Randall Fluke, Assistant U.S. Attorney, introduced Dr. Stephen McKernan.  Dr. McKernan was asked to talk with us about the shortage of physicians in Texas and specifically in rural areas of Texas.  Sam Houston State University is actively addressing this critical shortage of doctors with its proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

Dr. McKernan is the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs for the proposed school.  He has been trained as a pharmacist, naturopathic physician and osteopathic physician.  He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians.

 

Texas leads the nation in uninsured and in rural hospital closures.  There is little question that Texas needs more physicians.  One of the solutions to this problem is to increase the number of medical students who will stay to practice in our rural areas.  Data suggests that students who are recruited from rural areas will go back to those areas after completing their residency programs.  It makes sense to increase the recruitment of students from high schools and colleges in Texas who were raised and have their roots in their local rural community.

 

SHSU has proposed and is in the final accreditation process of the new College of Osteopathic Medicine.  SHSU reports that 57% of Osteopathic Medicine Physicians practice primarily in specialties of family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.  This is what our rural communities need.  These newly licensed physicians are more likely to become practicing physicians in community clinics, hospital-based clinics and Federally Qualified Health Clinics (FQHC) where they can alleviate the urgent medical needs of thousands of rural residents.

 

Dr. McKernan says the pathway to becoming a doctor is:

        High School Graduate, SAT/ACT

        College Graduate with a major in science or other majors with science courses

        Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

        Four Years (usually) Medical School

        Specialty Residency – Minimum Three Years

        US Graduates qualify for License after first year of residency in Texas

        Licensing Exam, Continuing Education Credits, Board Certification

 

SHSU needs community engagement, resources and support.  They are looking to implement a collaborative model among:

        Clinical Partners

        Colleges at SHSU

        Other Health Professional Schools

        Area Communities

        Students

 

SHSU has created a Comprehensive Plan to improve the physician workforce in Texas.  The next step is to develop clinical partnerships with hospitals and clinics to provide medical student rotations and residency programs.  A vital step is to recruit students and to have the first class of 75 students begin in 2020.  The number for a full class is 150 with an anticipation that the program will continue to grow.

 

We appreciate Dr. McKernan and SHSU in their efforts to increase the number of physicians in our rural areas.  We look forward to hearing more about this valuable program and to seeing the results in our South East Texas communities.