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MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu
FAU, UM and Boca Raton Community Hospital Make Plans to Expand Medical Education Program
BOCA RATON, FL (March 2, 2005) -- Taking another step forward in a pioneering partnership, the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees has approved a letter of intent that lays the groundwork for pursuing the establishment of a four-year medical education program with the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Currently, University of Miami medical students attend the first two years of medical school on FAU's Boca Raton Campus, before moving to Miami for their final two years.
"The FAU/UM partnership is a testament to what can be accomplished when public/private partners work together," said FAU President Frank T. Brogan. "By expanding our existing program, we are moving closer to our goal of providing a full, comprehensive, quality medical education to the physicians of tomorrow."
The signing of a letter of intent for this expansion comes on the heels of a signed memorandum of understanding between FAU and Boca Raton Community Hospital, which will allow the hospital to build a new teaching facility on the FAU campus. This new teaching hospital will provide students with the opportunity to complete their medical education at one site by providing resources to accomplish the clinical requirements.
"This program, in conjunction with the hospital, will train tomorrow's physicians who, will ultimately provide health and wellness for our community" said Gary Strack, CEO/President of Boca Raton Community Hospital. "A teaching hospital combines the very best elements of comfort, care, the hunger for knowledge and a passion for healthcare. It will also offer numerous advantages to patients through clinical and quality excellence, all provided in a caring environment."
The FAU/UM joint venture capitalizes on a strategically desirable partnership forged between a public and private university that will deliver a cost-efficient and effective medical education program. Through joint efforts, an enhanced level of medical education, patient care, scientific research and service to the greater Boca Raton area will be developed.
"Bringing academic medicine to more people has always been a goal of the School of Medicine, and this unique partnership will enable us to expand our mission," said John G. Clarkson, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. "In addition, we will help meet the critical and growing need for more physicians in Florida."
For more information about the UM/FAU Medical School program, contact UM at 305-243-4853 or FAU at 561-297-2219. For more information about Boca Raton Community Hospital, please call 561-955-5083.
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About Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the university serves 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses strategically located along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts eight colleges - the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, and the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering & Computer Science, and Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs. The University is observing its 40th anniversary this year.
About University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Serving more than five million people as the only academic medical center in South Florida, the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine has earned international acclaim for research, clinical care, and biomedical innovations. Founded in 1952 as Florida's first accredited medical school, the University of Miami provides the medical staff for the nationally renowned University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. Each year the medical school's 700 faculty physicians have more than a million patient encounters, in primary care and more than 30 specialties. There are more than 1,300 ongoing research projects funded by $196 million in external grants and contracts to UM faculty.
About Boca Raton Community Hospital
With 400 beds, Boca Raton Community Hospital is the largest healthcare organization in southern Palm Beach County. Built by and for the community 37 years ago after the tragic death of two young children, the not-for-profit "Miracle on Meadows Road" continues to make 'community' its top priority. Centers of excellence include emergency services; oncology; clinical research; cardiology; women's health; maternity/pediatrics/NICU; radiology; orthopedics; neuroscience; wound care/hyperbarics; cardio-pulmonary and out-patient rehabilitation; and home health.
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