Administration

Anderson Spickard, III, Dean

Mark Beard, Chair, Integrated Clinical Education Department

Shanta Curry, Assistant Dean for Administration and Strategic Initiatives

Karen Lewis, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Diversity, Assistant Professor of Health Systems Science

Scott Pearson, Interim Chair, Integrated Medical Education Department (IMEd), Professor of Surgery and Anatomy

Ruth Stewart, Associate Dean for Medical Education and Faculty Success, Associate Professor of Family Medicine

E. Terrell Washington, Interim Associate Dean and Assistant Dean for Accreditation, Quality and Planning

Morgan Wills, Associate Dean for Clinical and Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine

Faculty:

Mark Beard, Ibolja Cernak, Jude Ezekakpu, Jill A. Forbess, Kathy Galloway, Ryan Grippo, Amy Henneman, Michael Hill, Ashley Horner, Peter Huwe, Judy King, Kimbell Kornu,  Karen Lewis, Bin Liu, Richard Lyn-Cook, Stephanie C. McClure, Andrew Michel, Jenny Mills, Scott Pearson, Nick Ragsdale, Tanu Rana, Benjamin Ryan, Jeffrey Smith, M. Kevin Smith, Anderson Spickard III, Ryan Splittgerber, Larry Stack, Stephen Staggs, Ruth Stewart, Pat Whitworth

Mission:

The Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University is dedicated to cultivating diverse physician leaders of character who embrace a whole-person approach to healing in a community of service-learning, inspired by the love and grace of Christ.

Vision:

Shaping medicine through transformative whole person care.

Values:

We are united by a common set of value statements:

• Love Learning
• Lead by Serving
• Live with Integrity
• Heal Together in Humility
• Welcome Difference

Admission Requirements: 

The College of Medicine participates in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)  a national centralized common application process. Individuals who wish to apply to The Frist College of Medicine at Belmont University must complete the AMCAS application process and the supplemental Belmont University Graduate Application.

Applicants to the College of Medicine must have a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by a regional accreditor that is recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Additionally, applicants must achieve a satisfactory score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and have completed all required prerequisite Coursework.

Additional information about the application process can be found on the Frist College of Medicine website at www.belmont.edu/medicine/admissions/requirements

Technical Standards for Medical School Admission, Retention & Graduation:

Medical education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of skills and professional attitudes and behaviors. Qualified applicants must demonstrate the cognitive and physical abilities, and behavioral and communication skills required to complete a rigorous curriculum and meet certain technical standards for medical students and physicians. A graduate of the Frist College of Medicine at Belmont University (FCoM) must have the knowledge and skills to function in various clinical settings and to provide a wide spectrum of care.

The FCoM acknowledges Section 504 of the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act, PL 101-336 - the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1993, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 - PL 110-325, but ascertains that certain minimum technical standard must be present in prospective candidates.

In order to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills, students must possess both sensory and motor abilities that permit them to accomplish the activities described in these standards, with or without reasonable accommodations. A student must be able to effectively process information through their sensory functions, with or without reasonable accommodation, and do so consistently, rapidly, and accurately. Students must be able to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data. A student must be able to tolerate physically challenging workloads and function effectively under stress with an inclusive and diverse patient population. The responsibilities of medical students may require their presence and attention during daytime and nighttime hours.

Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the tasks, environment or to the way things are usually done that enable individuals with disabilities to have an equal opportunity to participate in an academic program or a job (U.S. Department of Education, 2007). Providing accommodations cannot “fundamentally alter” the essential elements of a course or curriculum and/or create an “undue burden” requiring significant difficulty or expense on the institution (ada.gov).

A candidate for the M.D. degree must have aptitude, abilities, and skills in five areas: 1) observation, 2) communication, 3) motor and sensory function, 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative ability, and 5) attitudinal, behavioral, interpersonal and emotional characteristics. Technical compensation can be made for some handicaps in these areas, but a candidate must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. The use of a trained intermediary would mean that a candidate’s judgement must be mediated by someone else’s power of selection and observation. Therefore, third parties cannot be used to assist students in accomplishing curricular requirements in the five skill areas specified above.

I. OBSERVATION -

Students must have sufficient visual ability to be able to observe patients accurately from a distance and close at hand. They must be able to observe and participate in laboratory exercises and demonstrations in the foundational sciences. They must be capable of viewing and developing the skills needed to interpret diagnostic modalities. Students must be able to obtain a medical history and perform a complete physical exam, including detecting and interpreting non-verbal communication such as change in posture, body language, mood and facial expressions demonstrated by patients.

II. COMMUNICATION - Students must be able to communicate effectively, in writing and verbally in English, and must be able to speak with, understand, and establish a rapport with patients, families, fellow students, faculty, and other members of the health care team.

III. MOTOR AND SENSORY FUNCTION -

 Students must have sufficient motor and sensory functions to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A student must be able to do basic laboratory tests, carry out diagnostic procedures and read EKGs and X-rays. A student must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatments to patients. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch, smell, and vision.

IV. INTELLECTUAL, CONCEPTUAL, INTEGRATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ABILITY -

Students must have sufficient cognitive abilities to master the body of knowledge comprising the curriculum of the FCoM. They must be able to recall large amounts of information, perform scientific measurements and calculations, and understand and learn through a variety of instructional modalities including, but not limited to, classroom instruction, small group discussion, individual and self-directed study of materials, preparation and presentation of written and oral reports, peer review, and assessment, as well as use of computer-based technologies. Students must demonstrate reasoning abilities necessary to gather, analyze, synthesize, and integrate information from varying sources efficiently and effectively. They must be able to measure and calculate accurately and be able to perceive 3D relationships and understand the spatial relationships of systems.

V. ATTITUDINAL, BEHAVIORAL, INTERPERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS -

Students must have the capacity to learn and understand ethical principles, professional standards for physicians, and state and federal laws governing the practice of medicine. Students must demonstrate the maturity, emotional stability, stamina, and sensitivity required to form effective relationships with patients, faculty, staff, colleagues, and all members of the health care team. They must exhibit honesty, integrity, and dedication.

Students must have the capacity to effectively communicate with and provide care, in a non-judgmental manner, for individuals whose culture, spiritual beliefs, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, or gender expression differ from their own. They must be able to examine the entire patient, male and female, regardless of their social, cultural, or religious beliefs. Students must have the capacity to develop the requisite skills needed to identify personal biases, reactions and responses as well as recognize differing points of view, and not allow personal attitudes, perceptions, or stereotypes to compromise patient care.

Students must be of sufficient emotional and mental health to utilize fully their abilities, exercise sound judgment, and complete educational and patient care responsibilities safely, effectively, and with courtesy, compassion, and respect. They must be capable of modifying their behavior in response to feedback and evaluation. Students must exhibit adaptability and be able to work effectively under stress, and tolerate an often physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing workload. They must also display flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical environment. Student performance cannot be impaired by abuse of substances, including alcohol and drugs.

Curriculum:

The Frist College of Medicine is committed to educating excellent future clinicians whose knowledge and clinical decision-making are firmly grounded in basic sciences and who consider the whole patient, with a deep and nuanced understanding of the socioeconomic and systems factors that affect health care. The M.D. curriculum features three distinct phases that comprise the four years of medical school: the foundation phase (years 1 and 2), the clerkship phase (year 3), and the individualization phase (year 4).

The Foundation Phase will last approximately 18 months. Our guiding principle is to have no separation between basic sciences and clinical medicine. Faculty will team teach most courses, with core clinician educator and scientist educator faculty developing learning experiences and teaching side-by-side in large and small-group settings. Emphasis will be on active and self-directed learning and weekly simulation learning experiences. The centerpiece of the curriculum is clinical relevance.

The Clerkship Phase is 12 months in duration and consists of six core clerkships. Before starting clerkships, an orientation week will be dedicated to Transition to Clerkships. Subsequently, during this phase, students will return for one week to the FCoM campus after each core clerkship for an ICP 3 focus weeks that emphasizes whole-person care and interprofessional education.

The Individualization Phase will occur during two periods, allowing students to individualize their studies. The first period is an eight-week block between the first and second years of Phase 1 (foundation phase). Students can complete up to 2 non-clinical or research electives during the first period. The second period begins immediately after completing the core clerkships and comprises advanced clinical rotations, electives, and a Transition to Residency capstone course. This period will consist of 13 one-month course blocks.

Graduation Requirements:

The MD Degree typically requires a minimum of four years of study.  Students must complete all requirements as matriculated medical students, and must have demonstrated full competency in skills, knowledge, maturity and integrity, as evaluated by the faculty.  All students must successfully complete all core courses and electives detailed in the curriculum and pass the USMLE, Step 1 and USMLE, Step 2 CK to be eligible for the Doctor of Medicine degree to be conferred.  Belmont University Frist College of Medicine confers the MD degree in May of each year.  All students must complete all requirements for receipt of the MD degree within one month of the diploma date in order to receive a diploma.

Accreditation:

The Thomas F. Frist College of Medicine at Belmont University has achieved preliminary accreditation, the initial level of accreditation available to a medical school in the United States by the Liaison Committee of Medical Education (LCME), 330 North Wabash Avenue Suite 39300 Chicago, IL 60611-5885