University of North Texas Health Science Center

University of North Texas
Health Science Center
Type Public
Established 1970
Endowment $143.4 million (Feb 2015)[1]
President Michael Williams, D.O., M.B.A.
Academic staff
 445 faculty, 66 adjunct[2]
Students 2,243[3]
Location Fort Worth, Texas, USA
32°44′55″N 97°22′10″W / 32.7486°N 97.3694°W / 32.7486; -97.3694Coordinates: 32°44′55″N 97°22′10″W / 32.7486°N 97.3694°W / 32.7486; -97.3694
Campus Urban, 33 acres
Website www.unthsc.edu

The University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) is a graduate-level institution of the University of North Texas System, located on a 33-acre campus in the Cultural District of Fort Worth, Texas.[4] Established in 1970, UNT Health Science Center consists of five colleges with a total enrollment of 2,243 graduate students (2014–15). The institution offers degrees in osteopathic medicine, public health, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and biomedical sciences.

UNT Health Science Center serves as home to several NIH-funded research programs and currently leads all Texas medical and health science centers in research growth.[4] The Health Science Center also houses laboratories for TECH Fort Worth, a non-profit biochemistry incubator.[5]

Community and school outreach programs include Fort Worth’s annual Hispanic Wellness Fair and the annual Cowtown Marathon. The UNTHSC Pediatric Mobile Clinic provides healthcare to children in underserved areas of Fort Worth at no cost.[6] The institution also participates in several state and federally funded programs that bring students and teachers onto campus each summer.[4]

History

The University of North Texas Health Science Center was initially founded in 1970 as the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM). The college opened as a private, non-profit school for osteopathic medicine, located on the campus of the Fort Worth Osteopathic Hospital. It was the first osteopathic medical school in Texas and remained the only one in the state until 2015, when the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine was established. The inaugural class of 18 students graduated in 1974, earning the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. In 1975, the college became a part of North Texas State University, after the Texas Legislature overwhelmingly passed Senate Bill 216, making TCOM a state medical school.[7][8] TCOM was the second public university-affiliated osteopathic medical school to be established.[7]

In 1990, TCOM opened the DNA Identity Laboratory, with the responsibility of assisting the state of Texas in evaluating paternity cases. In 1993, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences opened, and TCOM was renamed the University of North Texas Health Science Center. In 1997, the UNT School of Health Professions opened a physician assistant program. In 1999, the School of Public Health opened. In 2008, UNTHSC opened the TECH Fort Worth Acceleration Lab.[5]

In 2011, the Texas Legislature authorized the establishment of a college of pharmacy at UNTHSC.[9] As the first pharmacy school in North Texas,[4] the college matriculated its inaugural class of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students in 2013.[10][11] In 2013, UNTHSC began developing an interprofessional education (IPE) program, in participation with Texas Christian University (TCU). In 2014, Texas Woman's University joined the IPE partnership. In 2015, UNTHSC and TCU announced the creation of a joint MD school, which will accept its first class of students in 2018.[12][13] In 2015, the physician assistant program was ranked as the number 33 graduate-level physician assistant program by U.S. News and World Report.[14]

Academics and accreditation

CollegeFoundedAccreditation
UNTHSC1970Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences1993Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine1970American Osteopathic Association's COCA[15]
School of Public Health1999Council on Education for Public Health[2]
School of Health Professions1997American Physical Therapy Association[16]
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant[17]
College of Pharmacy2011Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education

Through its five schools and colleges, UNTHSC offers several academic programs. Each program is graduate, and focuses on health professions and biomedical sciences. Several Doctor degrees, Master's degrees, and online programs are offered. An interprofessional education (IPE) integrates each of the colleges and schools, with the goal of promoting teamwork and improved communication. UNTHSC is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Doctoral degrees include: the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). Several master's degrees are offered, including: Master of Science, Master of Health Administration, and Master of Physician Assistant Studies.

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offers M.S. and PhD programs in biochemistry and cancer biology, cell biology, immunology and microbiology, integrative physiology, molecular genetics, pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacotherapy, pharmacology and neuroscience, structural anatomy and rehabilitation sciences (PhD only), and visual sciences. Specialized Master’s Programs are offered in biotechnology, clinical research management, forensic genetics, and medical sciences.[18]

The School of Public Health (SPH) offers degrees in Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Several areas of concentration are offered, including: biostatistics, community health, environmental & occupational health sciences, epidemiology, health management and policy, and maternal and child health. The SPH offers dual degree programs with TCOM, the UNT Anthropology Department, and the UNT Geography Department.[19] Graduate certificate programs are available in Public Health and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).[20]

The School of Health Professions offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and the Graduate Certificate in Lifestyle Health. The UNT System College of Pharmacy confers the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD). The Office of Professional And Continuing Education (PACE) provides continuing education services for physicians, pharmacists, nurses, social workers, and public health professionals. PACE holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) is a state-supported osteopathic medical school that serves as the cornerstone of the UNT Health Science Center. TCOM has 920 D.O. students, more than 300 full-time faculty, and over 400 part-time faculty members.[21] TCOM is ranked 50th in the nation for primary care by U.S. News and World Report[14] and graduates the eighth largest number of physicians in the United States that go on to practice primary care.[22] Roughly 55 percent of TCOM graduates go into either family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, or obstetrics and gynecology, while the remainder specialize in fields ranging from orthopedic surgery to radiation oncology.[23]

The first two years of medical school at TCOM focus on the basic sciences, with a systems-based approach to basic clinical sciences. The third and fourth years of training consist of clinical experiences, where students rotate through various specialties of medicine. Clinical rotation sites include John Peter Smith (JPS) Hospital in Fort Worth, Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, Plaza Medical Center in Fort Worth, Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth, Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Dallas, Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital in Baytown, Conroe Regional Medical Center in Conroe, Bay Area Medical Center in Corpus Christi, and Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview.[24] There are residency programs in dermatology, neuromuscular medicine integrated with family medicine, and orthopedic surgery,[25] and a fellowship program in palliative medicine.

TCOM also offers the following dual degree programs: D.O./M.P.H., D.O./M.S., and D.O./Ph.D.[26][27] Through the Primary Care Pathways Program, motivated students may also complete a three-year, undergraduate degree at Midland College and University of North Texas before completing their undergraduate medical training at the medical school.[28]

UNT Health

UNT Health is a division of the university where faculty members provide health care services. UNT Health consists of 230 physicians, who practice in 40 medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties, including allergy/immunology, family practice, cardiology, neurology, obstetrics & gynecology, oncology, orthopedics, psychiatry, sports medicine, and neurosurgery. In all, UNT Health serves 560,000 patient visits annually.[3] In June 2014, the UNT System Board of Regents and the Tarrant County Hospital District approved creation of a partnership where physicians from UNT Health and the JPS Health Network will be combined under a newly formed medical group.[29]

Campus

UNTHSC is located on a 33-acre campus in the Cultural District of Fort Worth, Texas.[4] The Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library's collections, including more than 20,000 journal titles and 67,000 books, provide UNTHSC students and faculty with access to the latest basic science and clinical research. The Lewis Library provides access to virtually 100 percent of the world's current medical information, including a wide variety of research databases.[30] UNTHSC also houses the Atrium Gallery, a non-profit public art exhibition space, which holds 8 to 10 arts shows each year.[31] The Atrium Gallery is a member of the Fort Worth Art Dealers Association.[31]

Students

UNTHSC Demographics
Students[2]
American Indian or Alaskan Native 1%
Asian 21%
Black or African American 8%
Hispanic/Latino 12%
Two or more 2%
White 46%
Unknown 1%
Non-resident alien 8%

A total of 2,243 students were in attendance at UNTHSC for the 2014–15 academic year.[2][3] 57% of students were female; 43 percent were male.[2] About 46% of students are White, 21% Asian, 12% Hispanic, 8% black or African American, 1% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 2% identify as two or more ethnicities, and the remaining students were non-resident aliens (8%) or of unknown ethnicity (1%). Because of state law regarding enrollment of Texas residents in public medical schools, each entering class is composed of at least 90% state residents. Many out-of-state residents receive competitive scholarships that make up the difference. Applications for admission are processed through the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS).[32]

Research

Research centers and institutes at UNTHSC include;[33]

  • Bone & Joint Research Center
  • Cardiovascular Research Institute
  • Center for Commercialization of Fluorescence Technologies
  • Center for Community Health
  • Center for Human Identification
  • Consortium on Alzheimer's Research and Education
  • Focused on Resources for her Health Education and Research (FOR HER)
  • Geriatric Education and Research Institute
  • Institute for Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Research (IAADR)
  • Institute of Applied Genetics
  • Institute for Cancer Research
  • Institute for Public Safety
  • North Texas Eye Research Institute (NTERI)
  • Osteopathic Research Center (ORC)
  • Physical Medicine Institute
  • Primary Care Research Center
  • TECH Fort Worth (Discovery Labs)
  • Texas Center for Health Disparities
  • Texas Center for Music and Medicine
  • Texas Prevention Institute (TPI)
  • UNT Center for Human Identification

Notable alumni, faculty and staff

References

  1. ↑ "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2014 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2014 to FY 2015 (Revised Feb 2015)" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "University of North Texas Health Science Center". College Navigator. US Department of Education.
  3. 1 2 3 "About us: facts". UNT Health Science Center.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our History". University of North Texas Health Science Center.
  5. 1 2 "History". TECH Fort Worth.
  6. ↑ "Pediatric Mobile Clinic". UNT Health Science Center.
  7. 1 2 Gevitz, Norman (2004). The DO's: osteopathic medicine in America. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-7833-0.
  8. ↑ "Texas SB 216, 64th Regular Session" (PDF). Texas State Senate.
  9. ↑ Murray, Lance (Aug 19, 2011). "UNT to open area's 1st pharmacy school in Fort Worth". Dallas Business Journal.
  10. ↑ Jacob, Steve (December 20, 2012). "Students Clamoring for Seats in New UNTHSC Pharmacy School". Dallas/Fort Worth Health Care Daily.
  11. ↑ Owen, Jason (August 19, 2013). "UNT Health Science Center opens first college of pharmacy school in North Texas". Drug Store News.
  12. ↑ "TCU and UNT Health Science Center to create new medical school". University of North Texas. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  13. ↑ Jacobson, Sherry (July 6, 2015). "UNT, TCU team up for Fort Worth med school". The Dallas Morning News.
  14. 1 2 "University of North Texas Health Science Center". U.S. News & World Report.
  15. ↑ "Osteopathic Medical Schools". American Osteopathic Association. 2016.
  16. ↑ "University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth". Council on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  17. ↑ "Accredited Entry-level Programs". Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  18. ↑ "Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences". University of North Texas Health Science Center.
  19. ↑ "SPH: Dual Degree Programs". UNT Health Science Center.
  20. ↑ "School of Public Health". University of North Texas Health Science Center.
  21. ↑ "Fast Facts about TCOM". University of North Texas Health Science Center.
  22. ↑ "Which schools turn out the most primary care residents?". US News & World Report. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Residency Placement Data". Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. UNT Health Science Center.
  24. ↑ "Year Three Rotations". UNT Health Sciences Center.
  25. ↑ "Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program". UNT Health Science Center.
  26. ↑ "D.O./M.S., D.O./Ph.D. and Medical Scientist Training Programs". UNT Health Science Center.
  27. ↑ "D.O./M.P.H. Training Program". University of North Texas Health Science Center.
  28. ↑ "Primary Care Pathways Program". University of North Texas Health Science Center.
  29. ↑ JPS, UNTHSC agree to create healthcare group
  30. ↑ Gibson D. Lewis Library
  31. 1 2 "FWADA Members". Fort Worth Art Dealers Association.
  32. ↑ Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service
  33. ↑ "Research Centers and Institutes". UNTHSC. University of North Texas Health Science Center.
  34. ↑ Michael Carletti
  35. ↑ "Texas House Member: Rep. Sheffield, J. D. District 59". Texas House of Representatives. State of Texas.
  36. ↑ Jim Walton Named President of Dallas County Medical Society
  37. ↑ Hethcock, Bill (Jul 12, 2013). "Michael Williams named president of UNT Health Science Center". The Dallas Business Journal.
  38. ↑ "Meet Dr. Williams". UNTHCS.
  39. ↑
  40. ↑ Gov. Perry Names Zeitler President of Texas Medical Board

Further reading

  • Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine: The First Twenty Years, C. Ray Stokes (Editor), February 1991, paperback, University of North Texas Press, ISBN 0-929398-17-3
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