Campus News

Symposium Focuses on the Next 50 Years

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 27, 2010) –The University of Kentucky's College of Medicine, in conjunction with its yearlong 50th anniversary, hosted an academic symposium, “Preparing Physicians for the Next 50 Years,” for its faculty, staff, students and community. The symposium featured nationally acclaimed speakers with diverse backgrounds, such as Dr. Pauline Chen, Paul O'Neill, and Dr. Dennis O'Leary who shared their visions for the future of physicians and the health care system.

“We are looking at what kind of physicians we need to create, and how we can prepare our students to provide optimum care for patients,” said Dr. Jay Perman, dean of the UK College of Medicine and vice president for clinical affairs. “New standards of care are being established every day, and tomorrow’s physicians must embrace several core competencies in order to advance the delivery of health care and the education of future providers.”

During the four-hour symposium, the speakers focused on the future of medical education and the practice of medicine from various perspectives. O’Leary, the president emeritus of The Joint Commission, relayed to the audience the importance of patient safety. O’Neill, co-founder of the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative and former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, shared his experience in the health care industry and stressed the need for radically improving health care delivery. Chen, a surgeon, author and online columnist for the The New York Times, highlighted the benefit of interprofessionalism within medicine and the health care industry.

More than 400 faculty, staff, students and alumni attended the event.

Visit the UK College of Medicine's 50th Anniversary Web site to access other anniversary event information, view historical highlights and listen to oral histories of those who helped establish and advance the UK Medical Center.