfully complete anatomy elective (advanced anatomy and/or surgical anatomy) of at least 2 weeks in length -MS4

M.D. Program Research Distinction

Michael Mercado, Unit Associate Director
Office of Scholarly Activity and Research Program (SARP)
Phone: 915-215-4975

Purpose:

The purpose of the Distinction in Research and Scholarship (DIRS) program is to recognize Paul L. Foster School of medicine (PLFSOM) students who have demonstrated exceptional engagement and proficiency in scholarship and research while in medical school.

This distinction goes beyond the requirements of the Scholarly Activity and Research Program (SARP), which exposes students to the scholarship process but does not necessarily expect engagement or proficiency in all aspects of the scholarship/research process and published outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria for DIRS award:

• Must have completed all requirements of the SARP program.

   Must be in good standing in regard to academics and professionalism, as determined by the Office of Student Affairs.

Application Guidelines:

When applying for the DIRS program, students are required to select a primary project that best exemplifies their overall engagement, proficiency and achievements in scholarship/research. For the purpose of DIRS, the primary project can be a SARP project or any project of the applicant’s choosing, provided it was executed while he/she was in medical school. Students are asked to provide a detailed description of their involvement in each of the following aspects of their primary project:

 Development of the research/scholarly question or hypothesis  Project design

 Institutional Review Board (IRB) application (if applicable)

 Data collection, analysis and interpretation

 Preparation of any manuscripts or presentations at a local, regional or national meeting

Finally, students are encouraged to list and briefly summarize their participation in and accomplishments for any additional projects other than their primary project. Such additional contributions and efforts will be considered by the committee and in- corporated into the discussion before casting a final vote.

Note: All projects must be executed while in medical school.

Application Process:

The application will consist of two components: 1) student application and 2) mentor support form.

1. Students must submit an application documenting the following:

 Full description of primary* project and listing of any additional projects with their associated scholarly productivity (e.g., peer- reviewed publications; presentations at local, national or regional meetings).

*Note: Your primary project for DIRS does not have to be your SARP project.

 Detailed description (provided by student) of personal involvement with the primary project for each of the following:

 Development of research question or hypothesis  Project design

 IRB application (if applicable)

 Data collection, analysis and interpretation

 Preparation of manuscripts and presentations (oral and/or poster) at local, regional or national meetings  Additional projects can be listed in Section 4 of the application.

 Letters of support from faculty or other researchers/scholars involved in the project (in addition to mentor’s support form - see below).

Note: Faculty, researchers and other scholars involved in the project must email their letters of support DIRECTLY to michael.mercado@ttuhsc.edu or SARP-ELP@ttuhsc.edu

2. Mentor Support Form

•      The project mentor(s) for each project, primary or other, must submit an overall evaluation of the student along with a description of the student’s involvement in each of the following:
•  Development of research question or hypothesis  Project design
•  IRB application (if applicable)
•  Data collection, analysis and interpretation
•  Preparation of manuscripts, presentations (oral and/or poster) at local, regional or national meetings

Note: Mentors must complete the Mentor Support Form through REDCap.

DIRS Application Review Process:

• The completed DIRS application will be reviewed by a faculty committee convened by the SARP program directors. The committee will consist of five faculty members drawn from at least three different departments.
• Committee members may not be mentors of the DIRS applicants.
• Each review panel will include at least one M.D. and one Ph.D.-holding faculty member.
• SARP co-directors will convene the review panel, facilitate review and serve as non-voting ex-officio members.

DIRS Application Review Process:

•  The completed DIRS application will be reviewed by a faculty committee convened by the SARP program directors. The committee will consist of five faculty members drawn from at least three different departments.
•  Committee members may not be mentors of the DIRS applicants.
•  Each review panel will include at least one M.D. and one Ph.D.-holding faculty member.
•  SARP co-directors will convene the review panel, facilitate review and serve as non-voting ex-officio members.

DIRS Awards

All DIRS applicants will be notified of their application status via email. DIRS awardees will also receive an official congratula- tory letter signed by the dean of the PLFSOM

Summary of the DCG Program

• MS1/MS2:  The course incorporates self-directed learning materials that prepare the student to complete DCG online assignments and presentations, followed by a discussion with the participating faculty and student peers. During the academic year, students are required to research and submit an online assignment and present about the genetics of a disease related to their current Scientific Principles of Medicine (SPM) unit, every 4-5 weeks, starting in January of their MS1 year through the end of MS2 year.
• Summer MS1: Students will research and present about clinical genetic testing techniques, emerging genomic methods and one research article for the Journal Club. They will also participate in molecular pathology workshop.
• Summer MS1/ MS2/MS3: Identify a genomics-related scholarly project and develop peer teaching activities such as genomics related learning modules and or peer teaching review sessions.
• MS3/ MS4: Present and/or publish genomics-related research project findings/ learning modules.
• MS4: Participate in a clinical genetics elective at an eligible external institution.

MS1, Summer Break and MS2

This course incorporates self-directed learning materials that prepare the student to complete DCG online assignments and presentations, followed by a discussion with the participating faculty and student peers. During the academic year, students are required to research and submit an online assignment and present about the genomics of a disease related to their current Scientific Principles of Medicine (SPM) unit, starting every 4-5 weeks in January of their MS1 year through the end of MS2 year. The number of presentations will range from 3-6 per academic year and will be determined each year by the participating faculty members.  

Students are given at least 4 weeks to complete their online assignments and prepare their presentations. During the academic year, online assignments and presentations are due within one week of the student’s summative exam. Students will need to coordinate with the participating faculty to remediate missed or incomplete online assignments and presentations.

In the summer, students will research and present about clinical genetic testing techniques, emerging genomic methods and one research article for Journal Club. They will also participate in two activities in molecular pathology workshop.

Participating students are each required to develop a genomics-based scholarly project, which may also serve as the student’s SARP project if desired. Genomic-based projects may entail: research in disparities to genetics access, education research for genomics learning modules, etc. Students are required to develop peer teaching activities for medical students such as learning modules and or peer teaching review sessions. Students may also elect to pursue their scholarly projects at eligible external institutions that offer genomics laboratory and/or other molecular experiences.

Grades will be fail/pass/honors based on the average of all of the online assignments, presentations and Journal Club presentation. Students need to pass all the activities to remain in the program. Students will also complete pre- and post-evaluation forms for the components of the program.

MS3 Year

Students will participate in peer teaching activities. Students will continue to work on their genomics based research project. When the project is completed, the student will submit their genomics scholarship for peer-reviewed publication or presentation at a regional or national meeting. Poster or platform presentation at a local or national conference is the minimum requirement for the research component of the DCG Program.

MS4 Year

Students will be required to enroll in and successfully complete a genetics and genomics elective at least 2 weeks in length at any eligible institution that offers a similar genetics clinical elective. If not already completed, students will submit their genomics scholarship for peer-reviewed publication or presentation at a regional or national meeting. Acceptance of the journal submission is not required; however, a poster presentation at a local or national conference is the minimum requirement for the scholarship component.

Distinction

Upon successful completion of all the above outlined elements of the program, with review and verification by the program committee (as described above for the acceptance process), students will receive either a designation of “Distinction in Clinical Genetics Program” on their diplomas or a notation in their official transcript indicating completion of the DCG Program (to be determined based on TTUHSCEP and TTU System academic policies).

Student resources:

• Family history review: Bennett RL. Family Health History: The First Genetic Test in Precision Medicine. Med Clin North Am. 2019;103(6):957-966. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2019.06.002
• Dysmorphology exam: Dysmorphology. Alexander Youngjoon Kim and Joann Norma Bodurtha. Pediatrics in Review December 2019, 40 (12) 609-618; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2018-0331
• Direct to Consumer Genetic testing: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/directtoconsumer/
• To look up specific genetic conditions use:

 https://omim.org/  Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1116/ Gene Reviews