Broward Health and Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine today signed an affiliation agreement that will provide clinical training for students from the new Miami-based medical college.
Broward Health is among the 10 largest public healthcare systems in the country, with five hospitals, an outpatient healthcare complex, and more than 30 facilities of the Community Health Services and Broward Health Physician Group.
The College of Medicine was approved in 2006 by the Florida Board of Governors and the Florida Legislature. In 2008, it received preliminary accreditation and admitted its first class of 43 students in August 2009, who were chosen from 3,332 applicants.
The medical college features a program called NeighborhoodHELP, which will send medical students along with their counterparts in social work, nursing, and public health, into the community. John Rock, MD, founding dean of the medical college, said the Broward Health pact will increase the reach of FIU's community-based medical education.
"Our medical school's mission is to serve the South Florida community and we are proud to partner with Broward Health to augment opportunities for our students," Rock said. "Our affiliation with Broward Health will help us accomplish our mission to increase the number of post-graduate programs in the state. This will be crucial in improving access to healthcare and quality of care in our community and will help us mold compassionate doctors who will stay and practice in South Florida."
FIU medical students will receive clinical training from Broward Health in several subspecialties, including general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and internal medicine.
"Medical education at all levels is an important part of the long-term strategic vision at Broward Health," said Frank Nask, president/CEO of Broward Health. "The FIU affiliation further solidifies Broward Health's commitment to training healthcare professionals and our future doctors for South Florida. We are proud of this relationship as we are with all of our educational affiliations."
FIU's other clinical partners include Jackson Health Systems, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Children's Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Leon Medical Centers, Baptist Health South Florida, and Memorial Healthcare System.
John Commins is a content specialist and online news editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.