Broadening horizons
Expanding medical education opportunities in Jacksonville
For decades, thousands of UF medical students have cycled through the coastal city of Jacksonville for clinical rotations, gaining a glimpse into patient care practice in a new environment. Now, a new program at the College of Medicine allows medical students to live and learn full time in the city.
Starting this spring and summer, UF medical students could elect to spend their entire third and fourth years of clinical training at the Jacksonville regional medical campus.
The expansion of the regional medical campus program will help students and trainees establish themselves professionally in the city of Jacksonville. It’s a key pipeline program for medical professionals who want to practice in the River City, where the health care industry and the economy are growing rapidly.
“Medical school provides students with the tools to be successful for residency, and many students will end up matching at programs in urban settings,” said Sunil Joshi, MD ’98, who completed clinical rotations in Jacksonville while a UF medical student in the 1990s and is now an allergist and chief health officer for the city of Jacksonville. “The experience in Jacksonville will help better prepare them for this environment. It may also pique interest for those who are passionate about providing care to underserved populations.”
He said historic neighborhoods, access to beaches and a vibrant art community keep the growing city feeling like a small town.
“I can’t think of a better time to practice medicine in Northeast Florida,” Joshi said.
Magnifying UF’s presence in Jacksonville
Last summer, after years of collaborative discussions, the college’s accrediting body granted approval to progress with the regional medical campus designation. And it came at an opportune time.
With more than 1 million residents, Jacksonville is among the nation’s top 15 fastest-growing metropolitan areas. At the same time, the university is realizing a vision for a downtown campus offering graduate-level academic programs aligned with the city’s workforce needs in fields such as business, health science, engineering, law and architecture.
For decades, the UF College of Medicine campus in Jacksonville has served as a major site for medical education, with UF medical students in their third and fourth years of training, spending 20 to 25% of their clinical time in Jacksonville.
“Through a multitude of training experiences available here, students not only build their clinical skills but also develop a deep sense of service and connection to the community,” said Frank Genuardi, MD, MPH, the senior associate dean for educational affairs at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville.
Students who opt into being part of the new regional medical campus cohort will benefit from immersing themselves in living and learning in a busy urban center long term and will have access to mentorship, research and other opportunities with Jacksonville-based UF faculty upon starting medical school.
All UF medical students will continue to spend time on the Jacksonville campus during their training, and students in the regional medical campus cohort will also be able to choose to complete a clinical rotation on the Gainesville campus.
Bringing new talent to the city
Giving students the opportunity to live and work in Jacksonville for two years will allow them to build their lives in a new community, said Shelley Collins, MD, the Jules B. Chapman, MD, Professor in Clinical Care and Humaneness, associate chair of pediatrics and the senior associate dean for educational affairs at the College of Medicine.
“Providing an opportunity for our students to spend the full complement of their clinical years in Jacksonville allows students to become immersed in the care of the breadth of patients who come to an urban academic health center,” she said.
Kevin Phan, a member of the inaugural cohort, decided to apply to the program after hearing about clinical experiences from students who rotated through Jacksonville.
“From everything I have gathered, joining the cohort offered the chance to be part of a tight-knit learning community with a handson approach to medical education,” he said.
In addition to exposure to complex, high-acuity cases and being able to help vulnerable populations, Phan is looking forward to traversing a new area.
“I’m excited to explore a vibrant city like Jacksonville,” he said. “My schedule will certainly be tight, but I plan to make the most of my free time to explore the city and enjoy its sights and sounds. Hopefully you might see me cheering for the Jaguars in person.”
Meet the first cohort
Zarmina Khan, DMD, MPH
Zarmina Khan, DMD, MPH
Hometown: Peshawar, Pakistan
Specialty interest: Oral and maxillofacial surgery
“Jacksonville has been a wonderful place to live and learn during my training. The strong mentorship, diverse clinical exposure and welcoming community make it an ideal environment to grow as both a physician and a person.”
Jilene Moxam
Jilene Moxam
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Specialty interest: Ophthalmology
“I am excited to provide care to
patients who are very sick and have complex cases but are also underinsured. It will be great to understand the complexity of the health care system in these cases.”
Kevin Phan
Kevin Phan
Hometown: Panama City Beach, FL
Specialty interests: Anesthesiology, emergency medicine
“As the only adult and pediatric Level 1 trauma center in the region, UF Health Jacksonville offers a chance to not only work with some of our most vulnerable neighbors but also be exposed to complex, high-acuity cases.”
David Watson, DMD
David Watson, DMD
Hometown: Peachtree City, GA
Specialty interests: Oral and maxillofacial surgery
“I absolutely love Jacksonville. I came here for the residency program at UF Health, but the city is amazing. I’m most looking forward to continuing my Jacksonville Jaguars fandom!”
Nicholas Wong, DMD
Nicholas Wong, DMD
Hometown: Saratoga, CA
Specialty interests: Oral and maxillofacial surgery
“Jacksonville is a city of multiple neighborhoods, so you can always find something to do or see. You can’t help but learn with the sheer variety of patients who come in.”
