Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCU), the largest medical school in Missouri, announces a partnership with HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading health care provider, to develop clinical training rotations for up to 100 KCU College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) students. The collaboration will be led by a KCU alumnus and a board-certified family physician with HCA Midwest Health, Bruce Williams, DO
KCU President and CEO, Marc B. Hahn, DO, and Loren Meyer, MD, President Midwest Physicians at HCA Physician Services, announced the collaboration between HCA Midwest Health and KCU, which will create the training for third-year medical students, as well as lay a foundation for future development of new graduate medical education programs.
“We are pleased to have this opportunity to collaborate with HCA Midwest Health for the training of future physicians,” Hahn said. “This partnership will assure valuable experiences for our students who will train in some of the finest hospitals and learn from some of the most knowledgeable physicians in the region. In addition, Dr. Williams has been a strong advocate for medical student education through his many roles ranging from adjunct clinical faculty member to trustee for KCU.”
Dr. Williams, will be promoted from within HCA Midwest Health to serve as Director of Medical Education for HCA Midwest Health programs with an academic reporting relationship to KCU. Dr. Williams is a 1987 KCU graduate and has served as a member of the KCU Board of Trustees. In this academic position he will work both at HCA Midwest Health and KCU. Williams begins his work in January.
Williams’ interest in a career in medicine began at the early age of five, while hospitalized for a tonsillectomy. He credits KCU with helping him through the challenges of medical school, and is passionate about helping future doctors achieve their own goals.
“KCU never gave up on me and helped me realize my dream of becoming a physician,” Williams said. “As long as I can remember, I have wanted to help others by becoming a physician. Now, I will be able to help the next generation of osteopathic physicians achieve their own dreams of providing people with excellent health care.”
Each clinical clerkship includes four weeks of clinical duties that may encompass both in-patient and outpatient care in various medical specialties. Clinical education is key to the training of excellent osteopathic physicians.
“Dr. Williams is an excellent leader within the Kansas City medical community and a valued member of the HCA family,” Meyer said. “His skills are a perfect fit for this program aimed at enhancing the students’ medical education by utilizing some of the best doctors and medical facilities in Kansas City. We are also looking forward to leveraging Dr. Williams’ expertise in enhancing the teaching experience for practicing physicians who choose to teach KCU students.”
HCA Midwest Health has 150 access points consisting of hospitals, outpatient centers, clinics, urgent cares, physician practices, and surgery centers, throughout the Kansas City area. KCU is the second-leading producer of physicians for both Missouri and Kansas, with the majority of graduates practicing in primary care specialties throughout the Midwest region. In 2017, KCU will open a second medical school in Joplin, Mo., to help address the growing need for physicians in the region’s rural communities.
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